by FilmInk Staff
Thirty years after Jumanji first sent audiences racing into the jungle, Brisbane-born actor Jonathan Hyde (77) is returning home to celebrate the film that helped define a generation of cinematic adventure. As part of South Bank’s Lost Worlds Cinema curated by the Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF), Jonathan will travel back to Australia from 11–20th February, appearing to close out the season by introducing special outdoor screenings of Anaconda (1997) and The Mummy (1999) and Jumanji (1995) at Rainforest Green, South Bank Parklands.
Reflecting on the homecoming, Jonathan said, “Having been born in Brisbane in 1948, it’s wonderful to return home almost 78 years later to celebrate the city’s reinvigoration of its cultural legacy. While I’ve been fortunate to perform on stage and screen around the world, the opportunity to reflect on my work and career on Brisbane’s magnificent South Bank feels especially meaningful.”
Jonathan, who memorably portrayed the fearsome hunter Van Pelt in Jumanji, opposite Robin Williams, built an international career spanning major Hollywood franchises and acclaimed productions including James Cameron’s Titanic, Richie Rich alongside Macauley Culkin and most recently in Brady Corbet’s Oscar-winning The Brutalist. The South Bank screenings bring Jonathan’s legacy full circle, placing his most memorable portrayals of his most iconic characters back where they all began – beneath the subtropical canopy of Rainforest Green – transforming three blockbuster adventures into a shared hometown celebration.
According to Sophie Mathisen, Executive Director, Brisbane International Film Festival, Jonathan’s return adds special significance to the season.
“Jonathan is integral to the legacy of some of the most beloved films of the ’90s,” she said.
“We wanted to curate a season that brings South Bank to life as Brisbane’s cultural heart, and welcoming Jonathan home adds a powerful sense of nostalgia to the experience. Lost Worlds Cinema is about immersing audiences in something rare and joyful – a true once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the shared experience of cinema.”
The screenings form part of Wild Summer, South Bank’s summer of outdoor cinema, transforming Rainforest Green into an immersive film setting inspired by adventure, romance and classic storytelling.
https://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/stories/your-guide-to-lost-worlds-cinema-wild-summer
