Jurassic World Rebirth has finally made its grand debut in theaters, ushering in a thrilling new chapter in the Jurassic World franchise. This installment not only introduces an exciting new director, the talented Gareth Edwards known for Rogue One, but also presents an alarming new threat in the form of terrifying mutated dinosaurs. Additionally, the film features a fresh ensemble cast led by the remarkable talents of Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey. Notably, Jurassic World Rebirth breaks tradition by not including an end-credits scene, which means that for the first time in recent years, the future of the Jurassic franchise remains uncertain — at least until the box office performance influences Universal’s decision to pursue another sequel. However, the film’s stand-alone approach seems to be a deliberate choice.

Experience a Unique Stand-Alone Narrative in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’

The majority of Jurassic World Rebirth centers around the daring mercenary Zora Bennett, portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, as she leads a diverse team that includes her longtime friend Duncan, played by Mahershala Ali, and the knowledgeable paleontologist Henry Loomis, portrayed by Jonathan Bailey. Their mission is to obtain valuable biological samples from three distinct dinosaur species, all orchestrated at the request of a pharmaceutical company. However, their mission takes a disastrous turn due to the unexpected arrival of a civilian family stranded on the island, not to mention the lurking horrors of mutated dinosaurs that threaten their safety. Unlike previous Jurassic World films, Rebirth chooses not to heavily rely on characters from earlier installments or set up future sequels, which can likely be attributed to the rapid production timeline, as discussed by Gareth Edwards on IndieWire‘s Filmmaker Toolkit podcast:

“Typically, you have at least two-and-a-half years from the time you’re contacted to the day you wrap up the film… While it’s possible to alter the workflow and do things differently, a restricted timeframe, like three months of pre-production, limits how much you can reinvent the process.”

Despite the tight production schedule, Gareth Edwards successfully completed Jurassic World Rebirth on time. However, he did end up altering the fate of one character, primarily due to the casting decisions made during production. In the climactic moments of Rebirth, Duncan bravely distracts the terrifying D-rex with a flare, allowing the remainder of the team to board a boat, but they ultimately return for him. Initially, in David Koepp‘s original script, the character of Duncan was meant to die. However, with Mahershala Ali emerging as a two-time Oscar winner for his roles in Moonlight and Green Book, he became a significant box office draw, making his potential death a barrier for future sequels. Even though Edwards filmed Duncan’s death scene, Ali encouraged him to explore that direction, but Universal insisted on a reshoot to ensure Duncan’s survival. This decision ultimately shapes the ending of Rebirth, leaving the door open for these beloved characters to make a return in future films.

Kickstart July with Blockbuster Excitement: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Launches a Thrilling Month

Jurassic World Rebirth stands as the initial highlight in what promises to be a blockbuster-packed month. In the coming weeks, audiences can anticipate the arrival of James Gunn‘s highly awaited Superman, followed shortly by The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which will also hit theaters. On the horror front, fans can look forward to I Know What You Did Last Summer, promising to resonate with both modern horror enthusiasts and millennials who cherish the original film. Although this summer has already delivered numerous significant box office hits, including Lilo & Stitch, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and F1, July holds special significance as it’s a prime time for studios to unleash their biggest cinematic offerings. This timing aligns perfectly with the Jurassic franchise’s historical association with summer releases. The original Jurassic World made its impactful debut a decade ago to overwhelming success, while the classic Jurassic Park is often regarded as the quintessential “summer blockbuster.” Reflecting on his journey, Gareth Edwards shared a valuable piece of wisdom imparted by Steven Spielberg, someone he admires deeply, which serves as a brilliant metaphor for the art of blockbuster filmmaking. “He mentioned, ‘Creating a film for the cinema is akin to being a chef preparing a meal. The key difference is that as a chef for the cinema, the audience should leave feeling hungry. If they depart satisfied, you’ve somewhat failed.'” Edwards disclosed to Syfy Wire. Based on early box office insights, it appears that Jurassic World Rebirth is primed to leave audiences eagerly anticipating more thrilling encounters between dinosaurs and humanity.

Jurassic World Rebirth is currently showing in theaters.