In Joe Johnson's film, Williams played a man trapped in a board game who's unleashed when two kids (Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce) roll the dice.
Jake Kasdan has signed on to direct Columbia Pictures’ remake of Jumanji, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
But with the film slated for a release of Dec. 25, the new helmer is going to have to move lightning-fast.
The new project is a remake of the 1995 movie that starred Robin Williams and is considered a 1990s gem. The movie adapted Chris Van Allsburg’s Caldecott Medal-winning adventure book and told the story of two kids who let loose a man trapped for decades in a board game. Unfortunately, they also unleash a jungle’s worth of creatures into the world.
The upcoming pic is being described as a new take on the book.
Matt Tolmach is producing and shepherding the project. Bill Teitler is also producing. Ted Field and Mike Weber will executive produce, along with Van Allsburg.
Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner wrote the script, working off of a draft by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.
Kasdan has shown a deft hand for sweet-natured comedy, directing episodes of TV’s Freaks and Geeks and New Girl, as well as the Cameron Diaz black comedy Bad Teacher (2011). He also helmed the 2014 comedy bomb Sex Tape.
