Jungle Cruise is like Dwayne Johnson is in an Indiana Jones film, according to the movie's visual effects supervisor. The Disney film, based on the popular Disneyland attraction, stars worldwide superstar Johnson alongside Golden Globe nominee Emily Blunt. Jaume Collet-Serra (The Shallows) directs from a script written by Michael Greene (Logan).
Jungle Cruise marks Johnson's third time starring in a live-action Disney production. The actor first worked for the studio in 2007's The Game Plan, playing a football star who bonds with his 8-year-old daughter. Johnson then starred in 2009's Race to Witch Mountain, a family adventure about a cabbie protecting a pair of paranormally gifted kids from government agents. In 2016, Johnson provided the voice of Maui in Disney's animated hit Moana.
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Johnson's fourth collaboration with Disney, the action adventure Jungle Cruise, figures to be his biggest yet. Speaking to ComicBook.com, Jungle Cruise visual effects supervisor Jake Morrison teased what he sees as similarities between the movie and a certain other classic action film of the past. Morrison said:
"I mean I've got to say, I'm incredibly excited about the whole thing, it's really like Dwayne is in a new Indiana Jones film. It's Dwayne at his best, and that is a man with some severe charisma. And then we're putting him on this huge adventure, and they've just literally announced the female lead in the picture is Emily Blunt. So, we're really excited. We start principal photography ... well I'll probably blink and we'll be doing principal photography, but we are in prep right now. And that's going to be a very fun film."
Morrison's Indiana Jones comments echo remarks made by Dwayne Johnson himself back in December. Morrison too has spoken previously about the film, comparing it to another theme park ride-derived franchise, namely Pirates of the Caribbean. These are fairly lofty comparisons given the success of both the Indiana Jones and POTC films. Of course, when it comes to everything Johnson-related, things do tend to get a bit over-the-top.
Speaking of lofty comparisons, Morrison also spoke about director Collet-Serra, likening him to the great Alfred Hitchcock. The comparison maybe makes a loose sort of sense when you consider Collet-Serra's track record making suspense movies. His resume includes not only The Shallows, but also several Liam Neeson vehicles including this year's The Commuter. Then again, Hitchcock is not a name anyone should throw around lightly. Clearly, this is a confident production. Johnson's brash personality might be rubbing off on people over there at Disney.
As for Johnson himself, he will next appear in this summer's physics-defying action film Skyscraper. But first, he appears in the video game monster movie Rampage. Currently, Johnson is riding high on the success of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which has grossed $909 million worldwide. With that kind of box office clout behind him, Johnson arguably stands as the world's biggest star. Johnson's Indiana Jones-like adventure Jungle Cruise does not yet have a release date.
Next: Jungle Cruise is Like Pirates of the Caribbean
Source: Comicbook.com