Original Jumanji star David Alan Grier reveals whether they've been approached for new sequels. The 1995 film, based on Chris Van Allsburg's classic children's novels, follows Judy and Peter Shepherd (Kirsten Dunst & Bradley Pierce), as they play a magical board game that transports its players into the game's inner world. They must free Alan (Robin Williams), who went missing as a child as he has been trapped in the game for decades. Grier starred as Carl Bentley, Alan’s childhood friend-turned-police officer.
Now, speaking with Screen Rant, the OG Jumanji star reveals whether they've been asked about returning for a new sequel, like the currently in-development Jumanji 4. While Grier shares that he would love to star in a new sequel, he has not yet been asked to join one. See what Grier had to say below:
Yes, by me, mostly [laughs]. You know, we're kind of in a space where a studio may own a property. They want to do a reboot of the property, but they don't want anything that refers to the original property. It's kind of like you divorce your partner, but keep their last name. But this a whole reboot.
What Are The Sequels To Jumanji?
After Jumanji's release, there have been three theatrical releases marketed as "sequels" to the film; the first being 2005's Zathura: A Space Adventure. Considered a spin-off, Zathura made no references to Jumanji, as it simply contained a similar plot and was also based on a book by Chris Van Allsburg. Zathura follows Danny and Walter Budwing (Jonah Bobo and Josh Hutcherson) as they begin playing a mysterious board game that transports them to outer space. An official sequel, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, was released in 2017. The film features new characters, with no original cast members returning to reprise their roles.
The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, and Bobby Cannavale. It takes on a modern perspective and follows four teenagers who find themselves stuck in a new version of Jumanji, a video game. The teens are trapped as adult avatars who must complete treacherous quests to escape the game. Jumanji: The Next Level, a sequel to Welcome to the Jungle, was released in 2019, and saw the return of one original cast member: Bebe Neuwirth. She reprised her role as Nora Shepherd, Judy and Peter's mom in Jumanji, in a cameo towards the end of the film.
What's Next For The Jumanji Franchise
The Jumanji franchise will continue, as Jumanji 4 is confirmed and under development, and will see the return of Johnson, Hart, Jack, and Gillan. However, there is no release date as Johnson's prior filming commitments have delayed the project. While little is known about Jumanji 4, the mid-credits scene of Jumanji: The Next Level sees the characters escape the game into the real world. While Grier admits to not being asked back, the possibility of a cameo from him or other original movie actors is not out of the question. However, it seems that a Jumanji 4 cameo is the furthest extent to which the original cast members may return, as the studio is focusing on the new world Jumanji has created.
