Danny DeVito joins cast of Jumanji sequel

Mere moments after it was announced that Awkwafina would join the cast of the as-yet-untitled sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, an item from Variety has revealed that veteran actor Danny DeVito has also joined the cast of the next Jumanji film. 

The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star will join a cast that includes returning Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle cast members Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. Even Jake Kasdan, director of the previous Jumanji film, is also returning to helm the sequel.

DeVito is also set to star in Tim Burton's upcoming live-action adaptation of Dumbo for Disney in March. 

Details of the sequel’s plot, title, and DeVito’s character are not being disclosed. Kasdan has said the sequel will adhere more to the continuity of the 2017 film than the original 1995 film starring Robin Williams. So, until we hear otherwise, we’re just going to go ahead and assume he’s going to play his Always Sunny role of Frank Reynolds, thereby placing the delightfully depraved sitcom and the Jumanji world within the same narrative universe. (Okay, that's probably a longshot, considering the conceit of the previous film, so we're really guessing that DeVito will most likely be the video game avatar of a young, attractive woman. Or some wacky NPC.)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was a huge hit, raking in $962 million globally, thus immediately guaranteeing Sony to greenlight a sequel.

THR has quoted Johnson as saying: “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.” (Yes, Dwanta Claus.)

The Jumanji sequel is set to hit theatres in December. Thanks, Dwanta Claus. 

(Via Variety)