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Initially released in 2017, Megan Leavey was recently added by Netflix to its platform where it quickly took over the charts. Inspired by real events, the film follows US Marine Corporal Megan Leavey and her relationship with a combat dog called Rex.
In the film, Kate Mara's Megan forms a romantic relationship with fellow dog handler Matt Morales, played by Ramón Rodríguez. Matt is portrayed as a pillar of support for Megan while other officers look down upon her in their unit. However, Megan eventually ends the relationship upon learning that Matt is re-enlisting in the army.
While their affair ends on a tragic note in the film, this article will explore the real-life inspiration behind the character of Matt Morales and Megan's future relationship.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the film 'Megan Leavey'.
Is Matt Morales a real person?
While Megan Leavey is heavily inspired by real life, the film does take several creative liberties. Many of the events were dramatized or changed in order to enhance the plot, including some characters.
The film introduces the audience to Matt Morales, a Marine Corporal who worked alongside Megan Leavey in the K-9 Unit. They were tasked with handling military dogs that were used to detect bombs and ensure the safety of civilians and fellow soldiers. With their first encounter taking place in Iraq, the two formed a deep connection and found solace in each other's company.
By the end of the film, Megan decides to break up with Matt as he decides to re-enlist in the military after their service. This begs the question as to whether the character of Matt Morales was inspired by a real person or whether he was a fictional character made up for the movie.
According to reports, Matt Morales is a real person who served as a dog handler in the K-9 unit with Megan Leavey. However, his name has been changed in the film to protect his identity and privacy. The real person who served as the inspiration behind the character of Matt Morales is unnamed so far. His current whereabouts and life details are unknown at the time of writing this article.
Is Megan Leavey married?
While Megan and Matt relied on each other and formed a close relationship, their romance ended on a tragic note in the film. As mentioned previously, the two parted ways after they decided to take different paths regarding their future. This left Megan Leavey alone with her dog Rex, while Matt moved on to pursue a career in the army.
However, the real Megan Leavey is now happily married. According to an April 2024 article by The Direct, Megan shares a daughter with her husband. While details are scant about the family, Megan does share occasional glimpses into her life on social media.
According to the National Purple Heart Mission, Megan currently lives in Rockland County, New York, and works as a veterinary technician. As per The Direct, she has been serving as Lead Veterinary Surgical Technician at Old Tappan Veterinary in New Jersey since June 2018.
Despite her new career, Megan is still fond of military life. She is quoted in the Purple Hearts Mission website as saying:
"I love the Marine Corps. I have made life-long friends there. I found my niche there. Playing all day with dogs is not a bad job to have…and the camaraderie of my Marine buddies will be with me for the rest of my life. I am proud to call myself a Marine."
Megan Leavey is currently available to stream on Netflix.
