Disney's The Jungle Cruise Adds Jack Whitehall To Its Main Cast

Jack Whitehall has officially boarded Disney's The Jungle Cruise. 

Variety confirms that the British comedian and actor will star opposite Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in the upcoming film. Whitehall will portray the brother of Blunt's character, a "key role" in the overall storyline. Additional details on Whitehall's role are being kept under wraps for now. We do, however, know that Johnson will play Frank, presumably the captain of the cruise, and Blunt is set to star as a passenger named Lily Houghton. 

The Shallows filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra will direct The Jungle Cruise, which is based on the classic Disneyland attraction that takes guests on a guided tour through the rivers of the world. Michael Green, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind Logan, wrote the most recent draft of the film's script, reworking the version penned by Star Trek 4 creatives J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. 

Just as the company had done with its billion-dollar Pirates of the Caribbean film series, also based on a theme park ride, Disney plans to develop The Jungle Cruise as the first installment in a possible franchise. 

Many know Whitehall as the creator and star of the British sitcom Bad Education, which later became a feature film. Whitehall has also appeared in Garry Marshall's Mother's Day, and will next be seen in Disney's Lasse Hallström-directed pic The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. His stand-up comedy special, Jack Whitehall: At Large, is currently streaming on Netflix.

The Jungle Cruise doesn't yet have an official debut date.