Thirty years after the original film first saw the jungle explode into a suburban neighborhood, Jumanji fans are finally getting the sequel they have always wanted. Sony Pictures has released the first official photo from the upcoming fourth installment in the franchise, confirming that the high-stakes action will leave the video game world behind and spill out into reality.
A Massive, Global Sensation
The Jumanji saga began in 1995 with Joe Johnston’s adaptation of the Chris Van Allsburg book, starring Robin Williams, which grossed over $260 million globally (over $550 million adjusted for inflation) and became a cultural sensation. After a two-decade hiatus, the franchise successfully pivoted with 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, that film flipped the script by taking players inside the game, leading to even greater box office success with over $960 million worldwide. The 2019 sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level, also proved a powerhouse, earning over $800 million.
The new sequel, which currently has no official title, is scheduled to arrive during the Christmas 2026 holiday season, picking up directly on a tease that fans have been anticipating for years.
Avatars on the Loose in the City
The first official photo from the set confirms the long-awaited twist: the game is now in the real world. In the image, Dwayne Johnson’s Dr. Xander “Smolder” Bravestone, Kevin Hart’s Franklin “Mouse” Finbar, Jack Black’s Professor Sheldon “Shelly” Oberon, and Karen Gillan’s Ruby Roundhouse all appear as their video game avatars, standing fully costumed on a city block in Los Angeles.
This turn directly pays off the mid-credits scene of The Next Level, which showed the video game being triggered by a repairman, allowing a herd of ostriches to stampede into the real world. More importantly, it brings the contemporary franchise in line with the concept of the original 1995 film, where the jungle followed the board game’s players home.
The new premise opens up hilarious possibilities, as the confident, highly-skilled avatars must now co-exist with the neurotic teenagers whose personalities they normally embody inside the game. For instance, the ultra-confident Bravestone, who is the avatar for the shy Spencer (Alex Wolff), will presumably now share the screen with his human counterpart, creating a comedic dynamic fans are eager to see.
Honoring the Franchise Finale
Confirming the gravity of this installment, Dwayne Johnson posted a video from the set, calling the upcoming film the “very last Jumanji, big finale.” He also revealed a major Easter egg as a nod to the franchise’s origins.
“As you see, a little Easter egg with Doctor Bravestone, the dice from the original Jumanji with Robin Williams as a show of respect and a way of honoring Robin and this entire franchise that he started,” Johnson said on social media.
With the game’s stakes now literally crossing into reality and a commitment to wrapping up the storyline, this Christmas 2026 adventure promises to be the franchise’s biggest and most emotionally resonant chapter yet.
