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Behind the Scenes of Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE with the Cast

Photo from “Disney Jungle Cruise” Instagram

Behind the Scenes of Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE with the Cast

By Dr. Tom Snyder, Editor

The cast of Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE movie, now playing in theaters and streaming on Disney+, told the press recently they’re all very happy with the movie they’ve made.

“The movie is so much more than what I expected,” Dwayne Johnson said. “The charm of the ride [at Disneyland] is the simplicity of it and the education of it, too, as well…; and, the-the silliness of it, and the calmness of it too. You know, you go in the park, and there’s so much to do in the Disney parks. Then, you get on this ride, and it’s almost like you can exhale and really just enjoy the simplicity of the ride; but, our movie is anything but simple, with all the elements that we have. So, I think we delivered.”

“The element to the Jungle Cruise ride that I like the most,” Jack Whitehall said, “is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I think that that is definitely something that we took over into the movie. And, it has such ambition and scale, and it’s beautiful, and the sets are incredible, and the set pieces and the action. It’s got all of that. But, at the heart of it as well, it’s not a movie that takes itself too seriously. It has wit, it has humor. It’s got some of the best puns I’ve ever heard. It’s got Dwayne Johnson doing a standup comedy routine!”

“I’m so happy,” Edgar Ramirez said. “I adore the movie.”

“To be in a movie that is based on the most iconic attraction from the most iconic entertainment universe in history such as Disney, it’s so special,” he added. “And, to be with these amazing people, it’s incredible. What I love about the movie in general is that it has so many beautiful and great characters that allow you to be on a journey. It really puts you in a journey into the past. And, that is beautiful. You have all these fantastical elements, and that’s what I go to the movies for. I want to be on a journey. I want to be disconnected from reality. And be able to dream of fantastical places and fantastical characters and creatures. So, I’m very happy.”

Emily Blunt said the chemistry between her and Dwayne Johnson was “instant.”

“We were pals for life immediately,” she added. “We had this rapport that, like, ping ponged back and forth so quickly. I just thought we’re gonna have a good time. I knew it.”

“It’s very true,” agreed Johnson. “You hope to get lucky, you know, with your cast, and you like to try to have some chemistry.”

Making the movie “has been immensely rewarding,” Blunt said.

“It was made in the spirit of the films that we all grew up watching,” she said. “I mainline those movies into my veins. I just loved INDIANA JONES, ROMANCING THE STONE and THE AFRICAN QUEEN. They are just joy bombs, and they’re nostalgic, and I think we just needed to pierce people’s hearts directly with the spirit of those films that we all loved as children. It just took a lot of tempering and beautiful conducting from our director, Jaume [Collet-Serra], who was just extraordinarily free-spirited with us in this massive spectacle of a movie. Such a world builder, which you need for those adventure movies. You need it.”

“When we [Dwayne and I] first met Jaume, we both asked him the same question. We said, ‘Well, what do you feel this movie’s about?’ And, he goes, ‘You know, it’s about love.’ It was so perfect, ‘cause you could’ve talked about all the action, the spectacle and the myths and the legends and all that; but, that’s when I knew in Jaume we had an innate romantic and a world builder, and that’s what you need for this type of movie.”

Johnson said he was attracted to making the movie because of its nostalgia and the opportunity it represented.

“I had ridden the [Jungle Cruise] ride when I was a kid,” he recalled. “Many moons later, I went to Disney World for the first time and rode the ride then too as well. So, it had a nostalgic element to it when was first presented to me; but also, you know, really the opportunity that we had, that we could create something that was, hopefully unique and special. You hope to get lucky in a career where you have an opportunity like this where you can make a movie that’s based off an iconic ride that’s beloved, with the most trusted brand in the world when it comes to family and delivering entertainment for families. So, there were a lot of those elements that really spoke to me, and it started with the script, and it started with our director.”

For MOVIEGUIDE®’s review of JUNGLE CRUISE, go here.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.