Robin Williams passed away in August 2014 at the age of 63, but this won’t stop his character from living on in the upcoming Sony Pictures film “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” set to premiere in theatres at Christmas.
Jack Black spoke to the Hollywood Reporter by phone recently about the "Jumanji" sequel from CineEurope in Barcelona, Spain. Black said that Williams did still have a role to play in the new “Jumanji” film as it features a tribute to the great comedian and Hollywood actor.
Robin Williams’ character leaves clues in ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’
The original film “Jumanji” hit the big screen in 1995 and as noted by the Hollywood Reporter, many members of the sequel's target audience probably weren’t around yet to watch that movie. However, according to Black, the sequel will make sure the original film’s biggest star will not be forgotten. The following is a clip from the original, showing Williams' character.
In the 1995 film, Williams played Alan Parrish, and his character helps in the current story by leaving the latest characters various clues. According to Black, in the new film, they are exploring the jungle and it’s a life and death struggle to conquer the game.
However, along the way characters discover clues left behind by Williams’ character, Parrish. He said Parrish had built a jungle house, similar to something from Swiss Family Robinson, and that it is like Parrish is helping them, without being there in person.
Inside the jungle of ‘Jumanji’
Black went on to explain the one major difference between the original “Jumanji” and the sequel “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” He said we never saw the inside world in the original, but the latest film is primarily set inside Jumanji’s jungle.
Black added that this was the coolest aspect of the movie, being able to take the audience to a wondrous and secret world, with all its beauty and dangers.
Between takes on the set of #JumanjiMovie. https://t.co/uOopB5nkxI pic.twitter.com/Sq4VkcgrNv
— Jumanji (@jumanjimovie) November 17, 2016
As noted by E!News, the basis of the story is that four high school kids find an old video game console.
On that console is an unknown game called “Jumanji.” The kids love the game’s jungle setting, where they can become whichever avatar they choose.
The players are Spencer (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), a brawny adventurer, Fridge, a football jock played by Kevin Hart, who becomes an Einstein. Bethany, a popular girl, suddenly morphs into the character of a middle-aged professor played by Jack Black. Karen Gillan plays Martha, a wallflower turned badass warrior.
In "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle," the group of kids is tasked with surviving – and beating – the scary jungle world before they can return home. Along the way, they discover clues left by Alan Parrish 20 years before (the nod to Williams) and find they have to change how they think about themselves or face being stuck in “Jumanji” forever.
The Sony Pictures film, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” is set to be released in cinemas on December 20, just in time for Christmas. The following is a fun teaser trailer for the film.
