Jake Kasdan To Helm ‘Jumanji’ Reboot For Sony

EXCLUSIVE: Jake Kasdan will direct the reboot of Jumanji that Sony Pictures has set for a December 25 release. Matt Tolmach is producing. Kasdan will direct a script by Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner, latter of whom last worked for the studio on The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Their script is based on draft by original writers, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers and the whole thing is based on the Caldecott Medal-winning adventure book by Chris Van Allsburg.

Kasdan’s credits include the Sony sleeper comedy hit Bad Teacher, as well as Sex Tape,  Freaks and Geeks, New Girl and The Grinder. Tolmach has been the major driver in getting it to the start line and Bill Teitler is also producing and Ted Field and Mike Weber will be exec producers. Van Allsburg will also be executive producer.

The original Jumanji starred Robin Williams and was released in 1995. The film grossed over $260 million globally. The second installment, Zathura, flopped but Sony has long pondered ways to relaunch the franchise based on the game, and they’ve entrusted Kasdan to get them there. Kasdan is repped by WME.