Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt Say Jungle Cruise 2 Is Dead in the Water at Disney
After years of radio silence, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt say Disney has quietly scuttled Jungle Cruise 2, leaving the sequel dead in the water.
Bad news if you were holding out hope for Jungle Cruise 2. Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt pretty much waved it off themselves, and not in a coy, keep-hope-alive way.
What they said
On The Awardist podcast with Gerrad Hall, Johnson was asked point blank about a sequel to the 2021 Disney adventure. His answer was blunt — and then Blunt chimed in to make it even clearer.
"I don't think so."
"They did not want to set sail again, and that's fine."
Johnson explained that after Disney changed leadership post-COVID, the studio recalibrated and decided Jungle Cruise was a one-and-done, even if he and Blunt had great on-screen chemistry. Translation: the corporate math just did not favor a return trip down the river.
Why it stalled (the short version)
According to Johnson, the post-COVID reshuffle at Disney shifted priorities. The first film did solid numbers in a weird release landscape, but not the kind that automatically guarantees a franchise. Disney looked at the property and essentially said: we did it once, we do not need to do it again.
Quick refresher on Jungle Cruise (2011… just kidding, 2021)
- Release: July 30, 2021, in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access for an extra $30 — remember that era? The upcharge feels like ancient history now.
- Launch numbers: $34.2 million from theaters and another $30 million via Disney+ Premier Access.
- Total gross: about $221 million worldwide when all was said and done.
- Setting and story: Early 20th century. A riverboat captain named Frank (Dwayne Johnson) ferries a scientist (Emily Blunt) and her brother (Jack Whitehall) into the jungle to find the Tree of Life and its healing powers, while dodging deadly wildlife and a rival German expedition.
- Director: Jaume Collet-Serra.
- Also starring: Edgar Ramirez, Jesse Plemons, Paul Giamatti, Andy Nyman, Quim Gutierrez, Dani Rovira, Veronica Falcon, and Simone Lockhart.
The takeaway
Could Disney change its mind someday? Sure, anything can happen. But based on what Johnson and Blunt are saying now, Jungle Cruise 2 is not happening. If the studio wants another theme-park-to-movie swing, what ride should they adapt next?