Jurassic World Rebirthdirector Gareth Edwards teases that his upcoming film will feature a return to the style of Steven Spielberg’sJurassic Park(1993). After the reboot trilogy wrapped up the stories of Chris Pratt’s Owen and Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire withJurassic World Dominionin 2022, the franchise is nearing another fresh start with therelease ofJurassic World Rebirth.The upcoming film introduces new characters played by Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Mahershala Ali, chronicling an expedition through dino-infested territory to extract DNA crucial to a medical breakthrough.
In a recent interview withEmpire, Edwards reveals thatJurassic World Rebirthwill hearken back to Spielberg’s original movie in some key ways. Though the director confirms that the film, which is set five years afterJurassic World Dominion,continues the world of that film in terms of dinosaurs' presence on Earth,he calls the next installment “a whole new chapter in the timeline of Jurassic.“It may be a fresh chapter, but Edwards promises some exciting set piece moments akin to those seen inJurassic Park:
“It goes back to what I loved about the original, with an embarrassment of riches of different set-piece-type scenarios and tense, fun action moments. There were a lot of opportunities as a filmmaker to have a lot of fun and try and play games with the audience.”
The article also features a new image of Johannson’s character, Zora Bennett, who is shown traversing an overgrown field with what appears to be a tranquilizer gun. Check out the new image below:
ThoughJurassic World Rebirthis inspired by Spielberg’s original movie, legacy characters like Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) are not expected to return.
What Edwards' Update Means For Jurassic World Rebirth
Will It Break A Worrying Franchise Trend?
In terms of critical reception,Spielberg’s 1993 original movie remains the best reviewed entry in the largerJurassicsaga. Though it may have been a box office smash hit, grossing just over $1 billion worldwide,Jurassic World Dominionreviewswere not positive. As seen in the chart below, the film has a lackluster 29% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which marks a franchise low.
91%
53%
50%
72%
47%
Jurassic World Dominion(2022)
29%
With Edwards teasing that he will be bringing back more aspects ofJurassic Park,Jurassic World Rebirthcould break the trend of poorly-reviewed movies in the franchise. Edwards' own filmography is a positive sign in this respect, as his previous three movies,The Creator(2023),Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016), andGodzilla(2014), all earned generally positive reviews.
Our Take On Jurassic World Rebirth Bringing Back Elements Of Jurassic Park
Rebirth Could Be A Breath Of Fresh Air
Though theJurassic World Dominionendingsuggests that dinosaurs and humans coexisting will be a key part of future films, it looks as ifEdwards has found a way to work within this established framework in a way that is not creatively limiting. Despite featuring some big ideas and effects,Jurassic Parktells a relatively contained story. By focusing on an expedition through dangerous dinosaur territory close to the equator, Edwards is honing in on a smaller story with his film as well.
TheJurassic World Rebirthcastalone is reason enough to be excited about the movie, but Edwards' latest update suggests his movie won’t be repeating the problems thatDominionhad. If successful, it’s entirely possible thatJurassic World Rebirthwill kick off a new trilogy for a franchise that is in desperate need of some fresh ideas.
Jurassic World Rebirth
Cast
Jurassic World Rebirth, set five years after Jurassic World Dominion, sees covert operations expert Zora Bennett guiding a team to obtain dinosaur genetic material. Their mission collides with a stranded family on a perilous island, uncovering a long-buried secret.
