Dwayne Johnson Says ‘Jumanji’ Cast Wanted to Be ‘Respectful of the Work of Robin Williams’

Dwayne Johnson talks 'Jumanji'
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He and co-stars Kevin Hart and Jack Black opened up about filming the new movie, ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.’

The cast of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle want to honor the film’s original 1995 predecessor.

“We wanted to do something that was respectful of the work of Robin Williams as well as creating something fresh,” Dwayne Johnson said on Friday’s episode of The Graham Norton Show. “Once we figured out the new take on it, we just did it. It was great fun.”

The new film follows a different story from Williams’ beloved classic, but exists in the same world. To film the movie, the cast traveled to Hawaii. But not everyone was pleased with the tropical location.

Robin Williams in 1995's&nbsp;<em>Jumanji.&nbsp;</em> - Moviepix

“I didn’t like it at all. I particularly didn’t like the jungle,” Johnson’s co-star Kevin Hart said. “I am not an outdoors guy because there are too many spiders and centipedes.”

While Hart was struggling with the filming location, co-star Jack Black had to get into character as a 16-year-old girl in his body.

“I’ve had that character in my tool box for many years, but I never thought I would get to use it,” the comedian said. “It wasn’t based on anyone I know now, but probably all those girls I knew in the 1980s at high school.”

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is in theaters everywhere on Dec. 20.

ET spoke with Black about the new film earlier this year, and he talked about being compared to the original, saying, "I'm not going to claim to blow anything out of the water. That's Robin Williams. That's hallowed ground. One of the greats of all time."

For more on the making of the upcoming action comedy, watch the clip below!

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