Reboots, remakes and sequels have been the name of the game for a while, both in movies and television, and as someone who has written extensively in both media, I can tell you that the mileage really varies, depending on what the project is. Karen Gillan, who stars in the upcoming flick Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, is not often a fan of remakes and reboots. However, she says that it was when she read the script for the new Jumanji movie that she realized she could get on board for the upcoming movie. She said:
That was the thing that made me want the role. Because I just think we're inundated with reboots and remakes all the time, we need some original content, please! To then read the script and realize it is original content, while still paying homage to the original, I was like, 'This is perfect.'
If you know anything about Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, you probably know the movie isn't really trying to hit the same beats the original nineties flick did. The movie is based on a video game and not a board game. It features adult characters that are actually avatars played by a group of teens. We already know it will pay tribute to Jumanji star Robin Williams, so it will connect to the original flick, but according to what Karen Gillan told IndieWire, there's enough original content there to maintain anyone's interest--even if you are traditionally the type of person who eschews reboots, remakes and revivals.
Producer Matt Tolbach has previously said Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has striven not to be a direct remake or reboot, although for the purposes of explaining what was going on in the headline, we referred to the movie as a reboot. It's trying for something brand new even while it references concepts that people who saw the movie in the nineties may remember and may now be sharing with their kids. We'll have to wait and see if that is something that resonates with audiences or not. But if it does well, perhaps even this "reboot" could get a sequel.
By all accounts, the move may work out for the family-friendly flick, as plenty of early takes have been positive, although there have been some dissenting opinions, too. Regardless, the film will be taking on plenty of competition, including but not limited to Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Pitch Perfect 3 during the big holiday release window. We'll have to wait and see which movies end up making money at the box office and which may fall a little short. To plan your holiday movie watching adventures, take a look at our full schedule. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is officially in theaters starting today.
