Fan Fest News

News for Fans, By Fans!

Danny DeVito Joining Cast of “Jumanji” Sequel

Hot on the heels of the announcement of comedian Awkwafina being cast in Sony’s Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle sequel, Variety is reporting that legendary actor, producer, and director Danny DeVito has been cast in the third Jumanji film.   DeVito joins returning series stars Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillen and Jack Black.  Johnson tweeted the news on Friday, January 4, saying “Welcome @DannyDeVito to our JUMANJI cast!

DeVito, a veteran actor is well known for his roles, from his turn as murderous mama’s boy Owen in Throw Mama From the Train, to his memorable portrayal of the Penguin in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, or more recently as Frank Reynolds in It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.  His five decade long career also includes credits as a producer on films like Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and the Julia Roberts vehicle Erin Brockovich.  

DeVito started his career in the early 1970’s with small parts in a handful of pictures.  Though he is known for a role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, DeVito would not have a breakthrough role until he hit the small screen in 1978’s Taxi as the lovably devious Louie De Palma opposite Christopher Lloyd and Judd Hirsch.

The sequel to the wildly popular and massively successful Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle will begin filming on January 21 in Georgia, with Jake Kasdan back in the director’s chair.  Few details are known about the plot of the new film, just that it is a direct sequel to Welcome to the Jungle.

“The magic of Jumanji is who becomes who. And the idea of Danny DeVito joining our cast was too irresistible and something we knew we wanted to deliver to our audience this upcoming Christmas. Dwanta Claus loves everyone.” -Dwayne Johnson

The as-yet-untitled Jumanji sequel will face off with Star Wars Episode IX for those hotly contested Christmas box office dollars.