Of all the great film roles Robin Williams has enacted over his incredible career, one of my favorites has always been Jumanji . It’s one of the most high-octane, action-packed ‘kids’ movies’ that’s ever been.
It’s been more than 25 years since the movie first hit theaters. Let’s celebrate this incredible milestone with this 10+ Jumanji behind the scenes secrets that fans didn’t know!
1. *Jumanji* is a real word.
According to an interview Robin Williams gave with EW , it means ” many effects ,” in Zulu.
But whenever fans or the media would ask him the meaning behind the strange word, he’d tell them that it was a travel destination in the Caribbean islands!
2. Robin, like Alan, was also an only child.
Robin speaks about some of the more subliminal themes of Jumanji , primarily abandonment . He says how that at its core, the film is about a boy who was swallowed up and forgotten about for 26 years.
A feeling that he, as an only child, related to greatly.
3. Jonathan Hyde played two parts in the film.
It may surprise you to learn that Hyde was not only Alan’s emotionally distant father but the mad hunter Van Pelt as well!
Mind: blown — am I right? That’s precisely how I felt when I learned the news.
4. *Jumanji* is based on a book.
The book and the movie share a lot of similarities, but there are a few major differences. Mainly, there is no Alan Parrish.
Author Chris Van Allsburg ‘s inspiration for the tale may also come as a bit of a surprise.
“When I was a little boy and I would play games like Monopoly, they seemed kind of exciting, but when I was done with the game, all I had was fake money.”
That’s how Chris explained it to Scholastic . He dreamt of a game that was so superfluous, so fantastical, that he’d never be frustrated with the monotony of passing GO and collecting $200 again!
One final thing, does the name Chris Van Allsburg ring any bells?
It should! Sleigh bells, that is.
Chris is also the author of the beloved children’s classic, ” The Polar Express .”
Not many authors can say that they’ve been fortunate to have a single work turned into a movie. But to have two in the span of less than a decade? That’s remarkable.
5. Scarlett Johansson auditioned!
A very young (and adorable) Scarlet Johansson originally auditioned for the role of Judy.
She lost out to Kirsten Dunst, which makes you wonder — how much different would the film have been had Scarlett been cast?
6. Robin Williams really was terrified.
During the scenes where Robin was being chased by Van Pelt, he didn’t have to try very hard to look scared.
According to Robin, the blanks they used in the guns were incredibly loud and very startling.
7. Robin got a little too aggressive with the crocodiles.
Those crocodiles were really actors in a suit!
Robin said that during one particular scene, he got overly carried away and elbowed the ‘croc’ so hard, that the actor inside yelped out in pain!
8. Robin Williams was always joking around on-set.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Robin was always the perpetual clown.
During an interview with The Chicago Tribune , Kirsten recalled fondly how much she enjoyed working with the legendary comedian.
9. It took Bradley Pierce over 3 hours to apply the monkey make up.
Can you imagine being a kid and being told to sit perfectly still for three hours? I know I wouldn’t have been able to do it.
Bradley on the other hand was a pro. He supposedly even enjoyed it!
10. Robin Williams drew parallels between Alan Parrish and his own relationship with his father.
Robin said that his father never forced him to do anything, but he was very stern. Not unlike the character Samuel Parrish in the film.
It helped Robin relate to Alan.
11. The original board game from the film sold for an insane amount of money.
Who doesn’t love a good eBay auction? Clearly, the fans of Jumanji do.
One lucky winner took home the identical game the used on-screen and it only cost $60, 800 .
12. Does Peter sound familiar to you?
In real life, he goes by the name of Bradley Pierce.
He’s appeared in dozens of animated shorts and series, but most likely you’ll know him as Chip from Disney’s Beauty and The Beast .
13. There’s a Robin Williams memorial in Keene, New Hampshire.
Keene was where the movie was filmed. In fact, the ‘ Parrish Shoes ‘ sign is still there.
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It seemed the perfect place for friends, family, and fans to come to mourn.
We miss you, Robin.
