When Joe Johnston’s JUMANJI came out in 1995, it met with mixed reviews and was a modest success, but became a bit of cult classic on home video, thanks largely in part to Robin Williams’ sincere leading performance in a rather outrageous story. Jon Favreau’s ZATHURA hit theaters 10 years later, though many people didn’t realize it was intended to be a loose sequel to JUMANJI, sporting a very similar premise. Now, 22 years later, we’re finally getting an “official” sequel in JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE. Directed by Jake Kasdan (BAD TEACHER), this one stars Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and Nick Jonas. This time around the “game” is a video game that takes kids inside of the adventure, giving them adult counterparts. The trailer pretty much explains it below. You’ll notice that Nick Jonas isn’t being shown very prominently, even being digitally removed from certain shots here, which has us wondering if he’s perhaps playing an in-game counterpart to Alan Parrish (Robin Williams’ character from the original) and the studio wants to keep him a bit of a secret. Take a look at the new trailer for yourself and tell us your thoughts in the comments.
In the brand new adventure Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the tables are turned as four teenagers in detention are sucked into the world of Jumanji. When they discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of, they are immediately thrust into the game’s jungle setting, into the bodies of their avatars, played by Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan. What they discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji -Jumanji plays you. They’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, or they’ll be stuck in the game forever…
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
