When you sit down to watch the rebooted Jumanji movies, you’re basically watching two different people play the same high school girl. It’s a weird, hilarious dynamic. Most people asking who plays Bethany in Jumanji are usually looking for one of two names: Madison Iseman or Jack Black.
It sounds like a joke. How does a 50-year-old man play a teenage girl obsessed with her Instagram feed? Well, that’s the magic of the "avatar" system in the film.
The Face of the Real-World Bethany: Madison Iseman
In the "real world" scenes—the parts of the movie set in Brantford, New Hampshire—Bethany Walker is played by Madison Iseman.
Madison brings that classic "popular girl" energy to the screen. When we first meet her in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), she’s in the middle of a detention-worthy moment, totally glued to her phone. Honestly, she nails the vibe of a self-absorbed teen who eventually realizes there’s more to life than her follower count.
Before she landed this massive breakout role, Madison was kicking around TV for a bit. You might’ve spotted her in Still the King alongside Billy Ray Cyrus or caught her in small guest spots on shows like Modern Family and Henry Danger. But Jumanji was the game-changer. It catapulted her into the spotlight, leading to lead roles in horror hits like Annabelle Comes Home and the I Know What You Did Last Summer TV series.
The In-Game Avatar: Jack Black as "Shelly" Oberon
Once the characters get sucked into the video game, things get chaotic. Bethany picks the character "Professor Sheldon Oberon" because she sees the description "Curvy Genius" and assumes it’s a beautiful woman.
Big mistake.
She ends up in the body of Jack Black.
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This is where the movie really finds its soul. Jack Black isn’t just playing a man; he is playing a teenage girl trapped inside a middle-aged man’s body. He spent a ton of time working with Madison Iseman to get her mannerisms just right. They did table reads together in Hawaii, making sure they were on the same page for how Bethany flips her hair or reacts to a crisis.
Jack has gone on record saying this was one of his favorite roles. He basically tapped into his "inner 16-year-old girl," and it worked perfectly. Seeing him teach Karen Gillan’s character how to flirt is easily one of the funniest sequences in modern comedy.
What Happens in "The Next Level"?
When the sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), hit theaters, they shook the table. Most of the characters ended up in different bodies.
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For a good chunk of the second movie, Bethany isn't even in a human body. She ends up as Cyclone, a black horse. It’s wild. Later in the film, through a "body swap" pool, she eventually gets back into her original avatar, Professor Shelly Oberon.
So, technically, while Madison Iseman still plays the "real" Bethany, and Jack Black plays the avatar version, the character spends some time as a CGI horse. Movies are weird.
Why This Casting Worked So Well
The reason people keep searching for who plays Bethany in Jumanji is that the performance is so seamless. You really believe Jack Black is Madison Iseman.
- Consistency: They share the same "vocal fry" and specific hand gestures.
- Character Arc: Bethany starts as the most "unlikable" member of the group but ends up being the most selfless. She literally gives up one of her lives to save Seaplane McDonough (Nick Jonas).
- The Comedy of Errors: The "Curvy Genius" misunderstanding is a joke that never really gets old throughout the franchise.
Looking Ahead: Jumanji 4?
There’s been plenty of talk about a fourth movie. Madison Iseman has mentioned in interviews that the franchise completely changed her life and she’s totally down to return. While the scripts are kept under tight lock and key, the chemistry between the "teens" and the "avatars" is the reason these movies make billions at the box office.
If you’re diving into a marathon, just remember: it’s Madison Iseman’s heart and Jack Black’s comedic timing that make Bethany Walker the standout character of the series.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you want to follow the career of the actress who started it all, keep an eye on Madison Iseman’s work in the horror genre. She’s moved far away from the "blonde bimbo" trope she initially feared being pigeonholed into. For those who can't get enough of the avatar version, Jack Black continues to be a powerhouse, recently voicing Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie and appearing in the Minecraft film.
Check out the behind-the-scenes features on the Jumanji Blu-ray if you want to see the footage of Madison and Jack actually rehearsing together. It’s pretty fascinating to see how they built the character from the ground up.
Next Steps:
Go watch the "Flirting 101" scene from Welcome to the Jungle on YouTube to see the exact moment Jack Black and Madison Iseman's character work truly syncs up. It's a masterclass in physical comedy.