The year was 2022. Despite the fact movie theaters had yet to see a massive box office resurgence at this point, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt’s Jungle Cruise managed to cross the $100 million mark. It seemed like it would all be smooth sailing from there. A sequel was reportedly coming down the pipeline, and Disney was ready to make another of its famous rides into a franchise. Then it all fell apart.
Four years have passed since Jungle Cruise was released into theaters, and The Rock was recently asked about his movie based on the popular Disney attraction. He said at D23 he really felt the movie got “kicked around by Covid,” which is fair and was a big concern at the time. In fact, he said he’d love the opportunity to get back to sequel talks again. I’m here for it, but I think there would 100% need to be a change.
Emily Blunt And Dwayne Johnson Don’t Work As Love Interests In This Franchise
Johnson and Blunt are hilarious together. They have great timing when it comes to comedy on set, and I can see why casting directors thought they were suited for the storyline in The Jungle Cruise. To me though, the romance in the movie is really the one thing that just doesn't work. The kiss toward the end of the movie is one of the most unromantic in history, and Emily Blunt herself joked about it.
I honestly think the movie would have been better off with the same three leads --Johnson, Blunt and Jack Whitehall -- without the romantic pairing.
Since we got the pairing no one wanted in the first movie, how refreshing would it be if the sequel set them up as exes now who had to work together again? Then, the second movie wouldn't have to be some ham-fisted attempt at a romantic + action-adventure + comedy a second time, and could focus on what makes the movie great: the characters' rapport. They do well with the tension part. The verbal sparring is spot-on, and they can absolutely carry a fun movie. I want to see more. I just really want this tweak.
I know The Rock and Emily Blunt are fine working together because they tried again in Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine. In that movie, Johnson played Mark Kerr, and Blunt played Mark’s girlfriend Dawn Staples. Again, they crushed a lot of dramatic and tense scenes, and all of their interview press runs have been delightful, but they just seem like such great pals.
So, I guess all I’m saying is, I am fully on board with The Jungle Cruise 2. I do actually think the first movie didn’t get a fair box office shake due to circumstances outside of its control, and I think The Rock and Emily Blunt work well together. I would just rather have them trolling each other than falling lovingly into each others’ arms. Is that too much to ask of a sequel?
OK Disney, the ball’s in your court now.
