Danny DeVito, Awkwafina cast in ‘Jumanji 3’, still set for December

Sony Pictures is adding stars to the cast of Jumanji 3.

According to Variety, the studio has tapped Danny Devito to join the already star-studded cast for its sequel to 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which is technically the third film in the franchise. Additionally, Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians star Awkwafina was also in talks to play a “key” and “significant” role in the movie, a casting move confirmed by Dwayne Johnson.

“The magic of ‘Jumanji’ is who becomes who. And the idea of Danny DeVito joining our cast was too irresistible and something we knew we wanted to deliver to our audience this upcoming Christmas. Dwanta Claus loves everyone,” star Johnson told Variety.

DeVito’s character details are still a mystery as the plot of the upcoming film is being kept under wraps.

While plot details are quiet, director Jake Kasdan has confirmed the new film will tie to the first film.

“Our hope is to keep a long continuity through the whole thing, even though the story that we’re telling in the second movie, the movie that we’re working on right now is much more connected to the first movie that I made a year ago than it is to the original,” Kasdan said.

Joining Johnson will be co-stars Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. While details have not been released, they are likely playing out the third film as the avatars in the game, likely engaged by four different characters, expanding the story themes.

Jumanji 3 is slated to hit theaters December 13, 2019 opposite Star Wars: Episode IX.

The reboot/sequel to 1995’s Jumanji – starring Robin Williams, grossed $404.5M domestically, making it Sony’s highest-grossing movie domestically, with a worldwide total of $962M is second for Sony, trailing only Skyfall ($1.1B).