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Dwayne Johnson and his friends are no longer anyone’s avatars in the first Jumanji: Open World trailer.
The latest installment in the hit action-adventure franchise is shaking things up as the eponymous game is bringing its various dangers to the real world, no longer contained in the console game cartridge of the past two films, while also bringing its heroic characters to life. Alongside Johnson, the ensemble Jumanji: Open World cast includes the returns of Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Alex Wolff, Madison Iseman, Morgan Turner, Ser-Darius Blain and Danny DeVito.
With some five months remaining until the film’s December 25 release, Sony Pictures has released the official Jumanji: Open World trailer. The action-packed footage offers the first proper indication of how the jungle setting of the eponymous game will cross over into the real world, including how Johnson, Black, Hart and Gillan’s characters will interact with those who previously embodied their avatars in the hopes of saving both realities. Check out the trailer below:
In bringing the game to the real world, Jumanji: Open World is officially living up to the cliffhanger setups from both prior installments. The franchise’s revival with Welcome to the Jungle originally included an ending teasing said story concept with Van Pelt’s vulture soaring out of the game console, only for it to be cut and the theatrical version instead seeing the teen characters destroy the console with a bowling ball. 2019’s The Next Level, meanwhile, saw said group shocked to see some ostriches from Jumanji running down the street of their small town after Morris’ Heater Repair Man character inadvertently reactivated the game.
It wouldn’t be the first time, however, that the Jumanji franchise has seen the jungle dangers come to the real world, as the Robin Williams-led film that started it all utilized said plot structure for its story. This is also more in line with Chris Van Allsburg’s original 1981 fantasy novel of the same name, and his sequel book Zathura, which was previously adapted into the Jon Favreau-helmed film.
While the majority of the franchise’s recent stars are confirmed to be returning, there are still a number of unknowns when it comes to Jumanji: Open World‘s cast roster. While reports have indicated that Awkwafina would be back as game avatar Ming Fleetfoot, no official confirmations have been made as of the time of writing. However, the sequel will also see the returns of Rhys Darby, Marin Hinkle, Bebe Neuwirth and Lamorne Morris, and introduce Brittany O’Grady, Burn Gorman, Dan Hildebrand, Jack Jewkes and Nasim Pedrad to the franchise.
Beyond the cast, the new Jumanji movie is also seeing Jake Kasdan back in the director’s chair after helming the previous two installments, and co-writing the script with franchise vets Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg. With its Christmas 2026 release date, the movie also looks to not only continue the franchise’s winter release trend, but also avoid the competition of Dune and Avengers: Doomsday.
Developing…
- Release Date
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December 25, 2026
- Director
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Jake Kasdan
- Writers
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Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, Chris Van Allsburg
- Producers
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Dwayne Johnson, Jake Kasdan, Matt Tolmach, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia
