‘Jungle Cruise’: Did Disney Leak Trader Sam’s New Look?

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jungle cruise movie poster

Credit: Disney

This morning, Good Morning America gave Disney fans an exclusive look at the new trailer for Disney’s Jungle Cruise film, and now the full trailer — bursting with thrills, laughs, and surprises — is available everywhere, along with a brand-new poster.  But with the poster release, Disney may have leaked Trader Sam’s new look as seen in a side character on the poster. You’re sure to be as surprised as we were and filled with wonder about how the movie might play out.
JUNGLE CRUISE lily houghton and Macgregor
Credit: Disney

Trader Sam in the Jungle Cruise Movie

Straight from the Disney press release, we learn the following:

Inspired by the famous Disneyland theme park ride, Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” is an adventure-filled, rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton. Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila—his ramshackle-but-charming boat. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities—possessing the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank and their fate—and mankind’s—hangs in the balance.

Glancing at the amazing new poster, we’re filled with old-school adventure, mystery, and Indiana Jones-like danger. Much like the first Pirates of the Caribbean film based on the original Disney Parks attraction, we’ll see the movie come to life with attraction references and inspiration (maybe Inspiration Falls had something to do with it? You’ll be inspired to go… deeper into the jungle).

You can see Skipper Frank Wolff and Dr. Lily Houghton, who we’ve been introduced to through previous advertisements and trailers for the film. But we’re also just now getting looks at supporting characters in the film like those being played by Edgar Ramírez and Jack Whitehall, with Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti, supposedly down the left side of the issue.

Jungle Cruise Movie Poster
Credit: Disney

The right side is where the visual imbalance lies, drawing us to another character, dimly lit in a native dress and what appears to be body paint. Is this Trader Sam? And if it is, the character appears to be female!  While the IMDB page for 2021’s Jungle Cruise contains a full list of cast and crew, you might notice that many (not just a few) actors remain uncredited in their roles. Disney surely has many secrets to reveal on July 30th when the movie premieres not only on Disney+ but also in theaters everywhere. There is no Trader Sam listed in the credits.

is this trader sam in the jungle cruise?
Credit: Disney

Another suspicious event occurred back in in 2018, when That Hashtag Show released a video episode on Facebook telling us that Disney was in the process of casting Trader Sam for the new movie, and they were looking at both male and female actors for the part. While That Hashtag Show gives no references for their claim, it’s certainly attention-getting when combined with this new poster from Disney. Watch the clip below:

Again straight from Disney’s new press images is a still from the trailer, showing what seems to be the Amazonian natives in their home camp, dressed in ceremonial or traditional garb. While attention is focused on the natives in the middle row, there are several in the front (in less focus) and a central, well-lit figure in the back. Who might that be — and is it Trader Sam?

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