Cast
- Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett, a covert operation expert
- Mahershala Ali as Duncan Kincaid, Zora’s team leader
- Jonathan Bailey as Dr. Henry Loomis, a paleontologist
- Rupert Friend as Martin Krebs, a pharmaceutical representative
- Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Reuben Delgado, the father of a shipwrecked civilian family
- Luna Blaise as Reuben’s eldest daughter
- David Iacono as Reuben’s son
- Audrina Miranda as Reuben’s youngest daughter
- Philippine Velge
- Bechir Sylvain as Zora’s team member
- Ed Skrein
Storyline
Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s environment has shown itself to be mainly inhospitable to dinosaurs. The survivors now live in remote tropical regions with conditions similar to those in which they were formerly abundant. Zora Bennett, a covert operative, is hired to work with paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis and team leader Duncan Kincaid on a top-secret mission. Their goal is to locate the three largest creatures within the tropics and acquire their DNA, which contains the key to a drug that will miraculously save human lives.
The team crosses paths with a civilian family whose boating adventure was overturned by roving aquatic dinosaurs, leaving them all stranded on an island. Once the site of Jurassic Park’s research laboratory, the group discovers that the island is home to failed, mutated dinosaurs which have thrived there for decades.
Pre-Production
The script for Jurassic World: Rebirth was written by David Koepp who co-wrote the first Jurassic Park and wrote its sequel The Lost World. He turned down the chance to write another, feeling that he didn’t have anything new to contribute to the series. The studio still consulted with him on future sequels, and he did some uncredited work on Jurassic World Dominion.
Executive producer Steven Spielberg asked Koepp about returning to the series again. Koepp then re-read Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park novels, incorporating ideas from both of his novels into the film. For instance Jurassic World: Rebirth features a scene cut from the first Jurassic Park where the characters on a raft must escape from a Tyrannosaurs rex.
In January 2024, it was reported that a new Jurassic World was in development by Universal. By this point, several drafts of the script had been written by Koepp. The producers had done some pre-production work, including dinosaur designs, before a director had been chosen. The producers wanted to have more creative control over the new film than they did for Jurassic World Dominion, due to Dominion’s negative reception.
Spielberg and Koepp wanted to return to the tone of the original Jurassic Park trilogy. Apart from some dinosaurs, Koepp didn’t have story requirements to follow. He wanted the film to be based on accurate science and not recon events of the previous films. Paleontologist Stephen Brusatte returns as a dinosaur consultant.
Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’
Previous Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow said it was unlikely that he would return as director, due to finishing his trilogy of films. In February 2024, David Leitch was in talks to direct the film but talks broke down as the project had progressed so far that he wouldn’t have much creative input. Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) was then announced as the director. Spielberg enjoyed 2014’s Godzilla and Edwards liked the original Jurassic Park. At the time, Edwards planned to take a break from filmmaking and was writing a new film. He was then offered to direct Jurassic World Rebirth and he agreed. Edwards changed one scene involving a pterosaur nest. It was originally written to take place in a cave but was changed to take place in an abandoned ancient temple.
Casting
Jurassic World Rebirth is the first Jurassic film to not include any characters from previous Jurassic films. Jennifer Lawrence turned down the lead character which eventually went to Scarlett Johansson.
Production
Filming began in Thailand on June 13, 2024 under the working title of Saga. Filming in Thailand lasted a month. Filming locations included Khao Phanom Bencha National Park in Krabi, Ko Kradan at Hat Chao Mai National Park in Trang and Ao Phang Nga National Park in Phang Nga. In July 2024, filming moved to Malta Film Studios in Kalkara, Malta. Some of the stunt work was filmed in a tank and filming in the ocean took place in the Mediterranean Sea.
In August 2024, filming moved to London, UK and Sky Studios Elstree before filming wrapped on September 27, 2024. Some reshoots were done in New York City three weeks later. John Mathieson was the cinematographer on the film. Edwards shot the film on 35mm for the first time in his career so that it would harken back to the original films. The dinosaurs were created using a mixture of animatronics and CGI.
Marketing
The film’s title and two production stills were revealed August 29, 2024. The first trailer was released February 5, 2025 along with lots of stills. A 60-second TV spot was broadcast at Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025. Mattel and Lego will produce a line of film-based toys as part of the promotional campaign.
Release
Jurassic World Rebirth will be released in the United States on July 2, 2025.
Production Stills
You can view more images on Jurassic World: Rebirth Production Stills here.
