Jack Black in Talks to Join Dwayne Johnson in ‘Jumanji’ Reboot
It might be getting a little more difficult for Jumanji loyalists to remain skeptical of the reboot. As if the casting of Dwayne Johnson weren’t enough for you, today brings word that Jack Black is in talks to join the cast, while it appears that Johnson’s Central Intelligence co-star Kevin Hart has officially signed on. If you aren’t even remotely enticed by the prospect of watching those three get into shenanigans with an assortment of various jungle animals, then I don’t know what could possibly make you feel joy.
The Wrap reports that Black is in talks to reunite with Orange County director Jake Kasdan for Jumanji, the upcoming reboot of the 1995 film starring Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst. That film was based on Chris Van Allsburg’s beloved illustrated children’s book, which centers on a pair of siblings who discover a magical jungle-themed board game, only to find that the various creatures and hazards they encounter come to life.
Details on Kasdan’s reboot are scarce, but in a recent Instagram post, Johnson says his team has “edged up” the screenplay. In another post this week, the actor addressed concerns from fans of the 1995 film, and said that they have a “cool” way to honor Robin Williams in the reboot.
Black recently appeared in Sony’s similarly-themed Goosebumps movie, in which he played a meta-version of series author R.L. Stine.
Jumanji is currently slated for a July 28, 2017 release.