Jumanji: Open World (2026) Movie Preview

This December, we'll hear the magical word in theaters again: Jumanji! The cult film series is getting a new installment – but this one differs from the previous two movies in one major way. It's going back to its roots: the 1995 original with Robin Williams! On top of that, a huge mystery from "The Next Level" is finally set to be solved. Find out everything about the big "Jumanji" finale now – in our new movie preview!

The End of Jumanji: Chaos in the Urban Jungle!

Lead actor Dwayne Johnson has already revealed that this will be the final film in the saga. Of course, we wouldn't be surprised if another reboot were to happen at some point – but for now, the next movie seems set to bring things to a close. This means the current cast is in for a grand, emotional conclusion to their adventure, which began nearly 10 years ago.

Filming for the blockbuster wrapped up at the end of March. This was accompanied by plenty of photos from the set. They confirm what many suspected after the end of "The Next Level": the world of Jumanji is breaking into our reality! This brings things full circle: the original film also dealt with the chaos that the game's creatures bring to our world, while the newer movies mostly took place inside the Jumanji world itself.

But the photos reveal even more: this time, the story doesn't just unfold in a small American town, but has a much larger setting. We see a city center covered in snow, but also deserts, temples, and moments in the jungle. Filming primarily took place in Los Angeles.

The Great Mystery of Jurgen the Brutal

But the story won't just focus on the transition to the real world. It also has to answer a major question that viewers have been wondering about since the last movie in 2019. That's when the heroes fought Jurgen the Brutal. In a sudden twist, it turned out that, just like the protagonists, he has specific character stats. So he's not an ordinary NPC, but an avatar as well!

And that, in turn, means: someone from the real world must have been controlling him. Back then, Dwayne Johnson had already announced that this mystery would be uncovered in the final film. Since then, the wildest rumors have circulated about what's really behind this character. Some even speculate that Alan Parrish is hiding behind him – Robin Williams' character from the original film. It also remains unclear whether Jurgen had already used up his last life in the game when he supposedly died – or if there will be a reunion in the finale.

Behind the Scenes

Despite the new setting, fans of the latest "Jumanji" films can probably count on one thing: the third movie in the current saga is likely to feel just like its predecessors. This is due not only to the return of familiar cast members like Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Kevin Hart, but also to the fact that the director remains the same: Jake Kasdan is back at the helm for the third time.

The film's official title is "Jumanji: Open World". You've probably noticed that the movie is being referred to as either "Jumanji 3" or "Jumanji 4" – depending on whether the 1995 original is taken into account. Even the actors involved use both terms. Within the industry, however, it's usually referred to as Part 3.

The Theatrical Release of Jumanji 3

It probably won't be long before we learn more about the grand finale: the new "Jumanji" movie is set to hit theaters just in time for Christmas, on December 25, 2026. We are already looking forward to the conclusion of this fun adventure series!