Jumanji: Open World releases December 25 as Sony confirms franchise finale

Sony Pictures has set a December 25 release date for Jumanji: Open World, the final installment in the current film trilogy.

The studio released a new trailer on Tuesday that showcases the ensemble cast breaking free from the video game console into the real world. Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Alex Wolff return to their roles from the previous two entries. The film is directed by Jake Kasdan, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg.

A central visual gag in the promotional footage involves avatar swaps. Johnson’s character is inhabited by the mother of the character played by Wolff, while Black’s avatar is taken by a male restaurant worker. The exchange features Black’s character commenting on Johnson’s appearance, prompting a flirtatious reply from the actor’s character.

The narrative follows the heroes as they wreak havoc outside the digital realm. New cast members include Nick Jonas, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Rhys Darby, and Danny DeVito. Matt Tolmach, Kasdan, Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia are listed as producers on the project.

This release caps a franchise that saw substantial commercial success in recent years. The 2017 reboot, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, earned over $950 million globally. Its 2019 sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level, grossed $801 million worldwide. Both films were directed by Kasdan and expanded the universe established by the 1995 movie starring Robin Williams.

The story adapts elements from Chris Van Allsburg’s 1981 children’s book. The upcoming film promises to conclude the arc of the teenage friends who were originally trapped as adult avatars in the previous installments.