(CNN) — Disney has announced that it is rethinking a classic theme park attraction following years of criticism from fans.
However, Jungle Cruise has not aged as gracefully as some other attractions. Although the ride was inspired by nature documentaries, one of the sights along the river route is a scene of “natives,” which depicts them as wild, primitive and threatening.
In a press release, Disney confirmed the ride’s upcoming overhaul. Among the changes will be a new animated skipper character.
“As Imagineers, it is our responsibility to ensure experiences we create and stories we share reflect the voices and perspective of the world around us,” said Carmen Smith, creative development and inclusion strategies executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, in a statement.
A “Jungle Cruise” movie starring Emily Blunt, Jesse Plemons and The Rock (as the skipper) is due out later in 2021. However, Disney has not confirmed whether there will be any overlap between the movie and the ride.
Jungle Cruise is one of several Disney attractions called out in the past few years for distasteful imagery.
