Two new Players Revealed in First Trailer for Jumanji: The Next Level
Two new players are here to change the game, and somehow improve upon the hilarious Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. The first trailer for director Jake Kasden’s Jumanji: Next Level reveals that two new players entering the wildest video, and we’re guessing you didn’t see these folks coming. And who might they be? In a welcome surprise, the new faces are film royalty—none other than Danny DeVito and Danny Glover. These two are not who you’d first guess would be picking up a joystick and getting involved in the world’s most immersive videogame, which makes this reveal all the more appealing. Considering how winning Kasden’s 2017 smash hit Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was, we’ve been curious how he and the team might follow it up. Adding DeVito and Glover is a hilarious twist. If the first trailer is any indication—and we’re guessing it is—Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan are having even more fun the second time around.
So here’s how this plays out. The kids are back—Alex Wolff (Spencer), Madison Iseman (Bethany), Ser’Darius Blain (Fridge), and Morgan Turner (Martha). Bethany, Fridge, and Martha head over to Spencer’s house, but instead of finding him, they find his grandpa (DeVito) and another older gent (Glover). Spencer is missing (naturally he’s been sucked back into the videogame), and in short order, the rest of the kids and the older guys are swept back into the world when the videogame malfunctions. But what makes The Next Level so potentially funny is that everyone but Bethany becomes a new avatar, with Spencer and Bethany outright missing.
DeVito becomes Johnson’s Dr. Bravestone, while Glover is transformed into Hart’s Franklin Finbar. Blain’s Anthony ends up taking Professor Sheldon Oberon (Jack Black). Turner’s Martha is the only one to end up back in her original avatar of Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan), while everyone else is scattered. The fun of Dwayne Johnson doing a Danny DeVito impression is worth the price of admission alone. Hart as the cranky Glover character is also comedy gold.
What’s also promising is that Karen Gillan, a great actress, is now firmly in the protagonist role here. She’ll need to guide the newbies through an even more dangerous world to find both Spencer and Bethany and complete the game. Then there’s the fact that Awkwafina is also in the game, a fantastic addition.
The trailer is a riot, full stop. Check it out below.
Jumanji: The Next Level hits theaters on December 13, 2019.
For previous Jumanji coverage, check out our interview with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle‘s composer Henry Jackman and stunt performer Jahnel Curfman.
Featured image: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and Jake Kasdan on the set of JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE.
