5 Minutes
Production kicks off — and it's bittersweet
The next chapter of the Jumanji franchise is officially underway. Studio and cast announcements, surfaced via the franchise's X account and Dwayne Johnson's social channels, confirm that Jumanji 3 has entered production in Los Angeles. A widely shared photo shows Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan gathered for a table read — a classic sign that a major family-adventure production is now rolling.
A last hurrah: this installment will close the series
Alongside the excitement, Dwayne Johnson delivered unexpected news: this will be the final movie in the current Jumanji run. Posting on Instagram, Johnson described the series as "a huge, funny and emotional adventure" and suggested that ending the saga with this film feels "beautiful and fitting." For fans who have followed the franchise since the 2017 reboot, the reveal is both a cause for celebration and a twinge of nostalgia.
Cast, crew and a respectful bridge to 1995
Jake Kasdan is back in the director's chair, co-writing the screenplay with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg. Alongside the leading quartet, returning cast members include Alex Wolff, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman and Morgan Turner. Newcomers Britney O'Grady and Bern Gorman join the ensemble, expanding the film's roster of familiar faces and fresh talent.
Perhaps most intriguing is Johnson's nod to the 1995 Jumanji, starring Robin Williams: a photo of the original poster and a dice pendant. Johnson explained that his character, Dr. Bravestone, will wear the same die seen in the 1995 film — a heartfelt, on-screen tribute to Williams. That detail has ignited speculation that Jumanji 3 may reconnect more directly with the original board-game mythology, potentially bringing the physical Jumanji board back into the storyline rather than the video-game conceit used in the two previous movies.
Where this sequel sits in the current cinema landscape
The Jumanji films have blended family comedy, action set pieces and video-game logic to build a profitable, crowd-pleasing franchise — similar to series like Night at the Museum or the more recent Goosebumps adaptations that trade on nostalgia and star-driven comedy. The move to declare this entry a finale echoes a broader trend: studios increasingly wrap trilogies cleanly to preserve legacy and merchandising value rather than stretch IP indefinitely.
There is also a tonal balance to consider. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and The Next Level (2019) leaned into video-game rules and avatar comedy. Bringing the board game back — or explicitly honoring the 1995 original — could give the trilogy a satisfying cyclical quality, reconnecting the modern films to the franchise's roots and to Robin Williams' enduring cultural impact.
Fan reaction, speculation and a few production tidbits
Social channels are already buzzing. Fans are excited by the return of the main cast and moved by the Robin Williams tribute; others speculate about cameos, Easter eggs, or whether elements from the 1995 film will be woven into the plot. The reading-room photograph signals an early-stage production in Los Angeles, and with Kasdan at the helm, audiences can expect the same blend of action-comedy that characterized the prior installments.
"Jumanji 3 has the rare chance to complete a modern trilogy with emotional resonance as well as spectacle," says film critic Anna Kovacs. "If it leans into the board-game mythos while honoring the performances that made the franchise beloved, it could be a genuinely satisfying finale."
Mark your calendars: Jumanji 3 is set to arrive in theaters on December 11, 2026. Whether the film closes the book on the franchise or simply pauses it, this final installment promises to be a nostalgia-tinged, star-studded ride that aims to honor its past while delivering family-friendly adventure and big-screen thrills.
Comments
atomwave
wow didn't expect that, a final Jumanji? bittersweet for sure. Love the Robin Williams nod, gives me chills. Hope they actually bring back the board game and not just video-game stuff. fingers crossed
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