If you've reatched Jumanji recently, you might have stumbled over something you missed as a kid.
The original movie came out in 1995 (in case you weren't feeling old enough) and starred Robin Williams and a young Kirsten Dunst and Bradley Pierce.
The beloved flick follows the story of two children whose worlds collide with Alan Parrish, who got pulled into the magical board game as a young boy.
I'll be honest and say that as a kid the movie really scared me, but nowadays I watch it with fondness.
But there's something in the movie that you might have missed - because I certainly did!
Jonathan Hyde, who plays Alan’s stern father, Sam Parrish, in the original film, also portrays the ruthless hunter Van Pelt - an adversary Alan must face once he’s released from the game.
While some fans spotted this years ago, it’s news to many others.
"I only just realized in Jumanji (1995), the father character and the human hunter are played by the same actor," one popular movie account on X wrote.
"This was news to me when I heard it on a podcast last year," another wrote.
A third person revealed how old they were when they found out: "Literally 3 months ago, when I was 21 years old... I know it took me a while."
If you're wondering where else you've seen Hyde, he also featured in the Titanic.
While we're on the subject of Jumanji - It turns out that Robin Williams was a great guy on set... not that we didn't already know that.
Reflecting on the movie’s 25th anniversary a few years back, Bradley Pierce revealed to CBC how Williams went out of his way to ensure the young actors’ well-being during production.
Pierce, who was just 13 at the time, described the difficulties of filming a particularly intense scene in which his character, Peter, undergoes a transformation and the game unleashes a monsoon.
Covered in extensive makeup to resemble a monkey, Pierce recalled that the water made it hard to breathe.
"I couldn’t breathe through my nose," he explained, adding that the scene took eight days to film and "was really draining for everybody".
Both Pierce and Dunst grew exhausted, yet producers attempted to extend their work hours - a request that’s legally restricted for child actors.
“Children can only be on set for a number of hours," Pierce noted. "The producers had approached our parents and said, 'Is there any way we can do a bit of overtime to get it done?'"
Pierce explained the financial incentive behind the request, saying: "That’s not uncommon at all in the industry because it literally saves $100,000 plus to do that extra half hour rather than a whole day."
When Williams learned about the request, he immediately intervened.
“He pulled the director [Joe Johnston] and producers aside and told them the children wouldn’t be working overtime," Pierce shared.
Williams reportedly told them: “No, we are not doing any extra time. You’re going to let everybody out now and we’re going to come back next week.”
Pierce expressed his gratitude for Williams’ actions, saying: “For all the dollars that would have cost, nobody would have stood up the way he did. In addition to being warm, generous, and kind, he was also very protective.”
What a guy!
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