Jumanji Director Addresses Why Kirsten Dunst Has Never Returned for Sequels

Jumanji Director Addresses Why Kirsten Dunst Has Never Returned for Sequels

As a devoted fan who grew up with the magical world of Jumanji and its original cast, I find myself eagerly awaiting any news about the potential return of Kirsten Dunst to this beloved franchise. Having watched Dunst grace our screens as the courageous Judy Shepherd in the 1996 film, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia and excitement at the thought of seeing her reprise her role in the modern-day Jumanji series.


Director Jake Kasdan is still seeking an appropriate method to involve Kirsten Dunst in the Jumanji series again. Dunst played a key role in the 1996 film as a child actor, but she has not been approached for any part in the more recent movies – not even a brief appearance. During his recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kasdan clarified why this is the case.

The director adores Kirsten and finds her simply amazing. Since our collaboration on Welcome to the Jungle, we’ve strived to maintain a small link to the original film that we cherish. We’ve always aimed to pay tribute to it and keep its essence alive. Moreover, the way the original movie concludes, although brilliant, presents numerous plot challenges when trying to continue the story with those characters.

Kasdan explained how the magical ending of Jumanji seems to imply that Dunst’s character Judy does not remember any of her supernatural adventures – only Alan (Robin Williams) and Sarah (Bonnie Hunt) remember. He went on: “So it has this complicated, clever bit of storytelling at the end that has always made the challenge of continuing their story very complicated. But, that said, within that complication, we’ve loved trying to figure out some way to do it in a way that is fun and passes some kind of fidelity to the original story.”

In the thrilling continuation of Jumanji, I myself noticed the return of another Shepherd family member, Nora, portrayed by Bebe Neuwirth. Interestingly enough, in this film, Nora runs a diner and there’s no hint about her niece Judy or nephew Peter (Bradley Pierce) in her storyline.

Jumanji Director Addresses Why Kirsten Dunst Has Never Returned for Sequels

There’s been great anticipation among fans for more actresses from the initial film to appear in Kasdan’s revival of Jumanji. Particularly, they’re excited about the potential return of Dunst and Hunt, as their strong female characters were highly appreciated in an action-adventure movie. The fact that Hunt recently collaborated with Kasdan on Red One might hint at a growing professional bond. She’s currently starring as Mrs. Claus in a Christmas-themed action film that debuted in cinemas this weekend.

As a cinephile eagerly awaiting more adventures in the world of Jumanji, I’m thrilled to share that Kasdan is rumored to helm at least one additional installment, rounding off the trilogy that started rolling in 2017. However, the global pandemic has pushed back the release date, and in the interim, Kasdan joined forces with the team behind Red One. Now, just last month, Sony officially announced that we can expect the next chapter of Jumanji to premiere on December 11, 2026. While the title and other specifics remain shrouded in mystery for now.

Read More

2024-11-19 20:09