Director Jake Kasdan Talks Challenges of Bringing Kirsten Dunst Back to Jumanji Franchise

Jumanji fans have been waiting for the ultimate throwback, and nothing would hit the nostalgia button harder than seeing Kirsten Dunst return to the franchise. But according to director Jake Kasdan, it’s not as simple as it sounds.

During a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Kasdan explained why Dunst, who starred as Judy Shepherd in the 1996 original film, hasn’t yet appeared in the modern reboot series, despite fan demand.

“We love Kirsten. She’s fantastic,” Kasdan said, making it clear that the idea has been on the table since Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. “From the time we did Welcome to the Jungle, we were very focused on keeping a little bit of connectivity to the original movie, which we love. We’ve always wanted to honor it and keep enough of it alive.” But, as Kasdan explained, there’s one big obstacle standing in the way: the magical and complicated ending of the original film.

In the 1996 Jumanji, Judy and her brother Peter (Bradley Pierce) forget their supernatural adventure, leaving only Alan (Robin Williams) and Sarah (Bonnie Hunt) with any memory of what happened. Kasdan admitted, “So it has this complicated, clever bit of storytelling at the end that has always made the challenge of continuing their story very complicated. But, that said, within that complication, we’ve loved trying to figure out some way to do it in a way that is fun and passes some kind of fidelity to the original story.”

Kasdan did manage to bring one original star, Bebe Neuwirth, back as Nora Shepherd in Jumanji: The Next Level, where she now runs a diner. But as eagle-eyed fans noted, she didn’t mention her niece Judy or nephew Peter.

With Kasdan helming at least one more Jumanji movie, slated to debut on December 11, 2026, there’s still hope that Dunst could make an appearance. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed production, but with Red One—his recent project starring Bonnie Hunt as Mrs. Claus—hitting theaters this weekend, a working relationship with Hunt could pave the way for more OG cast reunions.