Nick Jonas becomes a video game avatar in ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’

By Harold Daniel

Golden Globe nominee, singer-songwriter and actor, Nick Jonas takes on the role of an avatar in a video game on the standalone sequel to “Jumanji.”

On Dec. 15, the actor sat down with 15 student journalists to talk, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.” Jonas is part of a star-studded cast including, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan.

“It was about finding a way to tell a new Jumanji adventure in this story, something that felt fresh and introduce to a brand-new audience. That’s challenging, but if you get it right, it’s incredibly rewarding,” said the actor on the sequel.

On this film, Nick Jonas’ plays Jefferson “Seaplane” McDonough, the avatar of Alex Vreeke that is the guide, adventurer and pilot in the video game who helps the avatars escape the world of Jumanji.

“My character is the emotional anchor in a sense. He [Alex Vreeke] is the most connected to Robin Williams’ character on [Alan] Parrish,” said the singer. “Then there is classic ‘Jumanji’ that fans would love: the animals and then get sucked into a game, although this time it is a video game.”

Nick Jonas was a huge fan of the original “Jumanji” film – growing up, the star had to watch it in parts, being scared of different moments of the film as a five-year-old. When Jonas got the call that he landed the role, he was blown away, turned on the T.V. and coincidentally “Jumanji” was on.

“Everyone in the cast has a connection to the film, to Robin Williams, his legacy. I think that’s why we approached this with a lot of care,” said the actor.

The film is set to hit theaters nationwide on Dec. 20, 2017.