After months of concept art leaks, press clippings, and many (many) Instagram posts from The Rock, the first trailer from the new Jumanji film is here.
The plot sees the classic tale updated for the millennial age. Gone is the boardgame that flings everyone into chaos, and instead, four high school misfits are sucked into a VIDEO GAME where everything seems to go south.
Which sort of adds a fun twist to things – it’s not The Rock has a hulking adventurer in the Jumanji reboot, but instead a gawky kid named Spencer will become heroic adventurer Dr. Smolder Bravestone, who is in turned *played* by The Rock.
Elsewhere, Kevin Hart will become “Moose Finabarr”, the avatar for a massive jock called Fridge. Jack Black's Professor Shelly Oberon becomes the avatar for a selfie obsessed "it girl" named Bethany. Meanwhile, Karen Gillan is Ruby Roundhouse, the rebel adventurer avatar for a bookish teenager called Martha.
The videogame twist confirms a long rumoured fan theory actress Karen Gillan had hinted at when first questioned about her outfit.
Directed by Jake Kasdan, the new Jumanji film (properly titled Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), will also pay homage to the Robin Williams’ original film. As Jack Black outlined in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, “We’re exploring this jungle and trying to conquer the game; it’s life or death.
“But while we’re there, we find clues left behind by [Williams’ character Alan Parrish]. He built up a full-blown jungle house, similar to a Swiss Family Robinson situation. It’s like he’s there helping us without actually being there.”
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is in UK cinemas 29 December