Dwayne Johnson Honors Danny DeVito as 'Jumanji 3' Wraps: 'To Learn From You Has Been an Honour'
Stars of the long-running adventure franchise marked the end of filming on the newest Jumanji entry, with Dwayne Johnson publishing a heartfelt tribute to veteran actor Danny DeVito on Feb. 17, 2026 (ET). The note praised DeVito’s spirit on set and underscored the close bond the cast has built across the series.
A public, personal farewell from Johnson
Johnson shared three set photographs showing him, DeVito and Kevin Hart together; in one image he is seen affectionately leaning toward DeVito and planting a kiss on his head. The message that accompanied the images framed the wrap not only as a professional milestone but as a personal celebration of camaraderie.
“That’s an official Jumanji wrap on the one and the only, Danny DeVito, ” Johnson wrote. “To work with you, and learn from you has been an honor ~ and to call you my friend, will always be a privilege. ” He went on to thank DeVito for bringing “anchoring heart and JOY” to the franchise and closed with a playful note: “ps, please keep smilin’ and please keep exfoliating the top of your head. ”
The tone of the message is a reminder that the film’s energy has always been driven by the rapport among its leads. In recent installments, that chemistry—sometimes raucous, sometimes tender—has become a selling point as much as the action set pieces and creature-filled set design.
DeVito’s role and what the wrap means for the franchise
DeVito returns as Eddie Gilpin, a role that places his trademark comic timing and grounded humanity at the center of the story’s emotional core. Over the course of the franchise’s modern run, ensemble dynamics have evolved into a central attraction: celebrity personas are folded into jocular, sometimes self-aware character beats that balance the franchise’s fantasy chaos.
Completing principal photography is a key inflection point for any big franchise production. With cameras down, the film will move into post-production where editing, visual effects, scoring and sound design will shape the final cinematic experience. Given the Jumanji films’ heavy reliance on visual effects and location-driven action, the post phase is expected to be intensive.
For fans, a production wrap often heralds a slow build toward marketing and eventual release windows. While no release date has been announced publicly, the completion of filming is the clearest signal yet that the project is progressing as planned.
Cast chemistry and the legacy of the Jumanji series
From its origins in children’s literature to its modern blockbuster iterations, the franchise has always hinged on the interplay between peril and personality. Recent entries leaned into comedic team dynamics, and DeVito’s presence has added an elder-statesman warmth that contrasts with the franchise’s younger, action-oriented leads.
Johnson’s public praise highlights the mentorship role veteran performers can play on large ensemble sets. His message emphasized both gratitude and affection—two ingredients that often translate into standout on-screen moments when off-screen relationships are genuine.
As the film moves into the next phase of production, the industry will be watching how the chemistry captured on set translates to the finished film. For viewers who have followed the franchise across multiple iterations, the DeVito-Johnson-Hart trio represents a throughline that ties new stories to the franchise’s enduring appeal: big stakes, broad laughs and characters who feel like friends rather than caricatures.
With the cameras down and a public show of appreciation from one of the franchise’s biggest stars, the spotlight now shifts to post-production work that will determine how this latest chapter lands with audiences worldwide.
