The Rock starts production on new movie

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is diving back into the “Jumanji” franchise as production begins on a new movie.

The third and final movie of the rebooted “Jumanji” franchise has begun production, with Johnson sharing some photos and clips of a table read the cast participated in. The movie — which has the working subtitle “Cross Platform” — will be filmed in Los Angeles. It’s set for a Christmas 2026 release.

“Officially kicking off production of JUMANJI, at our cast table read in Los Angeles – where we will film as well,” Johnson wrote. “What a massive, fun, heartfelt adventure. Feels emotionally appropriate for our beloved JUMANJI franchise to end on this beautiful grace note of our final film.

“Amazing to get the whole gang back together, and our jaws were hurting from laughing so hard. We all talked about how much we’ve missed this kinda joy and fun. Let’s make a good one.”

Johnson plays Dr. Smolder Bravestone in the franchise, which also stars Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan. The two movies — “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and “Jumanji: The Next Level” — have been some of the biggest box-office successes of Johnson’s movie career. The franchise is based on the “Jumanji” children’s book and original 1995 movie that starred Robin Williams.

The most recent movie release for Johnson was “The Smashing Machine,” a biopic on MMA legend Mark Kerr. During the press tour for that film, Johnson expressed how proud he is of his daughter Simone for carving her own path in WWE. She is known as Ava in her role as NXT general manager.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Jumanji director reuniting for holiday film

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jumanji director Jake Kasdan are set to collaborate again on a film project. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson and Kasdan are attached to Red One, an Amazon Studios holiday movie production. The report also states that Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions is producing the film, plus Johnson is set to star in the movie, possibly as Santa Claus. 

Seven Bucks’ producer Hiram Garcia conceived the story idea for Red One, while Fast and Furious and Hobbs & Shaw veteran Chris Morgan is writing the film’s script and also serving as a producer. 

Amazon Studios became attached to the project in June 2021 and calls Red One “…a globe-trotting, four-quadrant action-adventure comedy, imagining a whole new universe to explore within the holiday genre.” According to THR, Amazon is aiming to shoot the film in 2022 and release it in 2023. 

Johnson starred in Jumanji, as well as its sequel, both directed by Kasdan. The films grossed nearly $2 billion in worldwide box office revenue.