Jungle Cruise Adds Paul Giamatti

Finally chugging its way out of years of development, Disney's next planned adaptation of a theme park ride, Jungle Cruise, is growing its cast. The latest addition is Paul Giamatti.

Dwayne Johnson is starring in the film, which is set in the early part of last century. The Rock's playing a boat captain who must transport siblings Emily Blunt and Jack Whitehall through the Amazon's twisty waterways on a quest to find a tree that purportedly has healing powers.

But it won't be quite as easy as all that, with various challenges from nature and baddies such as Jesse Plemons and Edgar Ramirez also after the plant. As for Giamatti, The Hollywood Reporter has learned that he'll be a crusty harbormaster. Sounds perfect casting, though we're not sure if that means he just pops up early in the film or if he tags along for the whole thing.

Michael Green wrote the draft of the script that has sent the movie sailing into the production process, with Jaume Collet-Serra on directing duties and the cameras due to start shooting in the coming weeks and through the summer.

Giamatti, who last shared the screen with The Rock in San Andreas, is on our screens in the latest season of Billions and is part of the cast for apocalyptic indie drama I Think We're Alone Now.