Russel Van Pelt

"Game over."

- Russel Van Pelt

Russel Van Pelt is the main antagonist of the 2017 film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. He appears as a reimagined version of the original Van Pelt from the 1995 Jumanji film. This version of Van Pelt is a ruthless mercenary who will stop at nothing to get the Jaguar's Eye jewel and kill the four game protagonists.

He was portrayed by Bobby Cannavale, who also played Irving, Gyp Rosetti, James Kent and Guy Danlily.

Biography
Van Pelt is a creation of the cursed game Jumanji who exists as one of the threats to its players. After Jumanji changes from a board game to a video game, Van Pelt is reimagined from a big game hunter to a corrupt explorer seeking to steal the Jaguar's Eye jewel for himself. He temporarily gains possession of the jewel, causing him to become possessed by its power and granting him the ability to control wildlife in Jumanji, but it is eventually taken by the NPC Nigel. Nigel subsequently gives the Jaguar's Eye to individuals sucked into the game, who assume the identities of the game's protagonists, and tasks them with returning the Jaguar's Eye to its statue. This results in Van Pelt sending wildlife and his henchmen after those trapped in the game in an effort to reclaim the jewel.

The Jaguar's Eye ends up in the possession of high school students Spencer Gilpin, Anthony "Fridge" Johnson, Bethany Walker, and Martha Kaply, who took the identities of game protagonists Dr. Smolder Bravestone, Moose Finbar, Professor Shelly Oberon, and Ruby Roundhouse, respectively. Van Pelt promptly pursues the group and attempts to corner them in Jumanji's market. The quartet, however, escape with the aid of Alex Vreeke, who had been trapped in the game for 20 years and assumed the identity of protagonist Seaplane McDonough.

Van Pelt eventually confronts the group again when they reach the statue that the Jaguar's Eye belongs to. He takes Bethany hostage and threatens to kill her if Spencer does not give him the jewel, only to discover that the jewel is in Fridge's possession. Distracted, Bethany attacks him and escapes. Martha then captures the Jaguar's Eye, prompting Van Pelt to corner her. However, Martha allows herself to be bitten by a snake and then gives the jewel to Spencer when she respawns. Once Spencer returns the Jaguar's Eye to its statue and the five protagonists shout "Jumanji" to beat the game, Van Pelt disintegrates, leaving a group of rats behind.