We already knew we were finally going to get to see Disney's adventure tale Jungle Cruise this summer. Now, in an announcement made by star Dwayne Johnson, we know that audiences will have a choice to see it in cinemas or on Disney+ with the Premier Access charge. Here's what The Rock had to say on a brief break from moving metal in his Iron Paradise gym...
Jungle Cruise, the Mouse House's latest attempt to mine movie franchise gold from one of its venerable theme park attractions, had been in the works for a while, with a revolving door of directors and cast before it finally landed in the Rock's lap, with Emily Blunt co-starring.
Johnson plays cruise skipper Frank, who is caught in a financial bind. He sees an opportunity when Blunt's explorer Lily Houghton offers to pay him to take her on a dangerous expedition to find a fabled, life-giving tree. They’re initially butting heads, trading insults and pulling off a slew of stunts, but then join together to face off against a mysterious snake-covered entity. Think The Mummy, circa the Brendan Fraser films, but with more Rock.
Jaume Collet-Serra is the director here, and the film will be in cinemas (plus that Disney+ detail) on 30 July.
In related Disney release news, the company has announced that Marvel's Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings and the Ryan Reynolds-starring Free Guy will both release exclusively in cinemas – but only for 45 days, half of the traditional 90 days. After that, the films (Free Guy is set for 13 August, Shang-Chi for 3 September*) will move to VOD and Disney+.