Following roles in two summer hits (worldwide totals of $1.5bn (£1.15bn) for Fast & Furious 7 and $468m for San Andreas), Dwayne Johnson has signed on for another potential blockbuster.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the wrestler-turned-actor has taken the lead in Jungle Cruise, a film based on the Disney theme-park attraction. The script comes from John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, best known for Bad Santa, Crazy, Stupid Love and, most recently, Will Smith’s crime caper Focus.
Disney has tried to get the project off the ground since 2004 after the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, also based on one of their theme-park rides. Tom Hanks was originally attached to star.
The original Jungle Cruise ride simulates a riverboat that goes through major rivers in Asia, Africa and South America. Little is known yet about what the big-screen version will add to the concept.
It is one of a number of projects lined up for Johnson, who is currently starring in the HBO comedy Ballers. He’ll next be seen alongside Kevin Hart in the comedy Central Intelligence, then will be heard in a voice role in the Disney animation Moana. He’ll also be appear in the big-screen version of Baywatch, in Fast and Furious 8 and in video-game adaptation Rampage.
