Warning: SPOILERS for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle are ahead!
When Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ended, the film had a pretty definitive finale. However, for a film that's not only a soft reboot of an existing property, but also a potential franchise starter of its own, there's bound to be some trap doors built into the film's story to allow the game to continue. With that in mind, it's been revealed that there were a couple alternate endings for Welcome to the Jungle that would have left the door wide open. The first of the alternate endings was laid out by one of the film's stars, Ser'Darius Blain, as explained below:
We start hearing the drums again and then everyone gets the game downloaded on their phones. Then it's like, 'Oh, shoot! We're all going to be sucked in.' That would have been a cool way to go.
The way that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ultimately ends is with the drums indeed starting again, but instead it leads to the teen cast bringing the retro game system out behind the school and smashing it with a bowling ball. So in the case of the actual theatrical ending that the Jake Kasdan-directed film settled on, it's a pretty open and shut case. Our young leads learn to be friends, go after what and whom they want in life, and to use teamwork whenever possible.
But that's not exactly an ending that could lead to another installment of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle's story. At least, it wouldn't seem to lead to another film with the current cast front and center. Though there was another ending that would have lead to a more direct sequel to the events of this month's action-adventure romp, and it was described by star Karen Gillan as follows:
In previous versions there was more of that where [Spencer] wanted to stay in the game with Martha. We made way more of that. It definitely could be interesting and would definitely leave it open to a sequel.
So the path to another Jumanji sequel isn't exactly clear, at least when it comes to the characters presently representing the series. But if Sony decides to cash in on the moderately popular holiday release, then the studio will fulfill the prophecy of "finding a way" that Jack Black made when THR spoke with the cast of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Of course, there's also the option of keeping the series an anthology flavored enterprise, considering everyone who's played the game thus far has learned all the lessons it could teach them about life. But in either scenario, one thing clearly has to happen: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has to become a massive hit. Without that particular fate, this franchise will have to roll a five or an eight to be revived yet again.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is currently in theaters now, and if you're interested to see what's hitting the big screen next year, check out our 2018 premiere guide.
