Jumanji sequel: Karen Gillan to play female lead opposite Dwayne Johnson

The former Doctor Who companion will star alongside Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Nick Jonas

Karen Gillan plays Ruby Roundhouse in the upcoming Jumanji sequel

Former Doctor Who companion Karen Gillan is to bolster her burgeoning film career with a lead role in the upcoming sequel to 1995 family film Jumanji.

The Scotland-born actor is said to have won the role of Martha over well-known A-list talent having bonded best with the already-announced cast led by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Kevin Hart.

Jack Black and Nick Jonas will also star in the follow-up. Deadline reports that Gillan's addition is said to be 'the final piece of the casting puzzle' before production begins next month in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Of course, it was down to Johnson - who may or may not be embroiled in a scrap with his Fast 8 co-star Vin Diesel - to announce the news via his Instagram account.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to announce a girl who's playing the most important role in our movie - the talented, beautiful and down for a Scottish fight at any time, Ms @KarenGillanOfficial. And yes, this is the girl who is so bad ass she shaved her freaking head for Guardians of the Galaxy."

Having stepped down from her role as Amy Pond in BBC series Doctor Who in 2012, the former model has gone on to appear in horror film Oculus and the aforementioned Marvel film Guardians.

Next, she'll reprise her role of Nebula for the superhero sequel, will star opposite Tom Hanks in The Circle and Ethan Hawke in In a Valley of Violence.

Johnson has been quick to point out that this version of Jumanji will be a continuation as opposed to a reboot of the classic family film starring Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt. It will be directed by Jake Kasdan (Sex Tape)