Few celebrities in Hollywood have the dynamic that Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart have. While the industry has seen many iconic friendships bloom over the years, the verbal and physical comedy of the two actors can be studied, being responsible for some very hilarious interactions over the years.
It is because of this unique dynamic that fans enjoy seeing them star in the same film time and time again. The stars have worked together on five films, ranging from Central Intelligence to The Fast and the Furious franchise. However, Jumanji films have to be the most iconic moments of their career.
Unfortunately, a recent update could deprive the fans of their interactions in the franchise.
Has Jumanji 4 lost some players?
Jumanji stands as one of the most iconic works from Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart’s careers. Building off the legacy of the 1995 film, the duo starred in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle in 2017. It is expected that a remake will lose touch with the original after more than two decades. However, the film managed to not only meet the expectations fans set for it but also exceed them.
So much so that audiences got to revisit the world of Jumanji in 2019 with Jumanji: The Next Level. Being another memorable film in their filmography, it wasn’t just Johnson and Hart’s dynamic that made the film memorable, but also the rest as well. In fact, Jack Black’s acting in the film stands as one of his most iconic roles.
From playing pandas to a video game character, Black can do it all. However, something about him acting as a teenage girl still stands as far more memorable than the rest. Considering this, it is not surprising that fans were looking forward to seeing him back as Bethany in the next installment of the $2 billion franchise (via The Numbers.)
However, if a recent update is to be believed, Black may not be coming back to reprise his role as Professor Shelly Oberon.
Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart may have to carry the next Jumanji film on their own
In October of 2024, it was reported by Deadline that the next installment in the Jumanji franchise has been greenlit and is set to release around Christmas of 2026. While there were no confirmations, they added that Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan were in talks and expected to come back. However, recent developments cannot help but force us to rethink this conclusion.
In a recent interview with Deadline during the release of A Minecraft Movie, Black was questioned about the next Jumanji film, specifically being asked if he was coming back. Rather than being vague or giving any confirmations, he outright stated that he hoped for it, implying he was not a part of the production as of yet.
No. In fact, my feeling is always, ‘I’ve already done my last film. I’m pretty sure I’m done. I’m pretty sure I’m retired.’ I’ll let you know if someone pulls me out of retirement, but it’s been a great, great ride.
He was then asked if he had shot the film yet, to which he stated that he would believe himself to be a part of the film once he was finally on the set of the project. While it is easy to assume that Black is just waiting for a call to be a part of the film, what he said next makes one wonder if he is even interested in coming back to the franchise.
Black mentioned that he might be done completely with the franchise. Adding that he looked at the 2019 film as his last contribution to the series, it would seem that the actor has had his share of the beloved game. While he may be misleading audiences if his words are true and concrete, Johnson and Hart might have to take responsibility for the comedic relief in the next movie.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
