One of Disneyland's original rides, Jungle Cruise takes parkgoers into the depths of Africa and South America, floating down a river and encountering wild animals and headhunters along the way - without leaving the California themepark.

Now the former wrestler has been tapped to lead a similar journey, this time for the big screen. Johnson already has a relationship with Disney as the lead voice in upcoming animated film Moana.

The Jungle Cruise adaptation has been in the works at Disney for more than a decade, with Toy Story stars Tim Allen and Tom Hanks linked to a planned 2011 project, as a tour guide and a tourist, respectively.

This time around, movie executives are going for more of a period piece, akin to the classic 1951 Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn film The African Queen, which was one of the original inspirations for the ride.

Jungle Cruise isn't the only Disney themepark ride that has become a movie franchise - Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean were both based on attractions.