'Jurassic Park' veteran returns to the franchise for new film
Universal Pictures is planning a new saga after the end of the "Jurassic World" trilogy - with a new cast and a fresh story. David Koepp, screenwriter of Steven Spielberg's original "Jurassic Park" and the first sequel, is returning with a script.
The dinosaur franchise lives on. There could be another instalment in the "Jurassic Park" film series as early as next year. This is reported by the Hollywood Reporter. Two years ago, "Jurassic World Dominion" concluded the trilogy centred on Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard). Financially, the three films were a huge success with box office takings of more than USD 3.5 billion. Nevertheless, they received predominantly negative reviews, especially the last two parts. So it's no wonder that Universal is turning to a veteran of the original trilogy for the screenplay: David Koepp.
Another veteran returns as producer
David Koepp was already the screenwriter of the original film "Jurassic Park" from 1993, directed by Steven Spielberg, and the sequel "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" from 1997. However, both films were based on the novels by Michael Crichton. The script is said to be so far advanced that the production studio is flirting with a possible start date in 2025.
The project does not yet have a director. However, alongside Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley, who were both responsible for the "Jurassic World" trilogy, Steven Spielberg is also involved as executive producer via his production company Amblin Entertainment.
New "Jurassic World" era with a new cast
Exact details of the content are not yet known, but a new era with a completely new storyline is to be ushered in. It therefore seems unlikely, but not impossible, that the stars of the previous films Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum will return. I could imagine that they could possibly appear in a supporting role if their schedules allow it and the financial conditions are right for all sides.
Whether Koepp will really go back to his roots, however, is written in the stars. Doubts are justified, as the new project is explicitly announced as part of "Jurassic World" and not "Jurassic Park". I just hope that they don't drift too far into abstruse realms: into space, for example. Such an idea was actually once submitted by Comicbook.com to J. A. Bayona, the director of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom", and Bryce Dallas Howard. Batona was still critical of it at the time, but did not rule it out for the future of the film series.
Blockbuster veteran last with flop guarantee?
In principle, I find the choice of Koepp very interesting. He didn't just write the screenplays for the first two "Jurassic Park" films. He is a blockbuster veteran who also co-wrote "Mission: Impossible", "Spider-Man", "Panic Room" and "War of the Worlds". However, some of his last blockbusters fell far short of expectations or flopped completely: "Premium Rush", "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit", the latest "The Mummy" remake and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny". We'll see what awaits us with the new edition of "Jurassic World".
What do you expect from a new saga of the dinosaur film series? Which actors and actresses would you like to see in the cast?
Cover photo: Universal Pictures
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