Sony has unveiled the first trailer for Jumanji: Open World, the third film in the rebooted Jumanji franchise, and shifted its release date from December 11 to Christmas Day — December 25, 2026 (Variety).

The trailer went live on Sony Pictures Entertainment's official YouTube channel on July 28 (Sony Pictures Entertainment, YouTube).

Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan all return to lead the ensemble, reprising the roles they've inhabited since 2017's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Variety). That film and its 2019 sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level, together grossed more than $1.7 billion at the worldwide box office — a figure that explains Sony's interest in keeping the series going.

The rebooted franchise reimagines the 1995 original, which starred Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst and centred on a magical board game. The new films swap the board for a video game console, with characters sucked into a digital jungle world where they inhabit avatars quite unlike their real-world selves.

Jake Kasdan returns to direct, working from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg. The producer roster includes Matt Tolmach, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, and Kasdan himself — a team that has shepherded both previous entries (Variety).

Familiar faces extend well beyond the core four. Danny DeVito, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Marin Hinkle, Bebe Neuwirth, Lamorne Morris, and Rhys Darby all reprise their roles. Newcomers Dan Hildebrand and Jack Jewkes join the ensemble for the first time (Variety).

The Christmas Day slot puts Open World in a crowded corridor. Two of the biggest titles of the year — Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday — are both set to open on December 18, a blockbuster doubleheader that fans have already branded "Dunesday." Jumanji lands a week later, giving those films a head start but also positioning itself as the marquee family option on the holiday itself.

Sony's strategy mirrors the one that worked before. Welcome to the Jungle opened on December 20, 2017, and legged out to nearly $1 billion worldwide. The Next Level followed a similar December path. The franchise has consistently thrived as counter-programming to heavier holiday fare — a lighter, crowd-pleasing alternative when audiences want a break from prestige drama and superhero spectacle.

Whether Open World can repeat that performance against the Dune–Avengers tandem is a question the box office will answer soon enough. For now, the trailer is live, the cast is back, and Sony has planted its flag on December 25.