As a movie enthusiast with a penchant for unraveling cinematic mysteries that span decades, I find myself intrigued by the enigma that is the Jumanji franchise and its latest development. Jake Kasdan, the director of the modern-day Jumanji installments, has shed light on the absence of certain characters from the original film in the new movies, citing “plot complications.
Jake Kasdan, the director behind the contemporary movies “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and “Jumanji: The Next Level”, which either continued or rebooted the cherished franchise, is now shedding light on why specific characters from the original film didn’t make a comeback. Fans have been eagerly anticipating appearances by actors from Robin Williams’ iconic 1995 portrayal in the new films, but as per Kasdan, “plot inconsistencies” are the reason for their absence.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Kasdan discussed his latest film, “Red One,” featuring Dwayne Johnson from Jumanji. The discussion soon steered towards the future of the Jumanji series. When asked about the potential reappearance of Kirsten Dunst‘s character, Judy Shepherd, in the 2026 sequel, Kasdan hinted at the possibility.
Ever since our shared experience on “Welcome to the Jungle,” I’ve developed a deep admiration for Kirsten. She’s simply extraordinary! When we embarked on that project, we aimed to preserve a touch of the original film’s magic, as it holds a special place in our hearts. We’ve always strived to pay homage and maintain its essence in some way.
It seems like life returns to its original state, as if nothing significant occurred. While some individuals recall the events that transpired, many others do not. The young ones are unaware because they didn’t experience the adventure, but Robin [Williams] and Bonnie’s characters retain their memories.
The final part of the tale is intricately crafted with a touch of ingeniousness, which has consistently made it difficult to proceed with their narrative. Yet, despite this complexity, we’ve relished the opportunity to devise a method that is engaging and retains some essence of the original story.
Well, it seems you’re proposing something that feels eerily familiar, as if we’ve tackled these challenges numerous times before, particularly during the reign of legacy sequels and heartwarming cameos. Funny enough, this predicament has already been addressed in the realm of Jumanji! I’ll delve deeper into that fascinating topic at a later time.
The director mentioned that he had discussions about bringing Bonnie Hunt back to the series, considering their collaboration on the film “Red One” with Kasdan. A reporter from The Hollywood Reporter inquired about this link between the two productions, and Kasdan responded: “I’ve been reminiscing a lot about our shared ‘Jumanji’ bond, and she’s simply marvelous. She’s an actress I’ve long admired working with, and this project provided the perfect chance to collaborate at last. It’s a modest but cherished role in the movie for me, and when she arrived, she was everything we hoped for.
The Future of ‘Jumanji’
The fourth installment of “Jumanji” is set to hit theaters in December 2026. During this project, Kasdan temporarily stepped away to work on his upcoming holiday film, titled “Red One“. However, he discussed with THR that taking a break between films has actually enhanced the overall production process.
Over the course of several years, we’ve intermittently dedicated ourselves to this project. Of course, during that time, I stepped aside to work on “Red One”, an endeavor that garnered significant attention. Bringing such a film to life required patience, dedication, and unwavering focus. Additionally, I was involved in producing the last two “Jumanji” movies successively. Those were four exhilarating years filled with enjoyment while creating those films.
It was beneficial for us to pause, momentarily detach, and regroup. This break allowed us some time to strategize about our next move, as well as ponder other thoughts. Coming back to it has been refreshing, and I’ve enjoyed diving back in recently. We are now brainstorming innovative ways to rejuvenate the parts we cherish most.
It’s worth mentioning that when it comes to characters from previous series appearing in new sequels, Jumanji has already done this by featuring Bebe Neuwirth in The Next Level. Her character, Nora Shepherd, is the aunt of the children from the original 1995 film. If they can bring Neuwirth back, it’s not impossible that Kirsten Dunst could make an appearance as well. Let’s wait and see what happens next, like rolling a dice.
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2024-11-17 21:04