‘Jungle Cruise 2’ Gets a Disappointing Update, Say Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt have revealed that a sequel to their 2021 hit, Jungle Cruise, may not be happening anytime soon.

The announcement came during an interview on The Awardist podcast with host Gerrad Hall, where both stars gave a simple but clear answer when asked about the long-rumored follow-up.

“I don’t think so,” Johnson said. The actor, who also produced the film, explained that changes in Disney’s leadership and the impact of COVID-19 on the film industry played a role in the decision.

“I think when Disney came under new leadership, they just shifted coming out of COVID. COVID shifted our business in a lot of ways. I think they looked at that property and thought, we did it once, not sure if we should revisit it again. Despite whether or not our chemistry was great.”

Blunt echoed his sentiment, adding, “They did not want to set sail again, and that’s fine.”

Jungle Cruise, inspired by the Disney theme park ride of the same name, starred Johnson as a riverboat captain and Blunt as a scientist searching for the legendary Tree of Life. The film also featured Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti, and was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra with a script by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, and Michael Green. Production took place in Hawaii and Georgia, with James Newton Howard composing the score.

The film premiered in July 2021 after delays caused by the pandemic, releasing both in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access. It earned $221 million at the global box office, slightly exceeding its $200 million production budget, but it received mixed reviews. In its first 30 days on Disney+, the film generated an additional $66 million. Initially, Johnson had hinted that Disney was interested in a sequel following the release.

Despite the possibility of a follow-up now being uncertain, the original film remains a notable entry in Disney’s live-action adventure slate, combining high-stakes action with humor and star power.

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