Disney Scraps Jungle Cruise Sequel Despite Johnson and Blunt’s On-Screen Chemistry

Disney has officially canceled plans for a Jungle Cruise sequel. Stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt confirmed the news. The decision was made by Disney’s new leadership after the pandemic. The original film was a financial success upon its release.

The movie grossed $220 million globally during a difficult time for cinemas. Despite the strong chemistry between its lead actors, the studio has decided not to revisit the franchise. This reflects broader shifts in the industry’s strategy post-COVID.

Studio Leadership Shift Alters Franchise Course

Johnson explained the situation on a recent podcast. He stated that Disney’s new management reassessed its properties. The business landscape changed dramatically after the pandemic. This led to a reevaluation of which projects to greenlight.

According to Reuters, such strategic pivots are common after corporate leadership changes. Bob Iger returned as CEO after a brief tenure by Bob Chapek. The new team often makes different creative and financial decisions than their predecessors.

Stars Move On to New Collaborative Project

Despite the sequel’s cancellation, the two stars continue to work together. Their new film, The Smashing Machine, is a biopic of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Johnson portrays Kerr, with Blunt playing his wife, Dawn Staples. This demonstrates their successful professional partnership continues.

The focus now shifts to their new dramatic project. This move signifies their ability to transition beyond a single franchise. Their collaboration remains strong, even as one of their joint ventures concludes.

The future of the Jungle Cruise franchise is now clear. Disney will not be producing a sequel. That ship has sailed for the popular adventure film.

Thought you’d like to know

Why was the Jungle Cruise sequel canceled?

Disney’s new leadership decided against it after the COVID-19 pandemic. They reassessed the property and chose not to move forward, despite the first film’s success.

How much money did the first Jungle Cruise movie make?

The film earned $220 million at the global box office. This was a strong performance given its release coincided with the pandemic.

Are Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt working on anything else together?

Yes, they are starring in a new film called *The Smashing Machine*. It is a biopic about MMA fighter Mark Kerr.

Who is the current CEO of Disney?

Bob Iger is the current CEO. He returned to the role after Bob Chapek’s tenure from 2020 to 2022.

Trusted Sources

Reuters