Game on as north actress gets top role in sequel to Jumanji

INVERNESS actress Karen Gillan will have to learn to navigate her way around the most dangerous board game in the world after being cast in the upcoming Jumanji sequel.

The flame-haired beauty will join the likes of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Nick Jonas to complete the final piece of the star-studded casting puzzle in the sequel of the 1995 classic film.

Miss Gillan, who grew up in Kimmylies and attended Charleston Academy, will be rolling the dice this month and taking on the role of Martha, a role which has proved to be particularly difficult to fill.

The original film was released 21 years ago starring Robin Williams, who died in 2014.

Wrestling and film star The Rock took to his Twitter page to share the good news with his 10.5 million followers on Tuesday night and to reiterate the point that this movie will be a continuation of the original film and not a reboot.

He said: “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to announce a girl who’s playing the most important role in our movie – the talented, beautiful and down for a Scottish fight at any time, Ms @KarenGillanOfficial.

“We start production next month in Hawaii and as many of you already know, this isn’t a remake or reboot, but a continuation of the awesome Jumanji story we love.”

Fellow Jumanji actor Kevin Hart also offered his congratulations to the Scot on twitter.

He said: “I want to welcome Karen Gillan to our Jumanji family. This is such an incredible role and we are so lucky to have such an amazingly talented actress to play the part. Congrats, I can’t wait to get to work. This movie is shaping up to be something really special.”

Filming for the sequel is set to begin in September with a release date of July 28, 2017 already set.

Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner have written the script with executive producer of American TV sitcom New Girl Jake Kasdan set to direct.

Miss Gillan is no stranger to success having acted in several high-profile roles before.

She first gained international fame in 2010 when she played Amy Pond, Doctor Who’s feisty assistant.

Since then the actress, who studied drama at Eden Court, has gone on to secure several other major roles, most recently in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Dedicating herself to the role, Miss Gillan shaved her head to take on the iconic role of Nebula in 2014 and will return for the second volume of the film next year with director James Gunn confirming that she will have more screen time in the sequel.

She will also appear in upcoming American science-fiction drama The Circle, starring alongside Tom Hanks and Emma Watson.

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