Roughly a year and a half afterDwayne Johnsonsigned on to star in Disney’sJungle Cruise, the studio has finally given the green light to the project. Production is now slated to begin in the spring of 2018, with the studio beginning its search for a director to take over the project.Dwayne Johnsonwill also produce through his Seven Bucks Productions company, alongsideDany Garcia. The actor-producer took to his Instagram page earlier today to confirm the news, with the following statement.
“This is a big one we’ve been working on. Very excited to roll up the sleeves and work on building out this huge property with our Disney partners. This #JungleCruise script was hand delivered to me personally (on the set ofBallers) by my good bud and Walt Disney’s President of Production,Sean Bailey. Read the script twice that weekend and LOVED IT! Thank God, the script didn’t suck because Sean drove over an to deliver it. What really got me excited when I was reading it, was the bigger story here is so much more than just the words on the page. It’s the massive opportunity to create and deliver this level of quality and FUN to families around the globe. The movie, the ride, the fantastical world, the experience. Myself andDany Garciaare pumped up. This is the first step of many. Up next, we find our visionary director and we’ll have approximately 12 months of research, development, creativity and course the magic sauce… IMAGINATION. Shooting slated to start April 2018. As always, I’ll do my best to not screw this whole damn thing up. It’s thecruise of a lifetime.. and I’m your skipper. #JungleCruise #AllAboard #WhosGotMyBeer?”
Disney had previously been developing another version of aJungle Cruisemovie way back in 2006, whenSmallvillecreatorsAlfred GoughandMiles Millarwere attached to write the script. Then in 2011 the studio brought onToy StorystarsTom Hanks and Tim Allen, withRoger S.H. Shulmanwriting the script. That incarnation never took hold, but the project was revived whenThe Rockbecame attached to star in 2015.The Hollywood Reporterreveals thatJ.D. PayneandPatrick McKay, who were recently brought on as part of theKng KongandGodzillawriters room, most recently worked on theJungle Cruisescript.
Jungle Cruiseis one of Disneyland’s original attractions, which takes visitors through African rivers such as the Nile and Congo, where they encounter rhino and hippos, along with a section from South America’s Amazon River, where visitors can see piranhas. The earlier version which hadTom HanksandTim Allenattached to star was said to have a modern-day setting, but this new version will take the story back to the ride’s period roots. The story is said to be in the same vein as the 1952 classicThe African Queen, starringHumphrey BogartandKatharine Hepburn, which was said to be one of the original inspirations for the ride itself.Dwayne Johnsoneven revealed in September 2015 that the movie would be an “edgy period piece.”
Dwayne Johnsonwill produce alongside his Seven Bucks partnerDany Garcia, alongsideJohn DavisandJohn Foxof Davis Entertainment.Dwayne Johnson’s longtime collaborator,Beau Flynn, is also in negotiations to produce, after working with the actor onJourney 2: The Mysterious Island,San Andreas,Hercules,San Andreasand the upcomingBaywatch,RampageandSkyscraper.Dwayne Johnsonstarts shootingRampagefor New Line this spring, while his adventure movieSkyscraperfor Universal will start filming in China in late summer throughout the fall.Jungle Cruisewill be the next projectDwayne Johnsonshoots after a short break at the end of 2017, where he will also be promotingJumanji, which opens in December 22. Take a look atDwayne Johnson’s Instagram post below.
