It’s official – there’s a Jumanji sequel on its way.
And that’s definitely a good thing.
During an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Sony Pictures boss Tom Rothman confirmed that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has shattered expectations… and now it’s getting a sequel.
“People forget that, in the movie business, big ideas can be as valuable as pre-existing intellectual property,” he explained. “That’s what the movie business used to be based on, and this film is a throwback to that.”
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Of course, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was based on the original Jumanji…
And that’s bound to have helped.
But I have to agree that Welcome to the Jungle does bring something new and unique to the table. The fact that it’s now getting a sequel of its own shows just how well the film has done, and it’s no secret that it smashed Star Wars: The Last Jedi in the Chinese market.
Interestingly enough, it looks as though the upcoming Jumanji sequel will take on Star Wars a little more directly this time around, with the film aiming for a Christmas 2019 release date.
Can Jumanji topple the Star Wars giant?
Well… probably not. But if Sony approaches this carefully, they might just win over the family audiences around the release of Star Wars 9. Direct competition on their opening weekend would likely spell disaster. But an opening date which comes in a little earlier or a little later could provide a welcome diversion for the holiday period.
And if it’s as fun as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, they may be onto a winner.
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Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle stars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and Jack Black, alongside Rhys Darby, Bob by Cannavale and Nick Jonas.
Jake Kasdan directed the movie, based on a script by Chris McKenna, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg and Erik Sommers.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle opened in cinemas on 20 December 2017.
