Get ready to roll the dice again—Sony’s beloved Jumanji franchise is officially returning to the big screen, with a brand new adventure slated to begin filming this November in Los Angeles. The as-yet-untitled sequel, widely referred to as Jumanji 4, marks the latest chapter in a series that has delighted audiences for nearly three decades. According to The Hollywood Reporter and ScreenRant, the film is scheduled for a December 11, 2026, release, setting the stage for another high-stakes, action-packed romp through the world of enchanted games.
Fans of the franchise will be thrilled to learn that the core quartet—Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan—are all returning to reprise their roles. This powerhouse ensemble has anchored the modern Jumanji films since their 2017 reboot, bringing heart, humor, and a hefty dose of star power to the series’ signature body-swapping antics. The chemistry among these actors has been a major draw, with their performances in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level helping those films gross $962.5 million and $800 million worldwide, respectively, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
But the returning stars aren’t the only familiar faces audiences can expect. Alex Wolff, Madison Iseman, Ser’Darius Blaine, and Morgan Turner—who played the real-world teens sucked into the game in previous installments—are all expected to return. Awkwafina, who joined the franchise in the 2019 sequel, is also set to reprise her role, though, as with many details about the film, specifics about her character’s involvement remain closely guarded.
The new Jumanji film is helmed by director Jake Kasdan, who has steered the franchise through its recent resurgence. Kasdan’s deft touch with action and comedy has been instrumental in updating the series for modern audiences, blending nostalgia for the original 1995 film with a contemporary twist that’s resonated with fans old and new. Kasdan is also among the film’s producers, joining a team that includes Matt Tolmach, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, and Dwayne Johnson himself.
Rounding out the creative team are screenwriters Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg, who return to pen the script. While plot details are being kept tightly under wraps—"kept in the console," as The Hollywood Reporter playfully puts it—expectations are high for another round of inventive challenges, wild set pieces, and the kind of heartfelt character moments that have become a Jumanji hallmark.
There’s excitement, too, about the fresh talent joining the cast. Brittany O’Grady, best known for her breakout role in the first season of HBO’s The White Lotus, is set to make her Jumanji debut. O’Grady’s career has been on a rapid ascent; she’s recently starred in Kathryn Bigelow’s anticipated drama A House of Dynamite (premiering on Netflix this October), the Netflix hit It’s What’s Inside—which made headlines as the largest Sundance sale of the year—and appeared opposite Daisy Ridley and Kevin Bacon in festival favorites. Her addition to the Jumanji ensemble is generating buzz, even though details about her character are still under wraps. O’Grady is represented by CAA and Suskin/Karshan Management.
Joining her is Burn Gorman, a versatile British actor recognized for roles in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Gorman has built a reputation for scene-stealing performances in both film and television, and his involvement hints at intriguing new dynamics within the Jumanji universe. Like O’Grady, Gorman’s character remains a mystery for now. He is represented by Verve and Management 360.
Jumanji’s roots stretch back to Chris Van Allsburg’s 1981 picture book, which first introduced readers to the idea of a magical board game that brings jungle mayhem into the real world. The concept leapt to the big screen in 1995 with a film starring Robin Williams, which has since become a family classic. The franchise lay dormant for more than two decades before being revived in 2017 as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. This reboot cleverly reimagined the game as a vintage video console, with four teens trapped inside as adult avatars—a twist that both honored the original and brought a fresh spin to the story.
The 2017 film’s surprise success—grossing nearly a billion dollars globally—cemented Jumanji’s place as one of Sony’s most valuable properties. Its sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level, continued the winning formula, expanding the mythology while retaining the humor and heart that endeared the series to audiences. Now, after several years of speculation and development, the franchise is ready to level up once again.
While the new film is sometimes referred to as the fourth in the series, there’s a bit of debate among fans: some see it as the third entry in the rebooted Johnson-led saga, while others count the original 1995 movie as the true starting point. Either way, the upcoming installment is poised to build on a rich legacy, with nods to both its origins and its modern reinvention.
Production is set to kick off in Los Angeles this November, with the cast and crew gearing up for what promises to be a large-scale shoot. Given the franchise’s penchant for elaborate set pieces and globe-trotting adventure, expectations are high for another visually spectacular outing. The producers have kept a tight lid on story details, but if the previous films are any indication, audiences can look forward to a blend of action, comedy, and heartwarming camaraderie—plus a few surprises along the way.
As anticipation builds toward the December 2026 release, fans are already speculating about what new challenges, worlds, and characters await inside the game. Will the Jumanji universe expand in unexpected ways? Can the returning cast recapture the magic that made the last two films such runaway hits? And what roles will Brittany O’Grady and Burn Gorman play in the next chapter of this ever-evolving saga?
One thing’s for certain: with its blend of star power, creative talent, and a proven track record of box office success, the new Jumanji film is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated blockbusters of 2026. For now, fans will have to wait for more details—but with production about to begin, the game is very much afoot once again.
