‘Jumanji’ Remake To Get 21st Century Update, Starring Dwayne Johnson

It has been revealed that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the sequel to the 1995 film, Jumanji, will have a modern flare, at least when compared with the original film.

While the original, if one needs reminding, was about a magical board game and the man trapped inside it (Robin Williams), Welcome to the Jungle makes the story a little more relevant to kids born after 2000 by making the source of magic an old video game.

Although the original premise still stands – teens will get trapped inside a dangerous jungle, filled with animals and other beasts set on killing them – in Welcome to the Jungle, four teens will materialize as four of the characters in the video game.

Becoming characters nearly opposites of themselves, one teen will become a girl-crazed jock named Dr. Smolder Braveston (Dwayne Johnson), one will become a miniature genius named Moose Finbar (Kevin Hart), one will become a bookish professor named Shelly Oberon (Jack Black), and one will become an amazonian warrior named Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan).

Beyond that, little is known – particularly, if there is a villain of human form.

Johnson, who frequently shares news of the film’s he stars in through social media, was one of the first to break news of the new project back in September.

“We’re makin’ a good one. More to come, ” Johnson teased.

EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: #JUMANJI Our dope 90’s vintage costumes will all make sense when our plot’s revealed. Truuuuuust me???. The journey continues.. “Moose Finbar” (Kevin Hart). “Ruby Roundhouse” (Karen Gillan). “Professor Shelly Oberon” (Jack Black). “Dr. Smolder Bravestone” ’cause well.. he smolders. Hard workin’ and FUN first day of shooting in the jungle with this talented and crazy motley crew. Jack is brilliant, Karen is bad assery, Kevin is sharply hilarious and I smell good. Extremely hard trying to keep a straight face in these scenes. Too funny. We’re makin’ a good one. More to come.. #JUMANJI #WishFulfillment #TheGameThatPlaysYou

A post shared by therock (@therock) on Sep 20, 2016 at 8:29am PDT

Johnson has been particularly vocal about expressing his gratitude to the family of the original film’s star, the late Robin Williams. In several Instagram posts, Johnson has assured audiences that the new Jumanji will honor Williams’s character in the film, Alan Parrish.

“And finally, like so many of us, Robin Williams was a hero of mine and one of the main reasons why I signed on and wanted to make and produce this film,” Johnson wrote in one of his captions.

“Thank you to the William’s family for their support. I truly believe we made something you guys will be proud of.”

That’s an official wrap on #JUMANJI! (just wait to the end of this to hear what @jackblack felt he had to announce;). As I’m saying in this vid, I can’t express my gratitude enough for our incredibly hard working and brilliant production crew – the backbone and spirit of our business. THANK YOU and look forward to seeing you all down the road. We made a great movie that honors and evolves the cool and dangerous #Jumanji mythology – one that that I think the world’s gonna dig. And finally, like so many of us, Robin Williams was a hero of mine and one of the main reasons why I signed on and wanted to make and produce this film. Pay homage to the legend of “Alan Parrish” (name of Robin’s character in the original). Thank you to the William’s family for their support. I truly believe we made something you guys will be proud of. Until then that’s a DJ wrap. And to quote ol’ Luke the Drifter, Hank Williams himself… If the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, I’ll see you down the road. #Jumanji #OfficialWrap #AndJackBlackWithTheTurtleHeadAction #NiceOneBuddy ???

A post shared by therock (@therock) on Dec 7, 2016 at 10:00pm PST

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is directed by Jake Kasdan (Bad Teacher, Orange County) and will be in theaters on December 22, 2017. A trailer has yet to be released.