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20 facts you might not know about 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'
Sony

20 facts you might not know about 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle'

You may have been into a video game, but you’ve never been in a video game. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle uses that premise in borrowing from an old film and trying to bring it to modern times. It was a big swing met with skepticism. Then, it turned into a big success. Welcome to our list of 20 facts you might not know about this return to the world of Jumanji.

 
1 of 20

Technically, it’s the third “Jumanji” movie

Technically, it’s the third “Jumanji” movie
Sony

Jumanji came out in 1995 and was a big film that year. However, do you remember 2005’s Zathura: A Space Adventure? It’s also based on a book by Chris Van Allsburg, who wrote Jumanji. That being said, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is considered a direct sequel to Jumanji and has nothing to do with Zathura.

 
2 of 20

Sequel plans started in the ‘90s

Sequel plans started in the ‘90s
Sony

Plans for “Jumanji 2” got serious in the late ‘90s, with a film going into development in 1999. In that film, the President of the United States was going to buy the Jumanji board game to play with his kids and get sucked into the game. Then, the evil Vice President was going to take over. There were going to be hybrid animals in the game as well. The plans got far enough that it got mentioned on the DVD commentary for Jumanji, but the project was scrapped in 2000.

 
3 of 20

At first people weren’t sure if it was a remake or a reboot

At first people weren’t sure if it was a remake or a reboot
Sony

When the news of a new Jumanji movie was announced in 2015, it was met with some negativity. Robin Williams, the star of Jumanji, had died a year prior, and some were mad at the idea that the movie was being remade without him. However, the movie is a direct sequel to Jumanji and includes references to Williams’ character Alan Parrish.

 
4 of 20

One of the actors pitched the title

One of the actors pitched the title
Sony

The film was tentatively known as “Jumanji” for early in the production process. That name would need to change, though, lest it seem like a remake. It was Jack Black who suggested the subtitle of “Welcome to the Jungle,” which stuck.

 
5 of 20

Dwayne Johnson pitched one of the main jokes about his character

Dwayne Johnson pitched one of the main jokes about his character
Sony

Dr. Bravestone has the ability to smolder where he just, well, smolders. But it works! That idea was pitched to Kasdan by Johnson himself, and the director loved it.

 
6 of 20

A character has a different name across the pond

A character has a different name across the pond
Sony

The villain of the film, played by Bobby Cannavale, is Professor Russell Van Pelt. His name is a reference to Van Pelt, the big-game hunter from the first movie. That reference didn’t make its way across the pond, though. In the United Kingdom, Van Pelt is known as John Hardin.

 
7 of 20

2017 was a huge year for two of the screenwriters

2017 was a huge year for two of the screenwriters
Sony

Four writers get credit for the screenplay to Welcome to the Jungle. That includes the writing team of Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. McKenna also got the sole “story by” credit. The year 2017 was massive or McKenna and Sommers. They are credited writers on not just Welcome to the Jungle, but also The Lego Batman Movie and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

 
8 of 20

The director came from a comedy background

The director came from a comedy background
Sony

Jake Kasdan was hired to direct Welcome to the Jungle, with the studio taking a leap of faith on a guy who didn’t really have action experience. That being said, he had a ton of comedy experience. Kasdan had previously directed the films Walk Hard, Bad Teacher, and Sex Tape, among others. His family had some experience with action blockbusters, though. Jake’s dad Lawrence Kasdan co-wrote five Star Wars movies and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

 
9 of 20

Kasdan had experience with two cast members

Kasdan had experience with two cast members
Sony

One of Kasdan’s early films was Orange County. That was a bit of a breakout film for both Jack Black and Colin Hanks. Black costars as Shelly Oberon, while Hanks has a small role as the adult Alex Vreeke.

 
10 of 20

The movie was shot in Hawaii

The movie was shot in Hawaii
Sony

The jungle of the Jumanji video game owes its look to Hawaii. The movie was primarily shot in Honolulu. Specifically, filming took place at the Kualoa Ranch nature preserve.

 
11 of 20

The statues are a nod to the original movie

The statues are a nod to the original movie
Sony

In Jumanji, each of the characters have their own piece, such as the Obsidian Crocodile and the Jake Monkey. Since the sequel is a video game and not a board game, those pieces are referenced in Welcome to the Jungle with statues in the jungle.

 
12 of 20

Another actor was considered for “Seaplane” McDonough

Another actor was considered for “Seaplane” McDonough
Sony

Nick Jones plays “Seaplane McDonough,” the character in the video game that is controlled by Alex Vreek. Originally, though, it was going to be a role for Tom Holland. However, because of schedules moving around, Holland had a schedule conflict with Spider-Man: Homecoming and had to drop out.

 
13 of 20

One of the kids is decidedly not a kid

One of the kids is decidedly not a kid
Disney+

Back in the day, it wasn’t uncommon for actors in their 20s, or even 30s, to play high school students. In Welcome to the Jungle, three of the actors playing the main kids were in the 18-20 age range. Then, there’s Ser’Darius Blain, who played Fridge. Blain was 30 when they were shooting the film.

 
14 of 20

Two cast members were familiar with the high school

Two cast members were familiar with the high school
IMDb/Sony

All the stuff that wasn’t shot in Hawaii was shot in Atlanta, a hub for film production these days. That includes the high school. Jack Black and Madison Iseman, who plays Bethany, both spent time at that school in other films. It also serves as the high school in Goosebumps and its sequel, the latter of which features both Black and Iseman.

 
15 of 20

Jack Black had worn a pith helmet before

Jack Black had worn a pith helmet before
Sony

Shelly Oberon wears a pith helmet in the jungles of Jumanji. It’s not the first time Black has done that for work, or the first time he’s been affiliated with a jungle video game. Early in his career, Black was in an ad for the 1982 video game Pitfall. In that ad, he wears a pith helmet as well.

 
16 of 20

The high school has a fitting team mascot

The high school has a fitting team mascot
Sony

Brantford High School’s mascot is the jaguar. That’s apt, given the events of the film. In the video game, the quest the characters have to go on involves returning the “Jaguar’s Eye” to its shrine.

 
17 of 20

Mouse wears a badge that serves as a warning

Mouse wears a badge that serves as a warning
Sony

As Kevin Hart’s “Mouse” Finbar says, cake makes him explode. Of course, he doesn’t know the severity of his cake weakness until that moment. Had Mouse investigated his outfit closer, he may have been able to avoid that. He’s wearing a badge that has a picture of a piece of cake with a line through it in the classic “No Smoking” or “Ghostbusters” style.

 
18 of 20

It was a huge box-office smash

It was a huge box-office smash
Sony

Despite some misgivings about returning to Jumanji without Robin Williams, people went out in droves to go see Welcome to the Jungle. It finished atop the U.S. box office for a whopping five weeks. All in all, it made $404.6 million in the United States and Canada and $962.1 million worldwide. It was the highest-grossing movie in Sony’s history until Spider-Man: No Way Home passed it.

 
19 of 20

Kids and teens loved The Rock

Kids and teens loved The Rock
Sony

The Oscars weren’t interested in Welcome to the Jungle, but two other awards shows were fans. Those would be the Kids’ Choice Awards and the Teen Choice Awards. Dwayne Johnson won favorite actor at both events, and the Kids’ Choice Awards also gave it Favorite Movie as well.

 
20 of 20

There was a sequel

There was a sequel
Sony

Considering that Welcome to the Jungle was Sony’s biggest movie ever out of nowhere, naturally there was a sequel. Jumanji: The Next Level hit theaters in 2019. Adding Danny Glover and Danny DeVito to the cast, the movie wasn’t quite as big of a hit but still made $800 million worldwide. Another sequel is in the works.

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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Three potential trade destinations for Commanders' Brian Robinson Jr.
NFL

Three potential trade destinations for Commanders' Brian Robinson Jr.

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NBA

Warriors are testing Stephen Curry’s patience this offseason

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NFL

Raiders’ Pete Carroll gushes about key offseason acquisition after loss to 49ers

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NFL

Commanders Trade? Washington 'Shopping' Starting Running Back, Per Report

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