Get ready to hide behind your popcorn, as the upcoming film Jurassic World Rebirth is leaning heavily into the terror that first gripped audiences decades ago. Director Gareth Edwards, known for his work on films like Rogue One, has revealed he actively intensified the fright factor, aiming to return the popular dinosaur franchise to its chilling horror origins.
Speaking about his approach to the highly anticipated seventh installment, Edwards explained his deliberate choice to make the movie as scary as possible. He drew a parallel to the original Jurassic Park, which he views as a horror film cleverly disguised as a family adventure. To evoke genuine fear in adult viewers, Edwards admitted he “cranked that up a little bit,” pushing the boundaries as far as he felt was feasible.
Surprisingly, the director anticipated resistance from Universal Pictures, expecting them to request a reduction in the horror elements to cater to a family audience. However, he was met with no such demands, suggesting both the studio and modern audiences, including younger viewers, might be more open to intense scares than commonly believed. Edwards likened the experience of watching the film to a thrilling theme park rollercoaster, where the tension and anxiety are part of the desired fun within a safe setting.
Set 32 years after the groundbreaking events of the first Jurassic Park, Jurassic World Rebirth plunges viewers into a perilous expedition. A top-secret team ventures into forbidden, isolated equatorial regions where prehistoric creatures still roam free. Their mission: to extract vital DNA from three colossal dinosaurs, aiming for a significant medical breakthrough. The diverse team includes Scarlett Johansson as former military operative Zora Bennett, Jonathan Bailey as palaeontologist Dr Henry Loomis, Rupert Friend playing pharmaceutical representative Martin Krebs, and Mahershala Ali as team leader Duncan Kincaid.
Fans can anticipate seeing iconic dinosaurs like the fearsome T-Rex and the colossal aquatic Mosasaurus, alongside others such as the Spinosaurus and the flying Quetzalcoatlus. The film also introduces a brand new main antagonist: the terrifying Distortus rex. Notably, the design of this new creature is inspired by the distinctive and horrifying xenomorphs from the Alien franchise, clearly signaling the strong horror influence Edwards is bringing to the project.
Gareth Edwards was announced as the director in February 2024, with the stellar cast, including self-confessed Jurassic fan Scarlett Johansson and Wicked star Jonathan Bailey, joining later for a five-month filming schedule. Adding to the franchise’s legacy, David Koepp, who penned the scripts for the original Jurassic Park and The Lost World, returned to write the Rebirth script after a previous departure from the series. Veteran executive producer Steven Spielberg also remains involved in the film.
Jurassic World Rebirth marks the seventh feature film in the enduring series, following the initial trilogy and the more recent Jurassic World trilogy. The latest films saw original cast members like Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern return alongside new faces.
With director Gareth Edwards’ clear emphasis on heightened tension and scares, audiences heading to cinemas should brace themselves for a thrilling, anxiety-inducing ride. Jurassic World Rebirth is scheduled for release on Wednesday, July 2nd, promising a true return to the suspenseful roots of the franchise.
