Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson has confessed to pocketing a piece of cinematic history — a die from the original 1995 Jumanji film — from the set of the upcoming sequel Jumanji: Open World, and admitted he was less than honest when crew members came looking for it.

The Prop and Its Significance

The die in question is one half of a pair used in a pivotal slow-motion scene in the 1995 original Jumanji, which starred the late Robin Williams. In Jumanji: Open World, Johnson's character Dr. Xander 'Smolder' Bravestone wears the prop as a tribute to Williams, who died in August 2014 at the age of 63.

Johnson described the moment he decided to keep it: 'The last prop that I took from set was the dice that I wore in Jumanji. That is one half of a pair of dice that they used in the original, OG Jumanji. There's a big scene where the dice are slow rolling, and it's slow motion and it's so dramatic. One half of those dice — Die? Dice? — my character wears in the film. And I took that home. Props, they're always amazing, but you gotta give that back.'

When Crew Members Came Calling

Production crew members eventually tracked Johnson down and asked for the prop's return. His response, by his own account, was a masterclass in deflection. He said: 'They were like, "Hey DJ, do you have the…?" And I was like, "Nah, I gave it — I don't — ah, I got to go."'

This is not the first time the actor has made off with a set piece. He also admitted to taking Maui's magical fishhook from the live-action Moana film, though he avoided repercussions because multiple versions of that prop existed.

A Tribute to Robin Williams

Johnson's attachment to the die goes beyond collector's impulse. Earlier this year, the cast of Jumanji: Open World gathered at CinemaCon at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for a Sony Pictures event where the film's full title was revealed. There, Johnson delivered an emotional tribute to Williams.

He said: 'This whole franchise would not have started or happened or kicked off in this really beautiful way without one man, and that's Robin Williams.'

On the prop's symbolic role, he added: 'If you don't know already, it's one half of the original dice that was used in the original Jumanji Robin, as we like to say, this one's for you.'

Day One on Set

When filming began on Jumanji: Open World, Johnson shared an Instagram video marking the occasion and spotlighting the tribute. He said: 'Little day one of Jumanji excitement. That was cool. As you see, a little easter egg for Dr. Bravestone. This is the dice from the original Jumanji with Robin Williams, as a show of respect. And a way of honouring Robin and this entire franchise that he started as we film our very last Jumanji. Big finale. Here we go, let's shoot!'

With Jumanji: Open World billed as the franchise's final chapter, Johnson's decision to hold onto the die — however unauthorised — underscores how deeply the cast views the film as a closing homage to Williams and the world he helped create.