The story of Disney's
The Jungle Cruise was
still a work in progress earlier this month, but it appears the studio is moving ahead with casting as it's been reported that rising British comedian and actor Jack Whitehall has signed on for the film.
Whitehall will join Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in the upcoming movie adaptation of the popular Disney theme park attraction of the same name. According to Variety, Whitehall will play the brother of Blunt's character in the movie -
"a key role in the storyline."
Not much is known about Disney's
The Jungle Cruise movie as the story and characters were still going through some refining earlier this month. Oscar nominee writer Michael Green (
Logan) penned the most recent draft of the script, rewriting the screenplay by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. Johnson recently
compared the movie to an Indiana Jones-like adventure, and Disney is hoping to develop it into a possible franchise in the same vein as its commercially successful
Pirates of the Caribbean series.
As for Whitehall, he's a stand-up comedian who created and starred in the popular British sitcom
Bad Education, which went on to also become a feature film. He also has a role in Disney's
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, which is due out this November. You can also catch his stand-up special
Jack Whitehall: At Large on Netflix.
Disney's
The Jungle Cruise does not yet have a release date.