Disney doesn’t have the most consistent track record of using their theme parks as inspiration for movies.
Pirates of the Caribbean was a massive success (although some fans question the continued existence of the franchise), while The Haunted Mansion is a universally accepted flop (fingers crossed Guillermo del Toro’s remake happens!). Most recently, Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland received mixed reviews.
However, the Mouse House isn’t giving up. The Hollywood Reporter exclusively revealed the studio is moving ahead with Jungle Cruise, a film based on the immensely popular ride in Adventureland (and where John Lasseter got his start!).
Even more, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been tapped as the lead. He’s no stranger to Disney – he has a pivotal role in their upcoming animated film, Moana.
Previously, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen had been rumored to star in a Jungle Cruise film, but that clearly isn’t the case anymore.
There’s many different directions this film could take, although THR claims the film may draw inspiration from the 1951 classic The African Queen, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. That’s a great film, and definitely has the adventurous tone the studio may be looking for, but please tell me this film is going to be a comedy as well.
One of the things that makes the Jungle Cruise so great are all the terrible/wonderful jokes and puns! Just give me Johnson’s character meeting Trader Sam and saying: “This is a great deal! No matter how you slice it and dice it, you’ll always come out ahead!”
Seriously, take a moment to imagine how beautiful that would be. Johnson’s excited about the project, too: “[Disney production president] Sean Bailey and Disney have been awesome partners and now the fun part begins … We’re starting to put in the work with Requa and Ficarra and our creative team. Fired up about this one. Here we go.”
The film also has a pair of screenwriters already attached: John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, the duo behind Focus and Crazy Stupid Love. It looks like we’re in good hands, because the pivotal scene in the latter (you know the one) is a cinematic masterpiece.
Johnson has a full schedule ahead of him between Shazam!, Central Intelligence, Baywatch, and probably a new Fast & Furious film, so there’s no knowing when this film will happen, but that doesn’t stop me from being excited.
Are you looking forward to Jungle Cruise? Do you think Dwayne Johnson is a good pick? Sound off in the comments!
