Awkwafina in talks to join Johnson, Hart in ‘Jumanji 2’
LOS ANGELES: Crazy Rich Asians star Awkwafina is heading for the jungle.
The rapper-turned-actress, who is of Chinese-Korean parentage, is in final negotiations to join the all-star cast of Sony’s sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
The untitled feature project reunites the cast of the 2017 hit movie that starred Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan. Jake Kasdan, who directed the feature that made US$962 million worldwide, is back to direct.
The sequel is based on the picture book by Chris Van Allsburg and builds on the 1995 movie adaptation, both which told the story of a magical board game in which wild jungle animals came into the real world.
The recent movie updated the premise by making a video game the magical focal point and transported four teens into its world, where the kids then transformed into avatars portrayed by Johnson, Black, Hart and Gillan.
The plot for the new movie is being kept under wraps as is Awkwafina’s character, although it is described as “key” and “significant,” say sources.
The script is by Kasdan, Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner (the latter two worked on the previous outing). Matt Tolmach is producing the feature along with Johnson’s Seven Bucks banner and Kasdan.
Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, had a breakout 2018, appearing in the all-star Ocean’s 8 as well as Crazy Rich Asians, the summer phenomenon that grossed US$174 million (RM731 million) in the US alone and cemented her as one to watch. She also hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live last year.
The new year will continue her momentum with her starring in two indies that will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January, The Farewell and Paradise Hills. She is also preparing an autobiographical TV series, Awkwafina, for
The plot for the new movie is being kept under wraps as is Awkwafina’s character, although it is described as “key” and “significant,” say sources.