Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are both A-list actors, having contributed to many notable films. Johnson is the reliable box office draw of the two of them. The films in which he has been a leading actor have collectively made over $6 billion at the global box office, making him the no. 14 highest-grossing actor.
Blunt, on the other hand, has straddled both blockbusters and more critically acclaimed content over the course of her career. She was nominated for an Oscar for her work in Oppenheimer, a Best Picture-winning Christopher Nolan film that also ended up making a lot of money. On the blockbuster end, she has been in movies such as Edge of Tomorrow and A Quiet Place.
Blunt and Johnson have also come together on a notable film. This was the 2021 movie Jungle Cruise, which was based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name. The PG-13 movie was largely a comedy, but featured supernatural elements. In addition to Blunt and Johnson, the cast included Edgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, Paul Giamatti, and Dani Rovira.
Jungle Cruise made $220 million in theaters, which while notable, likely did not recoup the movie’s $200 million budget after considering the cost of marketing and publicity. That said, the prospect of Jungle Cruise 2 is still in the conversation. While this project could be a good choice for Blunt and Johnson to continue collaborating, they also have other upcoming projects that are even more exciting.
Dwayne Johnson’s Two Upcoming Movies With Emily Blunt Explained
The Pair Will Be In The Smashing Machine And A Martin Scorsese Movie
The first of Johnson and Blunt’s movies together will be the A24 film The Smashing Machine. This film sees Johnson play the real-life UFC champion Mark Kerr, whose life was previously chronicled in the 2002 HBO documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr.
Blunt will play Dawn Staples, Kerr’s ex-wife, in the the film. Blunt and Johnson are joined by supporting cast members that include Marcus Aurelio, Ryan Bader, Oleksandr Usyk, Paul Cheng, and Ismail Elfallahi. The film is written and directed by Benny Safdie, and set for release on October 3, 2025.
The pair’s other project together is still untitled, but it will be one of Martin Scorsese’s next movies. This film will be a historical crime thriller set in 1970s Hawaii, which will chronicle a local crime boss who rises to power while trying to protect his ancestral land. The film is thought to be inspired by the true story of Wilford “Nappy” Pulawa.
Johnson is said to play the lead role of the crime boss in the Scorsese film, which Blunt will also star in. The cast is also led by Leonardo DiCaprio, who frequently appears in Scorsese’s works. Blunt and Johnson are also set to serve as producers on the film.
Dwayne Johnson & Emily Blunt’s Reunion Movies Are Both Very Exciting
They Are Made By Impressive Directors
Both The Smashing Machine and the Scorsese project are very exciting films for these two actors. As for the former, it will be the first solo feature directed by Safdie since his creative split with his brother and directing partner Josh Safdie.
The Safdie brothers made impressive films, including Good Time and Uncut Gems, so it will be interesting to see what they do in their solo careers. The Smashing Machine will also be an interesting throwback to what originally made Johnson famous, harkening back to his own fighting origins. This will allow the actor to show off his physical strength while also making the role his own.
While either could do well at the box office, they are made by directors that seem much more focused on high-quality filmmaking than profit.
As for Scorsese’s film, this will mark a career-first for both Blunt and Johnson. Working with the Oscar-winning director is a huge honor for any actor, but it is one that neither Jungle Cruise star has gotten an opportunity to be involved in yet. This could be a great opportunity for either or both of them in their careers.
Furthermore, the film itself is exciting as it is another potentially great film by Scorsese. Despite being 82 years old, Scorsese is not slowing down creatively. His last film, Killers of the Flower Moon, was Oscar-nominated and generally well-received. As such, there is reason to believe that the octagenarian could produce another great one with this Hawaii-based feature film.
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All 8 Martin Scorsese Movies From The 2010s, Ranked Worst To Best
The 2010s saw Martin Scorsese continuing to work with De Niro and DiCaprio, making great docuementaries, and even trying his hand at a kids’ movie.
Both that film and The Smashing Machine are far more exciting upcoming titles than the potential Jungle Cruise 2. While either could do well at the box office, they are made by directors that seem much more focused on high-quality filmmaking than profit. They are also both tel original stories, rather than expanding upon an existing story with a sequel.
That said, the dynamic between Johnson and Blunt’s characters was far and away the best aspect of Jungle Cruise. As such, their relationship could be brought back to an entertaining level if given the opportunity to make the sequel, even if these other films are more exciting.
Dwayne Johnson Is Shifting His Career In A Different Direction
He Is Delving Into More Serious Work
Another reason that these films are exciting is that they are emblematic of Johnson’s massive career shift. Up until this point, action movies and goofy comedies had dominated his filmography. Now, he seems to be choosing roles that establish himself as a more serious actor.
The Smashing Machine has already gotten buzz in this regard. It will see Johnson play a dramatic role as he portrays a real-life person. The Smashing Machine trailer shows that this role will be very intense, not seeming the slightest bit humorous.
His higher-caliber acting roles do not stop there. After The Smashing Machine, Johnson is set to reteam with A24 on the movie Breakthrough. This film will be a thriller about a man who ends up enraptured by a self-improvement guru.
Aronofsky has previous experience with A24 through his 2022 film The Whale.
Something Breakthrough, The Smashing Machine, and the Hawaii-set film have in common is that they are all by highly respected directors. Safdie might be newer in his career, but Scorses and Breakthrough‘s Darren Aronofsky are well-established. Working with such notable talent will also help further elevate Johnson’s career as he takes things in a new direction.
Will The Rock & Emily Blunt Still Make Jungle Cruise 2?
They Will Be Pretty Busy
Jungle Cruise 2 was once confirmed to be in development by its producer, but progress on the film has been slow. This leads to uncertainty whether the movie will actually happen.
Last year, Johnson offered up a particularly lackluster response to the prospect of a Jungle Cruise 2. When asked about the film, Johnson said that he would be interested in making the film “down the line,” but that they would have to see.
Blunt and Johnson’s busy upcoming slates seems to make Jungle Cruise 2 less likely. If Johnson leans even further into the more serious side of his acting career, that could further push him away from the Disney sequel. Even if the adventure movie ultimately happens, it would be reasonable to say that Jungle Cruise 2 is still going to be pushed “down the line.”
