When envisioning perfect pairings, a towering 6ft 5 wrestling champion and a petite, Oscar-winning British actress might not be the first to come to mind—they seem like polar opposites.
But somehow, it works wonders!
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Emily Blunt co-starred in the Hollywood hit Jungle Cruise, a Disney film that premiered in 2021.
Beyond their on-screen chemistry, we also got a glimpse into their off-camera rapport.
The movie takes inspiration from the Disneyland theme park ride, offering a boat adventure along a river filled with dangerous animals.
The film achieved box office success, grossing slightly over $220 million, although it had a hefty budget of $200 million.
Reportedly, Johnson received $13 million more than Blunt for their roles, with Blunt earning $9 million.
Prior to filming, the 52-year-old ex-WWE champion was already cast as the lead, but he specifically wanted 41-year-old Blunt—who is married to The Office star John Krasinski—as his co-star.
So what did he do?
He created a video for the producers to present to her, aiming to persuade her to join the cast.
Johnson explained to the Hollywood Reporter: “I must have shot it about five or six times because I had not communicated with Emily yet. I had not even met her.
“And I wanted to let her know via this video just how important she was to this movie and how I only wanted her in this movie.
“And it was great. And I … I actually never heard again from Emily. Didn’t respond at all. Just ghosted me.”
But the pursuit didn’t end there; the director traveled to New York to visit Blunt at her Brooklyn home to try and convince her, but to no avail.
Responding to Johnson, she humorously remarked: “I thought the video was sweet. Didn’t know you were going to be so sensitive.”
So what changed her mind?
After finally reading the script and learning it would have an Indiana Jones vibe, she agreed to join… and who could resist a $9 million payday?
If you’re eager to see more of Blunt and Johnson together, there’s good news—they are set to star in The Smashing Machine, a biographical sports drama portraying the couple as husband and wife.
Johnson will take on the role of former wrestler and mixed martial artist Mark Kerr, with Blunt playing his partner.
The film is scheduled for release next year.