Dwayne Johnson to star in Disney’s Jungle Cruise

As Deadline points out, Disney is taking an interesting gamble with Jungle Cruise, as their record with movies based on theme parks rides has become a bit spotty. The film will apparently have Dwayne Johnson joining the project, as originally reported by The Hollywood Reporter. No director has been set, though it’s worth noting Requa and Ficarra have helmed several movies together, including Focus and insane, Stupid Love. Originally, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen were attached to star in Jungle Cruise, but the film never panned out.

Disney has sought to turn the theme park ride, which takes parkgoers on an exotic trip the though the Nile Rilver, the Congo River, and the Animal Kingdom, since 2004, when Pirates was at peak popularity.

A Jungle Cruise movie has always been in the works.

While there is now not many details attached to the Jungle Cruise project, it is now being described as an adventure film since the ride itself is a safari-based attraction. Pixar Studio Head John Lasseter was famously known for being a Jungle Cruise ride operator. Fired up about this one.

Sequa and Ficarra are now only set to write and not direct, though that could change once they nail down a story. Guess we’ll see how creative these screenwriters can be but convincing The Rock to lead your movie ain’t a bad first step in the casting department, at least. Johnson’s schedule is busy and Disney hasn’t been in any rush yet, so they’re probably waiting for the right script and moment to strike. He’s now filming Central Intelligence and he’s lending his voice to the upcoming Disney animated film Moana.