Jaume Collet-Serra Directing ‘Kate Warne’

It’s a ‘Jungle Cruise’ Reunion as Dwayne Johnson is producing the new thriller, about a real-life female detective.

Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson and director Jaume Collet-Serra on the set of 'Jungle Cruise.'

Preview

Jaume Collet-Serra is on to direct a new action thriller called ‘Kate Warne’.
Emily Blunt is considering starring in the film as the title character, with Dwayne Johnson producing.
The script has been re-written but will still have to wait until the actors’ strike is over.

It looks like we have a ‘Jungle Cruise’ reunion in the works. No, the sequel has not chugged forward much given the dual strikes (though you can bet Disney will be looking to move this one along now that at least the writers’ action is over).

Instead, ‘Cruise’ director Jaume Collet-Serra is boarding the in-development detective thriller ‘Kate Warne’, which is being produced by Dwayne Johnson (who, of course, starred in the Disney ride adaptation).

And the ‘Jungle’ connections continue as Emily Blunt has been considering starring in this one for a couple of years now –– she was first mentioned as circling back in 2021 –– but, as Deadline reminds us, the actors are still on strike, so she has yet to make a formal acting deal.

She’ll be back to negotiating to star when the industrial action is over, but there is no sign of that just yet. Even if she doesn’t end up in the main role, she’s also a producer on the film, alongside Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions.

The Amazon-owned MGM is hoping that with Collet-Serra’s attachment, it’ll move forward once anything can shoot.

What’s the story of ‘Kate Warne’?

Emily Blunt in 'The English' which premieres November 11th on Prime Video.

‘Kate Warne’ is described as a propulsive action adventure built around Warne, a real life female Sherlock Holmes in a male dominated industry whose singular sleuthing skills paved the way for future women in law enforcement and forever changed how detective work was done.

Gustin Nash wrote the first draft of the script, but it has since seen a re-write (before the strike) with ‘Godmothered’s Melissa Stack taking over screenplay duties.

Who is Jaume Collet-Serra as a director?

(L to R) Director Jaume Collet-Serra and Dwayne Johnson on the set of New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Frank Masi. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This feels more in Collet-Serra’s wheelhouse –– he’s been known for the likes of Liam Neeson thrillers ‘Non-Stop’, and ‘The Commuter’, while he last made ‘Black Adam’ with Johnson in the title role –– than even ‘Jungle Cruise’ though he’s proved to be adaptable through his career so far.

He’s also been behind movies such as horror pic ‘Orphan’ and shark thriller ‘The Shallows’.

Next up for the director is ‘Carry On’, which sees Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek, a young TSA agent who is blackmailed by a mysterious traveler to allow a dangerous package through security and on to a Christmas Day flight.

The cast for that thriller also includes Logan Marshall-Green, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson, Dean Norris and Josh Brener.