The film introduces Samuel L. Jackson as the historical figure George Washington Williams, who serves as the investigator and moral driver recruiting Tarzan to confront Belgian colonial exploitation and slavery in the Congo.

Djimon Hounsou appears as Chief Mbonga, with the story framing the central conflict around anti-colonial resistance where Tarzan allies with African tribes against forced labor and resource extraction by Belgian villains. Director and cast statements emphasize the deliberate removal of racist elements from the original Edgar Rice Burroughs stories to align with contemporary expectations. Jane is shown as capable and active in the narrative, while African characters function as allies and partners rather than antagonists or stereotypes. These adjustments introduce progressive framing around colonialism and historical accountability without making identity politics the sole focus or altering the lead casting.