Jurassic World Rebirth director Gareth Edwards teases how the 2025 sequel is both a return to the franchise’s basis and an overall celebration of the original 1993 movie directed by Steven Spielberg. Set after the events of Jurassic World: Dominion, the sequel sees a highly qualified ensemble of adventurers embark on a mission to recover potentially life-saving genetic material from prehistoric creatures that could advance medical science, only to be drawn into a rescue mission that could unearth other long-hidden secrets. Jurassic World Rebirth stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Ed Skrein, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

In an interview with Entertainment Weeky, Edwards explained how he looked to the series’ past to open up a new chapter with Jurassic World Rebirth. As the director believed that the franchise had an opportunity to start a new era, he looked to Spielberg’s filmmaking that inspired him in his youth to develop the movie’s tone, likening it to a celebration of not just the original movie, but his earlier works such as Jaws:

“I can’t speak for Universal, but it did feel like a new trilogy, in a way. I’m not sure what their plans are, but it felt like the beginning of a brand-new chapter in this franchise. To me, it’s a giant love letter to Steven Spielberg and his earlier films. There are moments in this movie that remind me very much of Jaws. It’s like little greatest hits of all those aspects of his films that I loved growing up as a child. It’s essentially a little adventure odyssey across this island, a survival story, really….

Continuing off the Jaws comparison, the filmmaker described the dynamic between the trio — Kincaid, Dr. Loomis, and Zora — to Brody, Hooper, and Quint. He clarified that it wasn’t necessarily a love triangle but a competition about who was the alpha in the group. Read his response below:

It’s that kind of triangle between three different overlapping characters, There’s a lot of fun between the three of them that really popped out to me. It’s less of a love triangle and much more of a competitive ‘who’s the alpha in the group?’ kind of way.”

Furthermore, while the original Jurassic Park was groundbreaking for its digital VFX innovations, Edwards revealed that he wanted to return to the same techniques that the original movies used as opposed to more modern features within both the franchise and the wider filmmaking landscape, hoping to recapture what left him awed. Check out Edwards’ explanation below:

“Jurassic Park did lead the way with computer graphics, but I feel like we got lost along the way with the arms race to a spectacle. Jurassic actually only had just a few dozen VFX shots in it, and it’s such a powerful film. So, it was trying to go back to all those tricks and ideas that tease the audience, that creates suspense and tension that get you on the edge of your seat. I just wanted to create that feeling I had when I was young of being in awe of these things.”

What Edwards’ Tease Means For Jurassic World Rebirth

The Movie Is A Clean Potential Relaunch & Entry Point

Jurassic World Rebirth is set five years after the 2022 movie, with the confirmation that the entire cast will consist of new characters as opposed to carrying over stars from either the first or second trilogies. Furthermore, the movie’s plot is also removed from the narrative set by Jurassic World and its sequels, turning attention away from the explorations of human genetics and how dinosaurs fit into a wider world in exchange for a seemingly new isolated setting. As such, not only is it a new tale, but it strips away the baggage of past installments and focuses on a simpler, more straightforward premise.

It is understandable why Edwards chose to return to a more basic approach. The initial Jurassic World trilogy had a wider mandate of exploring not only a world where a successful park had been launched, but one where prehistoric beasts roamed contemporary settings, meaning extensive VFX work had to be used to blend the dinosaurs into everyday settings. As such, not only could Edwards’ movie mark a return to the franchise’s highs, but it could act as an introduction to a new generation that can solidify its big-screen presence.

Our Thoughts On Edwards Jurassic World Rebirth Spielberg Influences

The Director Has Openly Shared His Love For Spielberg

The filmmaker’s admiration of Spielberg is no surprise to those familiar with the filmmaker’s history. Following his 2014 Godzilla reimagining, Edwards received a video message from the acclaimed director where he’d left praise for his take on the classic Toho monster, leaving him in an emotional state. The director has further gone on record that working on Jurassic World Rebirth was the only project that paused his plans to go on a hiatus, showing how highly he values the project.

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With Jurassic World’s new era set to begin in summer 2025, there are endless possibilities for where the dinosaur franchise could go next.

With the opportunity to work on an influential work whose origins lie with a filmmaker he admired, it is unsurprising to hear how Edwards honed in on recapturing Spielberg’s style to develop Jurassic World Rebirth. With the director teasing a return to basics, many may be eager to see how his approach stands out from Colin Trevorrow’s reimagining.

Source: EW

Five years after Jurassic World Dominion, Earth’s ecology confines dinosaurs to equatorial zones. Zora Bennett, a covert ops expert, leads a team to secure genetic material from massive dinosaurs for a life-saving drug.  However, stranded on their mission, they discover a devastating secret hidden for decades.

Release Date

July 2, 2025

Main Genre

Adventure

Cast

Scarlett Johansson
, Mahershala Ali
, Jonathan Bailey
, Rupert Friend
, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
, Luna Blaise
, David Iacono
, Audrina Miranda
, Philippine Velge
, Bechir Sylvain
, Ed Skrein

Character(s)

Zora Bennett
, Duncan Kincaid
, Dr. Henry Loomis
, Martin Krebs
, Reuben Delgado

Director

Gareth Edwards

Writers

David Koepp
, Michael Crichton

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

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