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The Jurassic Park saga has always been about evolution—on and off the screen. With Jurassic World Rebirth, the franchise steps into uncharted territory, introducing a brand-new cast while closing the chapter on its legendary characters like Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum).
Leading the new era is Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett, a covert operations specialist tasked with retrieving dinosaur DNA for pharmaceutical research. Her mission takes a dramatic turn when her team encounters a stranded family on an island teeming with dinosaurs—and uncovers a dark, long-hidden truth.
In a candid interview with Empire Magazine, director Gareth Edwards highlighted how Zora’s character wasn’t bound by gender in the script, making Johansson’s portrayal all the more impactful and the film the most inclusive in the series yet. “Through this journey, she starts to question the ethical rights and wrongs of what they’re doing,” Edwards said of the character. The role, originally open to anyone, found its perfect match in Johansson.
Credit: Universal Pictures
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Johansson’s casting fits seamlessly into the franchise’s history of strong female leads, from Laura Dern’s Dr. Ellie Sattler to Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Dearing. Edwards revealed how Steven Spielberg himself mentioned Johansson’s interest in a Jurassic film during early discussions. “As soon as I heard that I thought, ‘That’s the end of the meeting, right? Are you going to call her, or shall I?’” Edwards shared.
Johansson’s journey into the Jurassic universe has been years in the making. “I’ve been trying to get into this for the last, you know, over 10 years,” she said in an interview earlier this year, sharing her willingness to take on even small or sacrificial roles in the past. But her central role in Jurassic World Rebirth promises to be much more than a fleeting appearance.
The stakes are high for Zora. Filming spanned exotic locations in Thailand and water horizon tanks in Malta, with released stills showing Zora face-to-face with danger.
Credit: Universal Pictures
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As the film’s November 2024 release approaches, anticipation builds around its all-star cast.
The film stars Scarlett Johansson (Avengers: Endgame), Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer), Rupert Friend (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Mahershala Ali (The Green Book), Luna Blaise (Manifest), David Iacono (Dead Boy Detectives), Audrina Miranda (Lopez vs Lopez), Philippine Velge (Station Eleven), Bechir Sylvain (BMF), and Ed Skrein (Deadpool).
Can Johansson breathe fresh life into this beloved franchise? Share your thoughts below!
