New 'Jungle Cruise' trailer: The Rock, Emily Blunt and Jack Whitehall set sail for adventure

Emily Blunt and Jack Whitehall in a still from <i>Jungle Cruise</i>. (Disney)
Emily Blunt and Jack Whitehall in a still from Jungle Cruise. (Disney)

Disney has released a new trailer for Jungle Cruise, the upcoming action adventure film based on its popular theme park ride.

Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Emily Blunt, Jesse Plemons and UK comedian Jack Whitehall, the film comes to cinemas in July.

The swashbuckling film is described as “an adventure-filled, Amazon-jungle expedition starring Dwayne Johnson as the charismatic riverboat captain and Emily Blunt as a determined explorer on a research mission.”

The trailer reveals that Blunt’s character is on the search for a mythical tree that “heals all”. Brits host Whitehall is said to be playing Blunt’s sister in the film, and his involvement in the film caused a bit of a stir when it was announced in 2018.

According to a report by The Sun, Whitehall’s character is set to make history as one of the first openly gay characters in a live action Disney film. A source told the tabloid his role “hugely effete, very camp and very funny.”

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The Jungle Cruise is a river boat ride usually found in the Adventureland areas of Disney Parks. There are currently four in operation globally at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Emily Blunt and Jack Whitehall in a still from <i>Jungle Cruise</i>. (Disney)
Emily Blunt and Jack Whitehall in a still from Jungle Cruise. (Disney)

The ride simulates a river cruise aboard a 1930s-style tramp steamer, taking park guests on a gentle ride past a series of animatronic jungle animals, and was partly inspired by the 1951 film The African Queen. It has been open at Disneyland since the park first opened in 1955.

It joins the ranks of Pirates of the Caribbean and Tomorrowland in the small group of Disney attractions adapted into movies.

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in a still from <i>Jungle Cruise</i>. (Disney)
Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in a still from Jungle Cruise. (Disney)

Its been directed by Spanish filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra who will reteam with The Rock for DC Comics movie Black Adam when it shoots later this year.

Jungle Cruise comes to cinemas on 24 July. Watch the first trailer below.