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'Jumanji' 3 CinemaCon update reveals Robin Williams Easter egg that pays touching tribute to the actor

Robin Williams played Alan Parrish in the first-ever movie of the franchise in 1995

'Jumanji' fans were greeted with some delightful news at CinemaCon. It was announced that the third installment of the film has been titled 'Jumanji: Open World' and it will honor its OG star, Robin Williams. The late actor starred in the first movie of the franchise in 1995, as he returned to the real world after being trapped in an intriguing but very dangerous game. The baton was then passed to Dwayne Johnson, who led the film 'Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle.' The 2017 movie mentioned Alan Parrish, the character played by Williams in the original, as a way to honor the legendary actor after his death in 2014. The tradition will now continue in the upcoming movie as well.

Johnson shared that the movie will have Easter eggs related to Robin Williams in every scene, according to USA Today. “This whole franchise would not have started without one man – Robin Williams,” Johnson said. The former WWE wrestler revealed one of the Easter eggs to the audience. He shared that one of the dice that was featured in the 1995 movie will be present in the 2026 sequel. This is not the first time Johnson has paid tribute to Williams for his contribution to the franchise. In the Instagram post commemorating the wrap of filming for 'Open World,' the actor stated, "Robin Williams ~ this one is for you.  The character of Dr Smolder Bravestone was my absolute honor to play in your spirit with the deepest respect, love, and JOY."

Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black attended the April 13 CinemaCon event and announced that the film will release on Christmas 2026. The actors showcased some footage from the movie, offering a glimpse of Johnson’s Dr. Smolder Bravestone, Hart’s Franklin "Mouse" Finbar, and Black’s Professor Shelly Oberon as they embark on another mission. The clip blended the franchise's typical humor with the fantastical elements of 'Jumanji.' 

The preview opens with a repairman entering Spencer’s mother's home, according to Cosmic Book News. There, he comes across a video game console, after which chaos ensues as ostriches run through the streets and supernatural storm clouds appear. Spencer (Alex Wolff) and his friends then enter the frame, and they meet Spencer’s grandfather, played by Danny DeVito. He points them to a booth where Bravestone is already seated. In the booth, Bravestone and Finbar are seen hurling insults at each other. The preview then reveals that the game has somehow made its way to the real world, with all the beloved characters stuck in what is called the 'demo mode.' The movie will see Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Alex Wolff, Madison Iseman, Morgan Turner, Nick Jonas, Danny DeVito, and Ser’Darius Blain reprising their roles from the previous two movies.