Sony has tapped “Sex Tape” director Jake Kasdan to helm its reboot of “Jumanji,” set for a Dec. 25 release.

Sony-based Matt Tolmach is producing the project with Bill Teitler. Ted Field and Mike Weber will executive produce.

The film is a new take on Chris Van Allsburg’s original 1981 adventure book, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal. Van Allsburg will also executive produce.

The studio is moving aggressively on the project, given that it plans to release the film in less than a year. The reboot is the first title set for a Christmas release — which means that it opens nine days after the launch of Disney’s “Star Wars: Rogue One” origins movie.

The reboot’s script has been written by Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner, based on a draft by the original writers, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.

The 1995 film “Jumanji” starred Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, David Alan Grier, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde and Bebe Neuwirth. The story centers on a 12-year-old boy who becomes trapped in a board game in 1969 and is released 26 years later.

“Jumanji” was a success with a $260 million worldwide gross for Sony. The studio’s 2005 film “Zathura,” also based on a Van Allsburg book, underperformed with $65 million worldwide.

Kasdan’s feature credits include “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” “Bad Teacher” and “Sex Tape.” TV credits include “Freaks and Geeks” and “New Girl.” He’s repped by WME.



The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.