'Jumanji 3' gets new release date as Sony makes bold box office move
Dwayne Johnson and the rest of the 'Jumanji 3' cast will not be dropping on December 11 as initially planned. In a major move, the sequel will now be released on Christmas Day. Sony revised its plans, making it a possible strategic move to ensure access to IMAX screens and fend off competition. It is worth noting that December will see major blockbusters, 'Dune 3' and 'Avengers: Doomsday', releasing on the same day, though speculation about a change in release dates is rife. The sci-fi epic has also been tipped to have an all-access to IMAX screens for three weeks.
Per THR, Columbia insiders believed the studio finalized on December 25, which was done with the festive day and New Year's Eve in mind, as they are among the most lucrative weeks of the year. This allows multiple releases to fare better, and the theatrical run goes well into January. The outlet added that 'Doomsday' and 'Dune 3,' slated to release on December 18, may see the latter make a change so as not to be overpowered by the fifth 'Avengers' film. The practice is fairly common, and while the move to push was a mammoth decision, it also suggests that Sony made the right call with the holiday season opening up enough time on the calendar for the audience to catch multiple flicks.
The upcoming film reunites the franchise’s core with Johnson, including Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. Also back in the fold is Nick Jonas as Jefferson 'Seaplane' McDonough and Awkwafina as Ming Fleetfoot. Director Jake Kasdan also returns, co-writing the screenplay with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg. The film is based on Chris Van Allsburg's 1981 picture book of the same name, in which a board game comes to life.
After Williams' 1995 starrer, the franchise hit the reboot button with a star-studded cast, in which the enchanted game saw four teens switch bodies with adult-like avatars of Johnson, Hart, Black, and Gillian. 'Welcome to the Jungle' was a commercial success, raking in $962.5 million worldwide. However, the sequel, 'Next Level,' saw a dip with $800 million. But it was still considered a major box-office winner. At the time of writing, the plot details are kept under wraps. Production began last year in Los Angeles and wrapped up early this February. 'Jumanji' is expected to be the franchise's last film after Johnson shared an emotional message about its future on social media earlier.
