Disney's Jungle Cruise brings audiences along on an adventurous journey, and here's where the movie scenes were filmed, as well as how much CGI was used to bring the sequences to life. Released in theaters in July 2021, Jungle Cruise is the latest movie adaptation of a Disney theme park ride. The original narrative from the Jungle Cruise attraction indicated that the cruise was taking place on the waterways of Asia, Africa, and South America, but the storyline for the film is actually set along the Amazon River in South America.
Starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, Jungle Cruise follows the antics of steamboat skipper Frank Wolff and eccentric botanist Dr. Lily Houghton on a wild journey to find the Tree of Life. On their quest to seek out the Tree's healing powers, they encounter cannibals, wild animals, and even zombie-like conquistadors as the jungle's supernatural elements unfold. The movie also features Jack Whitehall as MacGregor, Lily's brother and reluctant assistant, and Jesse Plemons as the crazed Prince Joachim.
After the success of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003, plans to develop the Jungle Cruise ride into a motion picture began in 2004. The project was in limbo until 2011, at which point Tom Hanks and Tim Allen became attached. However, that version ultimately fell through, and Johnson was cast in August 2015 when Walt Disney Pictures began redeveloping. Blunt joined in January 2018 prior to a casting call for other characters, and filming for Jungle Cruise began in May 2018.
Where Jungle Cruise Was Shot
Though Frank and Lily traversed the Amazon River, Jungle Cruise wasn't filmed in South America; Hawaii and Georgia served as the filming locations instead. Specifically, production began in Hawaii at the Kapaia Reservoir in Kauai, where a port town was constructed along the water (via Disney News). The town of Lihue in Kauai was also used as a location for Jungle Cruise. The bulk of the film was then shot in Atlanta at Blackhall Studios, though some scenes took place at Oxford College of Emory University in Oxford, Georgia. Because so much of the movie took place at the studio backlots, this meant that the challenge was to create realistic jungle and cave surroundings.
How Much Of Jungle Cruise Was CGI
While certain aspects of Jungle Cruise - such as Johnson and Blunt's chemistry - were praised by some critics, the abundance and the quality of the CGI were not. This goes for much of the scenery and wildlife; Frank's domesticated jaguar Proxima, for example, was filmed using a stuntman in a leotard and CGI effects. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, even most of the river scenes were created with an animatronic boat, water tank, and green screens. If Disney ever creates a sequel to Jungle Cruise, it's evident that the budget should allow for more real-life filming.