This Christmas season, families can get together in the movie theaters and catch the action/adventure comedy "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle," the reboot of the 1995 classic film starring Robin Williams. It's a massive departure from the Joe Johnston-directed video from the 90's and stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan ("Guardians of the Galaxy," "Doctor Who"). The upcoming Jake Kasdan-helmed "Jumanji" reboot has fully revamped the concept of the game, now updating it into a video game that sucks in the characters and makes them play in person, in a dangerous jungle filled with wild animals and even wilder foes.
Based on the first trailers and sneak peeks, the players will be running away from huge rhinos and evil villains, with the help of a certain Nick Jonas.
Producer on what makes the film an 'action adventure'
The original "Jumanji" film from the 90s featured a board game that came alive, but the upcoming "Jumanji" reboot is a video game that kidnaps players and makes them play inside the game for real. Producer Matt Tolmach spoke to Screen Rant to shed light on why it's more of an "action adventure" than its predecessor.
Tolmach explained that while the 1995 film was set in a small town where suddenly big things happened, the new film is "very real stakes" because it's more about "a bunch of people stranded in the jungle having to get out...so naturally the tone became much more of an action adventure movie."
Matt Tolmach on the movie's comedy
The upcoming "Jumanji" reboot is filled with many comedic talents, including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black.
Karen Gillan, who stars in James Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise, also has comedic talent that she showcased in the sadly canceled ABC romantic comedy, "Selfie," which also starred John Cho. Producer Matt Tolmach explained that "both from an action standpoint, and a comedy standpoint, we wanted to turn up the intensity a little bit.
And let these people do what they do."
How it connects to the original film
The "Jumanji" reboot isn't entirely a makeover of the 1995 film, as it still ties into its predecessor. According to Collider, Karen Gillan explained the connection being that in the upcoming film, "We get to see exactly where [Robin Williams' character Alan Parrish] went and what it feels like and what it looks like I guess that’s the biggest difference." "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" opens in theaters on December 20.
