Jumanji 4: Release Date, Cast, Story & Everything We Know About Jumanji: Open World

Jumanji: Open World—the movie commonly called Jumanji 4—is scheduled to arrive in U.S. theaters on December 25, 2026. The next film is directed by Jake Kasdan and brings back Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, along with the principal young cast from the modern films. Its major twist is a reversal of the recent formula: instead of the heroes entering Jumanji, the game escapes its console and invades the real world.

This status reflects the public information available through August 9, 2026.

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What is the official title?

The fourth movie centered on Jumanji is officially called Jumanji: Open World. Sony identifies it as the next family action-adventure film from Jake Kasdan, rather than using Jumanji 4 as the formal title. Sony’s CinemaCon-related announcement lists the title, principal cast, and broad premise.

“Jumanji 4” is a useful search term, but it is not the official name. “Jumanji 3” was earlier shorthand for the third movie in the Dwayne Johnson-led series. The naming becomes confusing because the franchise can be counted in several ways:

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• Jumanji (1995)
• Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
• Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
• Jumanji: Open World (2026)

That makes Open World the fourth Jumanji-branded movie and the third film in the modern reboot trilogy. If Zathura: A Space Adventure is included as a broader, thematically connected game-movie spin-off, it becomes the fifth franchise entry—but it is not a direct continuation of the Jumanji plot.

The clearest description is therefore: Jumanji: Open World is the third modern-era Jumanji film and the fourth movie explicitly centered on Jumanji.

When does Jumanji: Open World come out?

The U.S. theatrical release date is December 25, 2026. Sony’s current release materials list the film as a Columbia Pictures theatrical release, with an international rollout planned during December 2026. Individual countries may receive different dates, so December 25 should not automatically be treated as the release date everywhere. Sony’s latest investor release-slate materials are the strongest current source for the U.S. date.

The movie was previously scheduled for December 11, 2026. Sony moved it two weeks later to Christmas Day on March 24, 2026. Reports described the change in the context of a crowded December schedule that also included Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday. Any page still presenting December 11 as the current date is using the former schedule. TheWrap reported the release-date change.

At present, the confirmed plan is theatrical. There is no established streaming platform, digital rental date, Blu-ray date, or 4K release date. Sony has also not publicly established a final runtime or MPAA rating in the strongest current materials.

Production status: Has filming finished?

Production began in Los Angeles in November 2025, and trade coverage reported that filming wrapped in spring 2026, with GamesRadar describing the shoot as complete in April. Jake Kasdan returns as director and co-writer.

• Director: Jake Kasdan
• Screenwriters: Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg
• Producers: Matthew Tolmach, Jake Kasdan, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Hiram Garcia
• Production companies: Columbia Pictures, Matt Tolmach Productions, Seven Bucks Productions, and The Detective Agency
• Genre: Adventure, action, comedy, and fantasy

Trade reporting on the production covered the November start and returning cast, while GamesRadar’s production overview reported the spring wrap.

“Filming wrapped” does not necessarily mean that the movie is completely finished. Editing, visual effects, sound work, scoring, color work, and final studio delivery can continue after photography ends. The December 25 release remains the relevant measure of whether the film is on schedule.

Is there a trailer?

Yes. The first public trailer was released in late July 2026 and runs for approximately two minutes and 59 seconds according to Rotten Tomatoes’ listing. Watch the official Jumanji: Open World trailer on YouTube.

Spoiler warning: The following section discusses the trailer and the ending setup of The Next Level, but it does not treat trailer jokes or apparent deaths as confirmed movie outcomes.

What the trailer shows

• The familiar playable avatars are loose in the real world rather than simply being controlled by Spencer, Fridge, Bethany, and Martha.
• Spencer explains that the avatars appear to be stuck in a limited “demo mode.”
• Jumanji wildlife—including ostriches and a rhinoceros—appears in ordinary locations and creates chaos outside the game.
• The trailer introduces another body-swap or avatar-switching complication, making it unclear who is controlling whom at different moments.
• The characters appear to be drawn back toward Jumanji for another round after the real-world invasion begins.

GamesRadar’s trailer breakdown emphasizes the return of real-world animal threats, while ComicBook.com’s analysis of the trailer discusses the avatar and body-swap material.

These are trailer observations, not a complete official synopsis. Apparent deaths, transformations, sudden changes of body, and punchlines may be edited out of context or designed to mislead. The trailer does not establish every rule of “demo mode,” identify a confirmed villain, or prove that any apparent character death is permanent.

What is the story?

The officially confirmed premise

Sony’s official synopsis is deliberately brief: the heroes have escaped Jumanji before, but this time “the game comes to us.” The game breaks free from its console and unleashes its creatures and hazards into the real world. Sony’s announcement confirms this reversal of the recent films’ central setup.

In Welcome to the Jungle and The Next Level, people were transported into a video-game world and had to survive using the bodies and abilities of playable avatars. Open World begins with the game’s danger moving in the opposite direction: Jumanji’s rules and wildlife come out into everyday life.

What the trailer adds

The footage suggests that the four central avatars—Dr. Xander Bravestone, Ruby Roundhouse, Franklin Finbar, and Sheldon Oberon—are not behaving exactly as they did when human players controlled them. The “demo mode” explanation implies that they may be functioning autonomously, with limited abilities or incomplete game instructions.

Spencer and the other real-world characters then appear to have the job of containing or retrieving the escaped avatars. The trailer places Jumanji animals in an American town and shows a fresh identity problem involving switched bodies or players. The story may ultimately return to the game world, but the precise sequence of events has not been officially detailed.

How it follows The Next Level

The new premise appears to follow up on the closing scene of Jumanji: The Next Level. At the end of that film, a heater repairman interacts with or activates the Jumanji console while it is outside Nora’s diner. The movie then cuts to ostriches from Jumanji appearing in the real world.

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That sequence is the obvious launch point for an invasion story, and the trailer’s ostriches make the connection especially clear. It is more accurate to say that Open World follows up on the 2019 ending or appears to pick up from its setup than to claim Sony has revealed the exact opening scene. The post-credits sequence is explained in coverage from RadioTimes and The Indian Express.

How it connects to the 1995 original

The real-world invasion also brings the series structurally closer to the 1995 Jumanji, in which a supernatural board game releases jungle dangers into an ordinary town. The modern movies replaced the board game with a video game and sent players inside it; Open World combines the modern cast and avatar comedy with the original film’s basic “the game is loose in reality” idea.

Dwayne Johnson has discussed the new movie as a way of honoring Robin Williams and the original film. That supports a thematic tribute, not a confirmed appearance by Williams, Alan Parrish, or any other character from the 1995 movie. There is currently no reliable evidence of a posthumous Robin Williams cameo.

Cast: Who is returning?

Sony’s current release materials specifically list the following actors and characters. These are the highest-confidence cast details available:

The main four avatars—Bravestone, Oberon, Finbar, and Roundhouse—remain the recognizable action-comedy center of the reboot series. The return of Wolff, Iseman, Turner, and Blain is particularly important because Spencer, Bethany, Martha, and Fridge are the real-world players whose relationships gave the 2017 and 2019 films their emotional continuity.

Sony’s CinemaCon material specifically names Johnson, Hart, Black, and Gillan. The broader cast list appears in Sony’s current supplemental release materials.

Reported supporting cast

Several additional performers have been reported by trade coverage or established entertainment listings, but they should not be presented as equivalent to Sony’s specifically listed cast:

• Awkwafina is reported to return from The Next Level, reportedly as Ming Fleetfoot.
• Bebe Neuwirth is reported to return as Nora Shepherd.
• Lamorne Morris is reported to play the heater repairman connected to the console at the end of The Next Level.
• Marin Hinkle is reported to return as Janice Gilpin.
• Brittany O’Grady has been reported in an undisclosed role.
• Burn Gorman has been reported in an undisclosed role.

The Hollywood Reporter’s production reporting, reproduced through Yahoo Entertainment, covered the returning core cast and reported O’Grady and Gorman as additions. Later coverage has identified some supporting returnees. Awkwafina and the other names above should therefore be labeled reported unless a newer official Sony cast list confirms them.

Names such as Nasim Pedrad, Dan Hildebrand, and Jack Jewkes appear in some database or fan-wiki listings, but the strongest studio materials reviewed do not establish their roles or the extent of their involvement. They should not be treated as major confirmed cast members on that basis alone.

Is Jumanji: Open World the final movie?

It is being positioned as the final installment of the current reboot trilogy, but that is not the same as a permanent guarantee that Jumanji will never return.

Dwayne Johnson has described the production as the franchise’s “final film” and presented it as an emotionally appropriate closing chapter. Kevin Hart has also previously discussed the project as a possible final film for his on-screen partnership with Johnson. The most precise interpretation is that Open World is intended to close the current cast-led run and the modern trilogy.

That wording leaves room for Hollywood’s usual franchise possibilities. Sony could eventually revive the property, reboot it with new actors, make a spin-off, or continue it after a long break. “Final film” should not be read as proof that no future Jumanji production can ever be made.

It also does not promise that every thread from the 1995 film, Zathura, and the modern trilogy will be resolved. Current materials do not confirm a named villain, a direct Alan Parrish connection, or a crossover with characters from the Robin Williams film.

Do you need to watch the earlier Jumanji movies?

You can probably follow Open World as an adventure on its own, but watching the two modern films first will provide the most useful context. The new story appears to rely on familiar avatar rules, the relationships among the four original players, and the console setup from The Next Level.

Best viewing order

1. Jumanji (1995)
2. Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005), optional spin-off
3. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
4. Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
5. Jumanji: Open World (2026)

The 1995 film is useful for understanding the franchise’s original real-world-danger concept, but it may not be required to understand the modern characters. Welcome to the Jungle establishes the video-game system, the four avatars, and the player-to-avatar relationships. The Next Level is the most directly relevant because it expands the rules and ends with the console-related setup.

Zathura is best treated as optional. It involves a dangerous game and is often discussed as part of the wider Jumanji brand or mythology, but it has no direct plotline that viewers need in order to understand the modern trilogy.

What works—and what could be risky—about the new premise?

The real-world invasion gives the sequel a meaningful change of environment. It recalls the 1995 film while allowing the Johnson, Hart, Black, and Gillan characters to use the established avatar identities in ordinary locations. Ostriches, rhinoceroses, and other game hazards appearing in a town also create a different visual problem from simply navigating a jungle level.

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The trade-off is that the idea could repeat the original film’s broad structure: fantastical animals invade everyday life, and ordinary people must restore order. The body-swapping and “demo mode” material helps distinguish the new movie, but it may also make the rules harder to follow.

The returning ensemble provides continuity and familiar character dynamics. At the same time, a large cast has to make room for the four young protagonists, the four central avatars, Eddie, Nora, Seaplane, Nigel, and new characters. Whether the film gives each group enough emotional space will depend on the final edit.

Finally, presenting the film as a closing chapter creates an opportunity for genuine closure for Spencer, Martha, Fridge, and Bethany. It can also create unrealistic expectations that every question—including the relationship between Jumanji and Zathura—will receive a definitive answer.

What is still unknown?

Even with a public trailer, several important details have not been established by Sony:

• The full official plot synopsis.
• The identity of a main villain, if the film has one.
• The complete list of character and avatar assignments.
• The exact rules of “demo mode.”
• The final runtime.
• The final MPAA rating.
• Release dates for individual international territories.
• A digital rental or purchase date.
• A streaming service and streaming date.
• Whether any characters from the 1995 film appear.
• Whether Zathura receives a direct acknowledgment.
• Whether the trailer’s apparent deaths, transformations, and body swaps represent literal final events.

The official synopsis refers to the game breaking free from its console. The trailer and premise recall the original board-game movie, but it is not confirmed that the new film returns to the physical board game itself. Similarly, the available evidence supports a Robin Williams tribute, not an appearance by Williams or a confirmed return for Alan Parrish.

The bottom line on “Jumanji 4”

Jumanji: Open World is real, has completed filming, and is scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on December 25, 2026. The public trailer confirms the film’s defining change: Jumanji’s creatures and avatar characters are coming out into the real world. The original cast and the modern players are returning, while several supporting cast members remain trade-reported rather than fully confirmed by Sony.

For viewers deciding whether to prepare, the minimum useful double feature is Welcome to the Jungle followed by The Next Level. The 1995 film adds important thematic context, and Zathura remains optional. “Final film” is best understood as the end of this current reboot trilogy and cast-led run—not an irreversible promise that the Jumanji property can never be revived.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jumanji 4 actually called Jumanji: Open World?

Yes. Jumanji: Open World is the official title. “Jumanji 4” is the common search term, while “Jumanji 3” was earlier shorthand for the third movie in the modern reboot series.

When does Jumanji: Open World come out?

The U.S. theatrical release is scheduled for December 25, 2026. International dates may vary, although Sony is planning a December 2026 global theatrical rollout.

Is Jumanji: Open World coming to streaming?

A streaming service and streaming date have not been confirmed. The currently established release plan is a wide theatrical release.

Who is returning for the new Jumanji movie?

Sony’s current materials list Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Alex Wolff, Madison Iseman, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Rhys Darby, Nick Jonas, and Danny DeVito. Awkwafina, Bebe Neuwirth, Lamorne Morris, Marin Hinkle, Brittany O’Grady, and Burn Gorman have also been reported in the cast, but some of those details have a lower level of official confirmation.

Is Awkwafina in Jumanji: Open World?

Awkwafina has been reported to return as Ming Fleetfoot, but she was not included in Sony’s latest supplemental cast list reviewed for this update. Her involvement should therefore be described as reported rather than fully studio-confirmed.

Is Robin Williams’ character returning?

There is no reliable confirmation that Robin Williams or Alan Parrish appears. The new film is expected to honor the 1995 movie thematically, but that is not evidence of a cameo or posthumous performance.

Is Jumanji: Open World the final Jumanji movie?

Dwayne Johnson has described it as the final film, and it is being positioned as the closing chapter of the current reboot trilogy. That does not permanently rule out a future reboot, revival, spin-off, or continuation with a different cast.

Do I need to watch The Next Level before the new movie?

You may be able to follow the new adventure without it, but The Next Level is the most useful film to watch first because its ending establishes the console and the ostriches appearing in the real world. Watching Welcome to the Jungle beforehand provides the avatar rules and character relationships.

Is Zathura part of the same Jumanji franchise?

Zathura: A Space Adventure is a thematically related spin-off involving another dangerous game. It is often counted as part of the broader franchise, but it is a standalone story with no direct Jumanji plotline and is not required viewing.

What happened at the end of Jumanji: The Next Level?

A heater repairman interacts with or activates the Jumanji console outside Nora’s diner. The film then shows Jumanji ostriches appearing in the real world, setting up the kind of invasion premise shown in the Open World trailer.

The Bottom Line

In short: the movie known online as “Jumanji 4” is officially Jumanji: Open World, arrives in U.S. theaters on December 25, 2026, and sends Jumanji’s dangers into the real world. It is the third modern reboot film and is being presented as the final chapter of the current cast-led trilogy, although future franchise revivals cannot be ruled out.

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