Blockbuster franchises have never been shy about resurrecting characters long thought gone. Star Wars famously brought Emperor Palpatine back in The Rise of Skywalker, while Marvel has repeatedly revived heroes and villains through Multiverse-related twists.
Now, the Jurassic franchise could be preparing to pull off a similar move.
Reports suggest that Jurassic World 8 is in early development, and while there’s no other information, it may reintroduce one of the series’ most iconic figures, John Hammond.
Jurassic World Rebirth, which released last summer, grossed $869.1 million worldwide. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film starred Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, ushering in a new era for the franchise while expanding its darker scientific themes.
However, while audience turnout remained strong, reviews ranged from mixed to negative, with criticism largely aimed at the film’s script and characters.
Related: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth 2’: Where Could the Franchise Go Next? | Disney Dining
Reports suggest that Edwards is in negotiations to return for Jurassic World Rebirth 2, alongside several key cast members.
While Universal has yet to confirm anything, the next film is likely to continue exploring Île Saint-Hubert, the third InGen island introduced in Rebirth that housed mutated dinosaurs.
A follow-up could also revisit one of the franchise’s most controversial storylines: human cloning. Introduced in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the reveal that Maisie Lockwood, played by Isabella Sermon, was a cloned human raised major ethical questions before the plotline was largely sidelined in Jurassic World Dominion.
That direction could open the door for Hammond’s return. The visionary founder of Jurassic Park, portrayed by the late Richard Attenborough in Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, died off-screen between Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World. But there’s every chance he had himself cloned at some point while he was alive.
It sounds far-fetched, but given the franchise’s increasing focus on genetic extremes — from hybrid dinosaurs to mutations and human clones — even the possibility of Hammond secretly preserving his DNA no longer feels entirely outside the series’ evolving science-fiction boundaries.
Alternatively, a sequel could reintroduce him through archived footage, holographic recordings, or flashbacks tied to InGen’s early experiments. Either way, we’re sure life will find a way.
What would you like to see in Jurassic World Rebirth 2? Share your thoughts!
