Dwayne Johnson Confirms Start of Filming for Final 'Jumanji' Installment, Set for 2026 Release

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has officially announced the resumption of work on the third film in the modern *Jumanji* franchise, which he states will serve as the concluding chapter in the current saga. Sony Pictures has positioned the movie as a major holiday event, scheduling its premiere for December 11, 2026. The actor shared this significant news by posting images from the initial script read-through, which gathered the principal cast members in Los Angeles. This gathering signals the formal commencement of production, a process that had been substantially delayed previously due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, complex scheduling conflicts among the high-demand actors, and the widespread Hollywood strikes that occurred in 2023.

Johnson confirmed the return of several key colleagues for this final adventure. Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan are all set to reprise their roles, once again embodying the familiar in-game avatars. Jake Kasdan, the director responsible for the two preceding successful projects, will return to helm this concluding installment. The screenplay was developed by a writing team that includes Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg. Additionally, the cast is expanding, with Brittany O'Grady and Burn Gorman reportedly joining the ensemble. Original cast members Alex Wolff, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, and Morgan Turner are also confirmed to be returning.

In contrast to *Welcome to the Jungle* (2017) and *The Next Level* (2019), where filming primarily took place across locations like Hawaii and Atlanta, the bulk of the production for *Jumanji 3* will be centralized in Los Angeles. Johnson characterized the forthcoming film as a “massive, fun, soulful adventure,” noting that it is appropriate for the franchise to conclude on a “beautiful note.” This confirms the intention for the third entry to provide a definitive culmination to the rebooted series, even though *The Next Level* ended with an open-ended scenario where the game world spilled into reality.

The creators are aiming to bring the narrative full circle, a sentiment echoed by Johnson’s mention of a specific detail: his character, Dr. Smolder Bravestone, will wear a “bone necklace,” a clear reference to the original 1995 film starring Robin Williams. The *Jumanji* franchise, which draws its source material from Chris Van Allsburg's 1981 book and its 2002 sequel *Zathura*, has demonstrated remarkable financial prowess. The cumulative worldwide box office gross for all four films in the series, including the 1995 original, has successfully surpassed the 2 billion dollar mark.

The combined box office haul for *Welcome to the Jungle* and *The Next Level* alone approached nearly 2 billion dollars, a staggering figure that solidified the need for a continuation. This tremendous success, which effectively transformed the series from a perceived “B-level” property into an “A-level” blockbuster, represents a significant achievement for Sony Pictures. With production slated to begin in November 2025 and the release targeted for the end of 2026, the studio is clearly focused on maintaining a high operational tempo to ensure the timely delivery of this picture, which is set to be the final appearance for this specific cast ensemble in their signature roles.