Jumanji: The Next Level is an upcoming American fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan and written by Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg. It is the second sequel to 1995’s Jumanji, following 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and the overall fourth installment of the Jumanji franchise.
The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, and Madison Iseman, reprising their roles from the previous film, alongside newcomers Awkwafina, Danny Glover, and Danny DeVito. It is scheduled to be released on December 13, 2019, by Sony Pictures Releasing under its Columbia Pictures label.
Dwayne Johnson as Dr. Smolder Bravestone: Eddie’s avatar (who was previously Spencer’s); a strong, confident archaeologist, explorer, and the leader of the team. Zachary Tzegaegbe will portray a young Smolder Bravestone.
Danny DeVito as Eddie Gilpin: Spencer’s cranky, but well-meaning grandfather.
Jack Black as Professor Sheldon “Shelly” Oberon: Fridge’s new avatar (who was previously Bethany’s); a paleontologist, archaeologist, cartographer, cryptographer, and geometric.
Ser’Darius Blain as Anthony “Fridge” Johnson: A Brantford High School football jock, who cares more about football than studying. He and Spencer, who were childhood friends, reconciled by the end of the previous film after years of disassociation. His experience as Franklin “Mouse” Finbar in Jumanji helped him learn to rely on others and his brain rather than brawn.
Kevin Hart as Franklin “Mouse” Finbar: Milo’s avatar (who was previously Fridge’s); a diminutive zoologist, Linguistic and weapons specialist.
Danny Glover as Milo Walker, Eddie’s eccentric friend.
Karen Gillan as Ruby Roundhouse: Martha’s avatar; a commando with talents in martial arts and is now able to wield nunchucks.
Morgan Turner as Martha Kaply: A shy and cynical intellectual at Brantford High School. She and Spencer started a romantic relationship at the end of Welcome to the Jungle. Her experience as Ruby Roundhouse in Jumanji helped her learn to not be judgemental and to be more confident with herself.
Nick Jonas as Jefferson “Seaplane” McDonough: Spencer’s avatar; a young aircraft pilot.
Alex Wolff as Spencer Gilpin: A nerdy student at Brantford High School, who is Eddie’s Grandson, his previous experience as Smolder Bravestone in “Jumanji” helped him cope with anxiety and panphobia and to develop assertiveness. Spencer rebuilt “Jumanji” after Fridge had destroyed it. He then gets sucked into the game for a second time, and his friends, grandfather, and his grandfather’s friend follow with a plan to rescue him.
Madison Iseman as Bethany Walker: A pretty, popular, egocentric, teenage girl at Brantford High School. Her first experience as Sheldon Oberon in Jumanji helped her learn to care more about others. In Bethany’s next visit to Jumanji, she ends up in the body of a black horse named Cyclone which serves as her avatar.
Additionally, Dania Ramirez, Rory McCann, Lamorne Morris, and Lucy DeVito have been cast in undisclosed roles. Massi Furlan and Ashley Scott will appear as Renaldo and Ashley, respectively, and Bebe Neuwirth will reprise her role as Nora Shepherd from the original film.
After the release of the previous film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, and Nick Jonas had discussed in interviews what a possible Jumanji sequel would be about, including the possibility of the film exploring the origins of the titular game.
Karen Gillan had also said that the alternate ending for Welcome to the Jungle would have left the door open for another movie. In February 2018, it was announced that Kasdan would direct the sequel, with Rosenberg and Pinkner again writing the script and Johnson, Hart, Black, and Gillan reprising their roles.
On February 22, 2019, Black confirmed the new film as being a fourth Jumanji film because of Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) serving as the second film and sharing continuity with the other films of the series, with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle serving as the third film. In July 2019, the film’s title was revealed as Jumanji: The Next Level.
Henry Jackman is set to create the musical score after previously working on the previous film.
In the United States and Canada, the film is scheduled to be released on December 13, 2019. The film was released on December 5, 2019, in China, Singapore, Malaysia, and several other Asian countries. In the Nordic countries, the film premiered in cinemas on December 6, 2019. The film’s Australian release date is December 26, 2019.
The first trailer was released on July 1, 2019. A second and final trailer was released on October 31, 2019.
