EXCLUSIVE: American restaurateur Steven Schussler, known for founding a string of theme restaurants including the Rainforest Cafe, is teaming with writer CJ Hoke on a biopic based on his book It’s A Jungle In There.
The memoir, titled It’s A Jungle In There: Inspiring Lessons, Hard-Won Insights, and Other Acts of Entrepreneurial Daring, is described as a blend of inspirational drama and comedic adventure, and the screen project, which is currently in the development and packaging phase, will lean into the “entrepreneurial shenanigans” that became Schussler’s signature, where “imagination often outpaced conventional business logic”.
Schussler got his career start early, running a neighborhood paper route and had more than a dozen jobs before turning 16. He went on to create five themed restaurants, including Rainforest Café, T-Rex, Yak & Yeti, and The Boathouse at Walt Disney World.
Hoke has been a writer on Apple TV+ series hit Shrinking and ABC’s long-running daytime drama General Hospital. Her credits also include American Gigolo and Best Foot Forward, as well as the plays Playground Games and Snow.
