The Jurassic World Franchise Wrote a Check That the Rebirth Trailer Refuses to Cash

Jurassic World: Rebirth's First Trailer: A Prehistoric Step Back?

The first trailer for Jurassic World: Rebirth, the seventh installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, has arrived. This new chapter, directed by Gareth Edwards and featuring a fresh cast including Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali (along with the return of original screenwriter David Koepp), marks a supposed "new era" following the Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard trilogy. However, the trailer suggests a potential regression for the series. The promised "world of dinosaurs," hinted at in Fallen Kingdom and Dominion, appears absent.

A Return to Familiar Territory?

While the Jurassic World trilogy received mixed reviews, its consistent box office success underscores the enduring appeal of dinosaurs. Universal's decision to assemble a new cast and crew, notably director Gareth Edwards (known for his visual scale in films like Godzilla and Rogue One), initially seemed promising. Edwards’ expertise in CGI suggested a potential leap forward in visual quality. The trailer indeed showcases impressive dinosaur visuals, exceeding many recent blockbusters. His rapid production timeline (hired February 2024, in production by June) is remarkable. However, the trailer offers limited insight into the new characters, leaving their appeal uncertain.

Despite the positive visual aspects, a significant concern looms: the apparent abandonment of the "world of dinosaurs" concept.

The film's setting—a seemingly new, secret island described as the original Jurassic Park research facility—feels like a retread of familiar territory. This contradicts previous canon and ignores the global dinosaur presence established in the previous trilogy. The official synopsis explains that five years after Dominion, dinosaurs are confined to isolated equatorial environments.

This feels like an unnecessary step back. Why establish a "Jurassic World" only to abandon it? Dominion already reversed Fallen Kingdom's ending, limiting dinosaur activity to a preserve. Rebirth now discards the series' most promising concept: a world overrun by dinosaurs. This creative choice undermines the attempt to relaunch the franchise with fresh characters and ideas.

The established lore also suffers. Dominion depicted dinosaurs thriving in diverse environments, contradicting the inhospitable world presented in Rebirth's synopsis. The Malta chase sequence in Dominion, a highlight of the film, showcased dinosaurs in an urban setting. Given the franchise's consistent success, why not embrace bolder, more innovative storytelling?

While Rebirth might hold surprises beyond the trailer (rumored original title "Jurassic City" hints at potential undisclosed settings), the reliance on the tropical island setting feels outdated. The franchise needs to move beyond this trope. While not necessarily requiring a full-scale "Planet of the Apes" scenario, exploring new environments would greatly benefit the series. Ultimately, Rebirth's success hinges on whether it breaks free from the past.

Jurassic World Rebirth - Trailer 1 Stills

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