Rock Kevin Hart May Be Starring Jumanji Reboot Yep
UPDATE (4/22/16, 1:30 p.m. ET): Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has taken to Instagram to confirm news that he's starring in the Jumanji reboot. It’s OFFICIAL: Love this script! he wrote, captioning a photo of him holding the film's script. [To] have the opportunity to tell their stories in dope new ways to a whole new generation is truly an honor... We’ll produce and deliver to a whole new generation a title that I love and is one of my all time favs: There’s games you play for fun... then there’s games that change your life. JUMANJI.
When Sony announced in 2012 that a Jumanji reboot was in the works, the studio promised to reimagine the story and update it for the present. Apparently, part of that strategy is to bolster the charm by tapping the comedic chemistry of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart .
Following their co-hosting stint at the MTV Movie Awards last weekend, Johnson and Hart -- who’ll also appear in this summer’s action-comedy Central Intelligence -- are reportedly in talks to co-star in the reboot. Variety reports that the two are moving toward a deal, but that a lot depends on the actors’ jam-packed schedules.
Director Jake Kasdan is already attached to direct the pic, which is billed as a new take on Chris Van Allsburg’s 1981 book about a jungle-themed board game that magically comes to life. The story was first brought to the big screen in 1995 by director Joe Johnston, with Robin Williams in the starring role.
Sure, Johnson and Hart's projects have mostly been at the PG-13 level, but who's to say they can't churn out some good old-fashioned, family-friendly fun?! These guys' chemistry is on a whole other level, so consider them capable of anything. ANYYYYTHING.
Giphy The as-yet-untitled Jumanji reboot is slated to begin shooting this summer, with its current release date penciled in for July 28, 2017.
