The Jurassic Park franchise has always balanced awe and terror, drawing audiences into a world where dinosaurs and humans cross paths in spectacularly disastrous ways. But for decades, one of Jurassic Park’s most thrilling moments remained locked away in Michael Crichton’s novel, never making it to the big screen—until now.
In Jurassic World Rebirth, the upcoming installment directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla 2014), an unused sequence from Crichton’s original book is finally getting its due, and fans of both the source material and the legendary Universal Studios attraction have every reason to be excited.
Screenwriter David Koepp recently revealed in an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair that a long-rumored scene from the novel—the white-knuckle river chase featuring a T. rex—will play a major role in the new film.
In Crichton’s book, Alan Grant and the Murphy siblings find themselves stranded on a raft as the monstrous predator lurks just beneath the surface, leading to one of the novel’s most suspenseful encounters.
While the 1993 film had no room for the sequence, its DNA lived on in the real-world Jurassic Park theme park attraction, a Universal Studios theme park ride that has been thrilling guests since 1996 (there are several variations of the ride at resorts worldwide).
For decades, the ride offered Jurassic Park fans their closest experience to what the river sequence might have looked like on screen. The attraction, featured at Universal Studios parks around the world, drops visitors into a seemingly peaceful tour of dinosaurs that quickly turns chaotic, culminating in an unforgettable face-to-face encounter with the T. rex. It was the perfect way to bring a missing piece of Jurassic Park to life.
Now, thanks to Jurassic World Rebirth, that same pulse-pounding moment is being reimagined for an entirely new generation.
The film’s first trailer teases two shots that all but confirm the sequence. It’s a full-circle moment for the franchise, resurrecting one of its most infamous cut scenes while also paying tribute to an attraction that has kept the spirit of Jurassic Park alive for nearly three decades. Watch the trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth below, per Universal Pictures:
Related: New ‘Jurassic Park’ Sequel May Feature Universal Studios Attractions
As Jurassic World Rebirth prepares to usher in a new era of dinosaur-fueled mayhem, it’s clear that the past is playing a vital role in shaping the future.
Whether audiences are stepping onto the Jurassic Park River Adventure, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure, or Jurassic Park River Adventure at Universal Studios or settling into theaters on July 2, 2025, one thing is certain—Jurassic Park’s most legendary lost scene is finally roaring to life.
Are you excited to see the infamous river sequence play out on the big screen? Let us know in the comments!
