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On Instagram, Dwayne Johnson shared photos and a short video clip from a table read, where the cast and crew assembled to begin their next journey. In the post, Johnson revealed this next installment will be the “final film” for this particular group. “What a massive, fun, heartfelt adventure,” he wrote. “Feels emotionally appropriate for our beloved JUMANJI franchise to end on this beautiful grace note of our final film.” Check out Johnson’s full post in the space below:
Dwayne Johnson Is Returning to Jumanji at the Perfect Time
While Sony probably would have preferred if it didn’t take quite as long for the next Jumanji movie to come to fruition (The Next Level grossed over $800 million worldwide), the timing couldn’t have worked out better for Johnson. He’s in need of a comeback at the box office after some of his recent projects underwhelmed. Black Adam failed to launch a new superhero franchise, and The Smashing Machine bombed with the lowest opening of Johnson’s career as a leading man. Though Johnson remains interested in challenging himself as an actor (he’s developing a new mob movie with Martin Scorsese), returning to the Jumanji well at this point in time seems smart. This is a proven, reliable IP that should give Johnson a big hit.
The extended gap between installments might actually give Jumanji 4‘s box office prospects a boost. Audiences have had time to miss the film series, meaning there shouldn’t be a sense of franchise fatigue settling in. Once the marketing revs up, fans should be excited to see the cast reunited, displaying their strong chemistry and comedic chops once again. Plus, with Jumanji 4 being billed as the finale, it could feel more like a must-see cinematic event, paying homage to the enduring legacy of the franchise. Johnson has already revealed on Easter egg in the new film: his character wears a necklace with the dice from the original Jumanji, honoring the late great Robin Williams.
