For over three decades, the Jurassic Park franchise has thrilled audiences with its groundbreaking effects, awe-inspiring dinosaurs, and cautionary tales about humanity’s interference with nature. Starting with Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park (1993), the series has grown into a cultural phenomenon, expanding through sequels, spin-offs, and a revived trilogy that brought the prehistoric creatures to a new generation of fans.
The latest installment, Jurassic World Rebirth, marks a new chapter in this beloved franchise. Directed by Gareth Edwards (2014’s Godzilla, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), the film promises to reset the tone and direction of the series.
Screenwriter David Koepp, who penned Jurassic Park (1993) and The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), returns alongside Jurassic World trilogy producers Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley. With Steven Spielberg as executive producer, the team has assembled a star-studded cast, including Scarlett Johansson (Avengers: Endgame), Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), and Mahershala Ali (The Green Book).
One of the most pressing questions among fans is whether Jurassic World Rebirth will acknowledge the divisive Jurassic World Dominion (2022). The sixth film in the franchise was heavily criticized for its sprawling narrative and lack of focus on dinosaurs living around the world alongside humans.
Many fans hoped the new movie would wipe the slate clean and retcon aspects of the previous trilogy, but in a recent interview with The Wrap, David Koepp addressed these concerns directly, explaining that one of the rules he’s set for the new film is that “the events of the previous six movies cannot be denied or contradicted” because he “hates” retcons.
This will delight fans who value continuity, but it will disappoint those hoping to erase Dominion from canon.
Related: ‘Jurassic Park’ Sequel: Every Original Character Likely To Return
While Rebirth honors the continuity of previous films, it also sets out to create its own identity. In a previous interview with The Discourse Podcast (via Collider), Koepp revealed that the new film mirrors the original Jurassic Park in tone, saying, “Steven [Spielberg] and I were interested in a tone that was maybe more akin to the very first movie.”
The official synopsis for Jurassic World Rebirth teases a bold new premise: “Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived.”
It continues: “The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.
Academy Award® nominee Johansson plays skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett, contracted to lead a skilled team on a top-secret mission to secure genetic material from the world’s three most massive dinosaurs. When Zora’s operation intersects with a civilian family whose boating expedition was capsized by marauding aquatic dinos, they all find themselves stranded on an island where they come face-to-face with a sinister, shocking discovery that’s been hidden from the world for decades.”
Related: Is the New ‘Jurassic Park’ Sequel Already Facing Extinction?
When Can Fans Watch Jurassic World Rebirth?
Jurassic World Rebirth is slated to hit theaters on July 2, 2025.
The film features a star-studded ensemble cast, including Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer), Rupert Friend (Obi-Wan Kenobi), and Luna Blaise (Manifest), alongside Johansson, Bailey, and Ali. With a creative team dedicated to balancing nostalgia and innovation, Rebirth promises to breathe new life into the franchise.
What are your thoughts on Jurassic World Rebirth sticking to Dominion‘s canon? Do you think this will enhance the story or limit its potential? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
