Jack Black delivered one of the most talked-about moments at CinemaCon 2026 after playfully mimicking Dwayne Johnson during Sony’s presentation. The viral exchange happened as the cast reunited on stage to promote the next Jumanji installment. Fans quickly picked up on the moment, with clips of Black’s over-the-top impression spreading across social media within hours.
Jack Black’s “smolder” impression steals the spotlight
During Sony Pictures’ closing panel held at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Black, Johnson, and Kevin Hart came together to present their next Jumanji movie. During their performance, the actor made a joke imitation of Johnson’s famous “smolder.”
The cast shared a lot of laughs while promoting the next film. In particular, Hart mocked Black for trying to imitate Johnson’s smolder, claiming that Black looked like “a confused pug” trying to make a funny face.
Meanwhile, Black went ahead with the performance. Dressed in a sleeveless safari-type vest like Johnson’s character Dr. Bravestone, he started flexing for the crowd and yelling “I’m the leading man now!”
Apart from jokes and fun, the panel revealed plenty of information regarding the upcoming release. The new movie will be titled “Jumanji: Open World” and scheduled to be released on Christmas Day in 2026.
In addition, the first footage presented a significant difference in the plot. Unlike the previous installments in which the main characters were dragged into the game, this time the avatars of the game are coming to life, played by Johnson, Black, and Hart.
Dwayne Johnson also shared a piece of information relevant for fans of the series. According to him, this film will be dedicated to Robin Williams who starred in the first Jumanji movie in 1995. Specifically, the plot will involve a small part of the iconic dice used in that film.
Therefore, fans can expect an interesting blend of nostalgic and modern elements in this film, making it one of the most anticipated Christmas releases of Sony.