Jumanji 3: Release date, cast, plot speculation, and everything else we know about the upcoming adventure sequel

Put on your boots and get your mosquito nets ready, as Jumanji 3 is officially in the works. Stars Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillian, and Kevin Hart are all set to return, but they might be in for an entirely different adventure this time around that brings the video game avatars into the real world.

The Jumanji reboot hit screens all the way back in 2017, just about nine years ago, and the sequel Jumanji: The Next level was seven years ago, so Jumanji 3 is already hotly anticipated by fans of the franchise. The idea that the characters could make their way into the real world is also exciting to fans, as it reflects the plot of the beloved 1995 Jumanji movie, which starred the late, great Robin Williams.

Jumanji 3 is scheduled to release at the end of 2026, and we're here to get you ready for the rapidly approaching sequel with a guide to everything you need to know, including the release date, cast, plot, and more. And when you're ready for more, you can check out our list of other upcoming movies to look out for in 2025 and beyond.

Jumanji 3 release date

Jumanji 3 will release in theaters on December 25, 2026.

Originally scheduled for December 11, Sony has now shifted the release of Jumanji 3 back to Christmas Day (via The Wrap) in order to avoid facing down the one-two punch of 'Dunesday,' the Barbenheimer-esque nickname given to the simultaneous release of Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday on the same day.

The original date was confirmed in 2024 by Sony Pictures. The festive release is no new thing for the franchise, as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level were both released during December. However, judging by set pictures, it looks like this sequel will lean more into the Christmas theme than previous installments.

The road to release has not been easy. Before the team could start working on the film, production on Jumanji 3 was stunted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, even though work did resume in 2021, it was radio silence until 2024 when Sony confirmed that the movie was still happening and locked in a release date.

In November 2025, the official Jumanji Twitter account confirmed that the film had entered production in Los Angeles. Then, on November 19, 2025, Dwayne Johnson shared a video on Instagram documenting "day one of Jumanji." This means that it will take almost 12 months to film and finish Jumanji 3, compared to The Next Level, which took 11 months to complete from its filming start date to its premiere. Could this mean that Jumanji 3 is going to be even bigger than its predecessors?

Is there a Jumanji 3 trailer yet?

No, there is no teaser or trailer video released for Jumanji 3 yet, as the movie is still being filmed. However, we can guess when it might arrive. The last Jumanji movie to hit screens, sequel Jumanji: The Next Level, started filming in January 2019, and Sony released the first trailer on July 1, 2019. So, because Jumanji 3 starts filming in November 2025, we may see the first trailer sometime during early summer 2026.

Jumanji 3 cast

From first looks and the Jumanji panel in Los Angeles in November 2025, we know that the bulk of the main cast is returning. The post, which you can see below, shows stars Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black. This means that the franchises’ core four in-game characters will return: Dr. Xander ‘Smolder’ Bravestone, Ruby Roundhouse, Franklin ‘Mouse’ Finbar, and Professor Sheldon ‘Shelly’ Oberon.

Thanks to the panel, we also know that the real-life versions of the characters are coming back too. That's Alex Wolff as Spencer Gilpin, Ser'Darius Blain as Anthony Johnson, Madison Iseman as Bethany Walker, and Morgan Turner as Martha Kaply.

We also know that Danny DeVito, who played Spencer’s grandfather Edward Gilpin in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, is returning and has already wrapped filming. As for in-game characters, Nick Jonas will make an appearance as in-game avatar Jefferson 'Seaplane' McDonough. Newcomers include The White Lotus star Brittany O’Grady in an undisclosed role, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

Here is the confirmed cast of Jumanji 3:

• Dwayne Johnson as Dr. Xander ‘Smolder’ Bravestone
• Karen Gillan as Ruby Roundhouse
• Kevin Hart as Franklin ‘Mouse’ Finbar
• Jack Black as Professor Sheldon ‘Shelly’ Oberon
• Alex Wolff as Spencer Gilpin
• Ser'Darius Blain as Anthony Johnson
• Madison Iseman as Bethany Walker
• Morgan Turner as Martha Kaply
• Nick Jonas as Jefferson 'Seaplane' McDonough
• Danny DeVito as Edward Gilpin
• Brittany O’Grady

Jumanji 3 plot speculation

No plot details for Jumaji 3 have been revealed as of yet. However, we do have our theories. The Jumanji franchise is based on Chris Van Allsburg's picture book of the same name, which follows a group of people sucked into an enchanted board game full of wild animals and thick jungles, and experience the game like real life. Before the modern franchise came about, the book was adapted into a 1995 film of the same name starring Robin Williams.

However, despite following a similar premise, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Jumanji: The Next Level, and the upcoming Jumanji threequel follow a different set of characters and are in no way connected to the ‘90s movie. Or so we thought. Whilst confirming that Jumanji 3 had entered production, Dwayne Johnson posted a bunch of images on Instagram, including a close-up of the original Jumanji movie's poster and a necklace with a dice pendant.

"The significance of the dice in the last picture is a little Easter egg that my character, Dr. Smolder Bravestone, wears on a necklace in our final film," said Johnson. "It’s the dice from the original 1995 Jumanji." With the inclusion of the dice, we think the upcoming movie might finally have the characters enter the Jumanji board game rather than a video game, just like the original movie. But what about the 'Easter egg' mentioned by Johnson? Could Dr. Bravestone be connected to Williams' character Alan? We, for one, would love to see the franchise come full circle.

The one solid clue we have comes from the Jumanji: The Next Level post-credits scene, where we see animals from the game escaping into the real world. With this in mind, it is also possible that a few in-game avatars could have escaped, too, including Jurgen the Brutal. Plus, from first look images posted by Dwayne Johnson on Instagram, we can see the four in-game characters in what looks to be the real world. In Boston, to be precise. "Something tells me we’re not in Jumanji anymore," said Johnson. Check out the images below.

Plus, it seems as though the movie may take place during the festive period, as in the background of Kevin Hart's Instagram post, and Karen Gillian's birthday celebrations, we can see the cast in full costume, surrounded by Christmas decorations and snow which must be fake due to the film being set in Boston but filming in Los Angeles (where it never snows). That does explain the festive release window.

Is Jumanji 3 the final Jumanji movie?

Yes, unfortunately, Jumanji 3 will be the last movie in the franchise. Dwayne Johnson confirmed the news just as the film entered production. "What a massive, fun, heartfelt adventure," said the star, "Feels emotionally appropriate for our beloved Jumanji franchise to end on this beautiful grace note of our final film."

We did suspect this might be the case when Kevin Hart teased his and Dwayne Johnson’s 'final' movie together. "We’re talking about, of course, another Jumanji," said Hart to Variety. "[We're] just figuring out the thing that can act as what would or could be the final chapter of he and I. We feel we need something big to put our duo to an end and not just leave it undone like something that we can say, this is going to be our last and final movie." It looks like Jumanji 3 might be that last film for the duo.

For more, check out our list of the best fantasy movies and the biggest movie release dates.