Tarzan Concept Trailer: Chris Hemsworth Looks Like a God, but Fans Have 1 Problem With Blake Lively in It

Chris Hemsworth shines in a viral Tarzan fan trailer, but Blake Lively’s casting sparks backlash due to her real-life legal controversy.


A new fan-made trailer has reignited interest in Tarzan once again. The video created a lot of buzz due to its visual reimagining and casting of Chris Hemsworth as the legendary jungle hero and Blake Lively as the conflicted Jane Porter.

The trailer, created by Ultimate Studio, made the classic hero a fierce protector of nature in a modern world gone wrong. But while viewers are praising the portrayal of Tarzan by Hemsworth, there’s one element they’re not buying: Blake Lively as Jane. Of course, that has everything to do with her current public image. Lively is not leaving without sparking a heated online backlash, even though it is an unofficial trailer.

Chris Hemsworth stuns, but fans are unhappy with Blake Lively in the Tarzan concept trailer

Chris Hemsworth in a new Tarzan concept trailer | Credit: Ultimate Studios

Created by Ultimate Studios, a popular digital creator known for AI-enhanced fan trailers, the video reimagines Tarzan as a dark, primal narrative. Chris Hemsworth looks every bit the mythic warrior in this fan-made trailer. The trailer has crossed thousands of views since it dropped. Viewers can’t get enough of the muscular, intense version of Hemsworth’s Tarzan.

The trailer describes the jungle hero as a warrior defending his home from industrial invaders. Jane Porter, played by Blake Lively, is portrayed as both a romantic partner and moral compass, a woman torn between civilization and the wild. But this modern Jane hasn’t struck the right chord with many fans.

While Hemsworth is being hailed as perfect for the role, the same can’t be said for Lively. Her presence as Jane has triggered a flood of criticism. And the backlash goes deeper than whether she fits the part. One viewer commented,

I’ll NEVER watch anything with Blake Lively in it again.

Another commented,

Yeah replacement for Blake please; that just ruined it, sadly.

Lively’s ongoing legal feud with Justin Baldoni is the reason for their discomfort. In late 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging s*xual harassment and a toxic working environment during the filming of It Ends With Us. Baldoni then hit back with a $400 million defamation lawsuit. Though unrelated to Tarzan, the legal storm has followed Lively into the public eye.

Some fans can’t separate the actor from the off-screen drama. Lively’s involvement, even in an unofficial trailer, brings unwanted baggage to a character that should feel timeless and free of controversy. The lawsuit is casting a long shadow over Lively’s public image.

What is the future of Tarzan movies?

Blake Lively as Jane in the concept trailer of Tarzan | Credit: Ultimate Studios

Meanwhile, Tarzan as a property is undergoing its own transformation. The last live-action Tarzan movie, The Legend of Tarzan (2016), starring Alexander Skarsgård as the jungle hero and Margot Robbie as Jane, failed to spark a franchise. But, Sony Pictures now owns the screen rights and has expressed interest in a “total reinvention” of the character.

With the first 11 books now in the public domain and the Tarzan name still trademarked, studios and fans have some creative freedom, but also legal limitations. The trademarked name remains protected by the Burroughs estate (via THR).

It’s worth noting this trailer isn’t official; it’s a fan creation made using a mix of AI and VFX, all stitched together by Ultimate Studios. Still, the impact is real. Just like a recent fan trailer that imagined Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the lead role, this one has created real conversations about what audiences want in a Tarzan reboot, and who they want to see.

So, could Hemsworth actually become the next Tarzan? That remains a question to be answered in the future. Though fans’ interest in the jungle hero is roaring again. And as for Lively, it appears audiences may want someone else swinging through the trees by his side. For now, the legal storm around her continues to stir debate.