Jungle Cruise producer Hiram Garcia confirms that the blockbuster movie's sequel is in the works. Inspired by the well-loved Disney theme park attraction of the same name, Jungle Cruise tells the story of a riverboat captain who reluctantly guides a scientist through the Amazon jungle in search of the mythical Tree of Life. The fantasy adventure film was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starred Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.
Jungle Cruise was 17 years in the making, having been in development since 2004. After multiple revisions, production finally pushed through in 2018. It was initially slated for a 2019-2020 release but got delayed due to COVID-19. It finally opened simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ on July 30, 2021. The movie grossed $220 million worldwide against a $200 million production budget. Its success provides the groundwork for future installments, and a Jungle Cruise sequel has already been confirmed with Johnson and Blunt reprising their roles.
In a recent interview with Collider, Garcia revealed that Jungle Cruise 2 is currently in development. Garcia worked on the original film through Johnson's Seven Bucks Productions, which co-produced the movie with Disney. He confirmed that they are already working with a team of writers for the sequel. According to the producer, they already have a working premise for the story and are just waiting for the go-signal to head into production. He also said that director Collet-Serra will be back to helm the exciting project. Read his comments below:
"We have an idea of what we want for the story, and we're [in] the process of just pushing that along and honing it. But, yeah, it's an ongoing process, and we are cooking with it, and it is in development. It's part of the game of this business where our job as producers is to keep several boulders moving and we're pushing each one up just a little bit at a time every day trying to get it over the hill ready to go to be green-lit and shot. Jungle Cruise is one of those that's a priority, and we spend a lot of time pushing that boulder every day."
Interestingly, Jungle Cruise opened to mixed reviews with critics saying that its plot has been seen many times in films from the same genre. However, audiences loved the movie for its family-friendly entertainment value. Many viewers also praised Johnson and Blunt's brilliant performances. Despite the opposing reviews, Jungle Cruise is considered to be a commercial success. Given the circumstances brought about by the pandemic, the movie's day-and-date release was a hit both at the box office and on Disney+. More importantly, its achievement lies in the fact that it proved moviegoers were ready to enjoy the cinemas once again, paving the way for other films to follow suit.
It can be said that the upcoming Jungle Cruise sequel, which Garcia emphasized as a "priority" project for both Disney and Johnson's production, is a make-or-break film. If Johnson and Blunt's chemistry performs well at the box office again, it could usher another mega-franchise for Disney much like Pirates of the Caribbean. This time around, fans hopefully don't have to wait years before the much-anticipated second installment hits the big screen.
Source: Collider