The summer movie season of 2025 is taking a thrilling plunge into the past with the release of the first trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth. As the seventh installment in the iconic Jurassic Park franchise and the inaugural film of a "new era" following the conclusion of the Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard-led trilogy with Jurassic World Dominion, this latest entry is helmed by director Gareth Edwards. The film boasts a fresh cast, featuring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, and sees the return of original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp. However, despite the impressive talent involved, the trailer's premise feels like a regression for the series. The much-anticipated "world of dinosaurs" hinted at in Fallen Kingdom and teased once more in Dominion seems to be absent. Let's delve into what the trailer reveals and conceals, and explore why the Jurassic World series might be overlooking its greatest potential.
**Back to the Cretaceous** --------------------------While the Jurassic World trilogy received mixed reception from critics, it remains one of the most financially successful blockbuster franchises at the global box office over the past decade. Dinosaurs continue to captivate audiences worldwide, and Universal was quick to capitalize on this, assembling a new cast and crew for future films. Director Gareth Edwards, known for his work on 2014's Godzilla and Rogue One, brings a unique flair to the project. His expertise in conveying scale and detail in VFX-heavy films, honed through his background in CGI, sets him apart from many directors transitioning from indie or Sundance films to mainstream blockbusters.
The trailer showcases stunning dinosaur animations, a testament to Edwards' skillful direction and attention to detail in proportions and lighting. Remarkably, he managed to achieve this visual excellence on a tight schedule, having been hired in February 2024 and starting production by June. While the trailer offers limited insight into the new characters, the action sequences and dinosaur presence are promising. However, the absence of the "world of dinosaurs" concept, which has been teased since Fallen Kingdom, looms large over the trailer.
AnswerSee Results**An Island? Again?!** ----------------------The familiar plot of yet another dinosaur-inhabited island resurfaces with Jurassic World Rebirth. This time, the setting is a mysterious island touted as the "research facility for the original Jurassic Park," which doesn't align well with the existing franchise canon. Returning to the classic tropical island setting feels like a step back, especially after the previous trilogy concluded with dinosaurs roaming freely across the globe. According to Universal's official synopsis, "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."
While this might seem like a logical narrative shift, it feels like an unnecessary course correction. Why build up the concept of a global "Jurassic World" in the previous trilogy only to abandon it? Just as Dominion scaled back the global dinosaur presence to a contained preserve in the Italian Alps, Rebirth now discards the innovative idea of dinosaurs overrunning the world post-Fallen Kingdom. This decision is puzzling, particularly when attempting to relaunch the franchise with new characters and ideas, yet sticking to the same old island setting.Moreover, this choice doesn't align well with the established lore. Dominion showcased dinosaurs thriving in various global environments, from snowy regions to urban areas. If the world was so inhospitable to dinosaurs, why did they adapt so well in the last movie? The thrilling Malta chase scene in Dominion, featuring carnivores rampaging through a city, was a highlight and a testament to the franchise's potential for creative storytelling. With the Jurassic franchise being a reliable box office hit, why not take a bold step to explore new territories and dimensions?
The Jurassic franchise has always been a safe bet in Hollywood, so why not take a chance and innovate? It's possible that Jurassic World Rebirth has more surprises in store than what the trailer reveals. Rumors suggest the film was initially titled Jurassic City, hinting at a setting the trailer might be concealing. Regardless, it's high time for the franchise to move beyond the repetitive tropical island setting. While a full "Planet of the Apes" style dinosaur world might be ambitious, there must be a middle ground to explore new environments for the dinosaurs. We'll see how Jurassic World Rebirth unfolds, but we hope the franchise will finally embrace the potential for fresh and exciting storytelling.
Jurassic World Rebirth - Trailer 1 Stills
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