The Jurassic franchise refuses to go extinct. Mere years after Colin Trevorrow wrapped up his Jurassic World trilogy with the multi-generational cast of Dominion, cinema’s finest dino-saga is already roaring into new life – shooting is well underway on the next instalment, which we’ve been cobbling together information on here and there. We know that Gareth Edwards is behind the camera, with a cast led by Scarlett Johansson. We know original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp in on scripting duties. And… that’s about it. Until now. Universal has just lifted the lid on the raptor cage and details about the new film – Jurassic World: Rebirth, officially – are running loose, wild and free.
First up, here’s the official synopsis, explaining when exactly Rebirth is set, and how Johansson’s incoming hero Zora comes into play: “Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind. Johansson plays skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett, contracted to lead a skilled team on a top-secret mission to secure genetic material from the world’s three most massive dinosaurs. When Zora’s operation intersects with a civilian family whose boating expedition was capsized by marauding aquatic dinos, they all find themselves stranded on an island where they come face-to-face with a sinister, shocking discovery that’s been hidden from the world for decades.”
There’s plenty to take in there – that the ‘dinosaurs loose on Earth!’ plot from the World trilogy continues, with our prehistoric pals not faring too well in the modern ecosystem. And with a plot regarding humans trying to exploit dino DNA for the good of human medicine, the story looks to continue the man-playing-god themes that run right back to the original Jurassic Park (and Michael Crichton’s novel). The film is being described as an “action-packed new chapter [that] sees an intrepid team racing to secure DNA samples from the three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air”.
More fresh details: Mahershala Ali will play Duncan Kincaid, leader of Zora’s team; Jonathan Bailey takes on the role of palaeontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (we’re guessing no relation of Samuel); Rupert Friend is “Big Pharma representative” Martin Krebs; Manuel Gacia-Rulfo is Reuben Delgado, a father caught up in the aforementioned shipwreck. Ed Skrein also stars as an unnamed member of Zora’s crew. As well as the above image of Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey as Zora and Loomis, we have an image of Mahershala Ali as Kincaid – and the fact that he’s holding a red flare suggests there may be a T rex just out of shot.
We’ll find out exactly what Ali is yelling about when Jurassic World: Rebirth hits cinemas next summer – yes, it’s a speedy turnaround on this one, due to hit the big screen in July. You know what they say: Jurassic movies, uh, find a way.
The upcoming installment in the massive blockbuster franchise will go by the name Jurassic World Rebirth and will hit theaters everywhere next July. Written by David Koepp, scribe behind Jurassic Park and The Lost World, the movie is helmed by Gareth Edwards, who knows a thing or two about giant reptiles, having reimagined Godzilla for American audiences a decade ago. The British director is also known for Monsters, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and The Creator.
RELATED: Jeff Goldblum's Surprise Advice for New Jurassic World Star Scarlett Johansson: “Don't Get Eaten!”
Rebirth features an all-star cast made up of Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Mahershala Ali (Green Book), Jonathan Bailey (Wicked), Rupert Friend (Asteroid City), Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer(), Luna Blaise (Manifest), David Iacono (The Summer I Turned Pretty) Audrina Miranda (Lopez vs. Lopez), Philippine Velge (Station Eleven), Bechir Sylvain (BMF), and Ed Skrein (Deadpool).
Naturally, Steven Spielberg, the man who started it all over 30 years ago, is an executive producer on the movie, as are Denis L. Stewart and Jim Spencer. Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley are producers. As you'll see in the two production stills below, we've got two classic scenarios associated with the Jurassic mythos: a person igniting a flare (probably to distract a hungry dinosaur whose vision is based on movement) and people gazing up at something in wonder (probably a grazing dinosaur or similar) from a patch of tall grass.
Set in the same world established by writer-director Colin Trevorrow, a reality in which humans and dinosaurs live side-by-side, Jurassic World Rebirth takes place five years after the events of Dominion. Given that our planet has changed so much over the last 65+ million years, the ecology of Earth is proving rather inhospitable for the giant lizards that escaped Lockwood estate at the end of Fallen Kingdom. “Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived,” reads the synopsis provided by Universal. “The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.”
Johansson leads the expedition as Zora Bennett, an expert in covert operations who heads a top-secret team tasked with securing — what else? — genetic material from the three biggest specimens. However, things take a turn for the unexpected when Zora's crew comes across a civilian family whose boat capsized by aquatic dinosaurs. Stranded on an island together, the group makes a shocking discovery that's been hidden from the world for decades.
The cast also includes Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali as Zora's trusted team leader, Kincaid; Olivier Award winner Jonathan Bailey as paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis; Emmy nominee Rupert Friend as Big Pharma representative Martin Krebs; Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Reuben Delgado, patriarch of the shipwrecked family; Blaise, Iacono, and Miranda as the members of Reuben’s family; and Velge, Sylvain, and Skrein as members of Zora and Krebs' crew.
RELATED: Jurassic Park's Assistant Director Reveals the 4 Big Lessons He Learned from Steven Spielberg
The fourth entry in the Jurassic world series (and the seventh overall in the Jurassic saga) will stomp its way into theaters sometime next July. A specific date has yet to be announced.
The complete Jurassic Park/World saga is now available to own from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
The NBC App is the best place to catch up on the most recent season of your favorite shows, watch live TV, and stream movies.
