If there’s one thing that studios like more than anything at the moment, it’s to go digging into their back catalogues and dust off old properties to reboot. Take Sony, for example. Buried in a long interview with Columbia Pictures president Doug Belgrad is a small mention about wanting to make a new version of Jumanji.
You might recall the 1996 original, featuring Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce as two kids who decide to play an old board game they find. Unbeknownst to them, it’s a magical item that can trap the unwary, and the two sprogs release Alan Parrish (Robin Williams), who had been sealed within the game’s jungle realm for years. But though he’s glad to be out, the kids’ actions also release a lot of other chaos into the world.
With Joe Johnston calling the shots, a lot was made of the film’s CG critters, which were certainly impressive at the time. Now, of course, the studio is looking to shake things up. “We're going to try and reimagine Jumanji and update it for the present,” says Belgrad. But given that no writer or director is attached – or has been announced – yet, we’re guessing it’ll be a while yet.
While we’re on the subject of Sony developments in Belgrad's interview, he also mentions that the studio wants the 21 Jump Street sequel shooting before the year is out, and is already working on putting together another Men In Black film. Everyone try to look surprised!