The Rock Isn’t Done Clarifying That His ‘Jumanji’ Film Is Totally Not A Remake

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When one considers, perhaps frustratingly, the ever growing docket of remakes and reboots currently in production, it becomes customary to expect little and assume the worst. Sometimes emotions come into play, especially when a film is announced after only a couple years after the tragic death of the source material’s star. This gloomy, glass-half-full attitude came to many a mind when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced his inclusion in a forthcoming Jumanji film, the original of which starred the late Robin Williams.

Reacting to surges of understandable backlash, Mr. Johnson took to Instagram to ensure American audiences that no childhoods would be compromised; he was, in fact, making a sequel to the 1995 fantasy film, not a remake. And on Monday, he doubled down.

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Yo.. Lots of positive 👍🏾 chatter now on something I should've clarified months ago when we announced we were making JUMANJI. This new movie will NOT be a remake or reboot of the original. It will be a CONTINUATION of the awesome JUMANJI adventure 20 years later. As a producer on this movie and someone who loves the original, you have my word we'll honor the legend of "Alan Parrish" and properly introduce a whole new generation to the fun and crazy JUMANJI universe that so many of us loved and grew up on. Our director Jake Kasdan and lead producer Matt Tohlmach are focused and ready go. They also have no f*cking idea what they've gotten themselves into by hiring Me, Kevin Hart and Jack Black aka "The Cray Cray Triplets" as the stars of this movie.😂💀 Shooting begins in 4 weeks. And on a personal note, it's such a cool thing for me to bring the production of this movie to Hawaii. The positive ripple effect it has on local businesses and families in terms of creating jobs and additional income makes me very happy. I grew up on the island thru hard times and good times, so it means a lot to this local boy. Hell, I used to steal a Snickers candy bar every day from 7-11 when I walked to the gym as my pre workout meal when I was 14yrs cause I was too broke to buy one. When I return to Hawaii, I will go back to that 7-11 (on Kapiolani Blvd) and finally buy that Snickers bar after all these years. Then I'll proceed to my psychiatric therapy session cause clearly I'm still messed up over that broke time in my life. #JUMANJI #HAWAII #SonyPictures #SnickersForTheWholeCrew

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Expressing appreciation for the “positive chatter” in response to his initial clarification, The Rock again took to social media to elaborate on his plans, as both star and producer, to “honor the legend of ‘Alan Parrish,'” Jumanji‘s protagonist and Williams’ role in the first film. Johnson posted a picture of himself reading the Jumanji children’s book, followed by a lengthy caption that communicated both his reverence for the original as well as his dedication to “introduce a whole new generation to the fun and crazy JUMANJI universe that so many of us loved and grew up on.” He also reiterated that the project is not a “remake or reboot” but rather “a continuation” that picks up approximately 20 years after the original film’s end.

“Shooting begins in 4 weeks,” he adds, not ominously in the least.

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