The highly anticipated Jungle Cruise sequel is moving full steam ahead, and now the first skipper has reportedly boarded the project. The original fantasy adventure film, based on the Disney theme park attraction, starred Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti, among others. Up until now, it was not known who would be back for Jungle Cruise 2. However, a casting update has confirmed the return of a fan-favorite — and anyone who didn’t think this would happen was obviously in da Nile!
According to ComingSoon.net, industry insider Daniel Richtman revealed in a recent Patreon post that Johnson is returning for Jungle Cruise 2. When quizzed last year on making a follow-up to the 2021 Disney film, Johnson only expressed a vague interest in adding the project to his busy roster, but now it seems like he might have committed to embarking on another thrill-ride down the Amazon as wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff. At this stage, it is unclear who will be joining him, including Blunt, who co-starred alongside him in the first film.
Blunt played intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton, who, as noted in the synopsis, “travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila–his ramshackle-but-charming boat. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities–possessing the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest.”
‘Jungle Cruise 2’ Could Be a Worldwide Adventure
While the world-famous Jungle Cruise appears to have docked for a while (bearing in mind that it has now been over four years since the original adventure set sail), initial talk of a sequel suggested that it could expand to diverse locations, exploring the world far beyond the Amazon. This allows for a broader scope, similar to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, carving out a new story that diverts from the theme park attraction’s setting. Jungle Cruise producer and Seven Bucks president Hiram Garcia teased his plans back in 2021:
“I think one thing fans can expect is our heroes covering more territory. Our first movie mainly went between London and the Amazon, but for this next adventure we have much bigger plans. That coupled with the joy of seeing how Frank and Lilly’s relationship continues to evolve are just a few of the many things we’ve been having fun playing with as we break story.”
Matthew Robinson is reportedly handling the script for Jungle Cruise 2. Having previously penned the screenplays for Love and Monsters, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, and Monster Trucks, Robinson is no stranger to adventures, especially ones that involve monsters, so who knows what mysteries and supernatural entities the jungle cruisers might encounter on their second outing aboard their trusty steamboat. One thing we do know is that Johnson will be steering the ship, and he is almost certainly going to bring some pals along for the ride.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
