The 'Jurassic Park' Franchise Is Readying Its Next Phase For 2025
Original film writer David Koepp is writing the script and Gareth Edwards is directing
Life just finds a way. Universal is quickly moving forward on a new phase of the Jurassic Park franchise. In January, it was revealed they had already gotten a writer, and it wasn’t just any writer. Original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp, who had adapted Michael Crichton’s novel and returned for the sequel The Lost World, would be returning to write this new movie.
Indeed, this new phase would set itself apart by not bringing back either of the principal casts of the previous phases. No Chris Pratt, no Bryce Dallas Howard, no Sam Neill, Laura Dern or Jeff Goldblum. Koepp’s most recent work is Presence, which he wrote and was directed by Steven Soderbergh. It starred Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Julia Fox, and Callina Liang. As the film began pursuing a director, it was revealed to be or took on the identity of the event film Universal scheduled for July 2, 2025. Yes, next July. Currently the only competition opening against it is something unrevealed from Angel Studios. Yuck.
The target release date had been revealed as they pursued a director, which started with John Wick and Bullet Train director David Leitch, who has The Fall Guy in May. However, days after talks were reported, they fell apart rather amicably. Studio and director just had different visions for the film. It happens. A week later, Godzilla and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards spent a week impressing producer Frank Marshall and Park director and now-producer Steven Spielberg to officially be tapped to helm the new film. Edwards’s last directorial effort was last year’s Oscar-nominated The Creator with John David Washington and Gemma Chan. On Monday, it was revealed that Scarlett Johansson, seen last year in Asteroid City now past her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in talks to be the film’s lead.
The dinosaur franchise has accrued $6 billion globally, with nearly $4 billion coming from the World phase, which had 2015’s restarter ($1.67 billion), 2018’s Fallen Kingdom ($1.3 billion) and 2022’s Dominion ($1 billion). Whether that’s 20-30 years of inflation or just dinosaurs continuing to sell, there’s clearly something there. Spielberg produces through Amblin Entertainment while Marshall and Patrick Crowley will produce through Kennedy-Marshall. Executive Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Creative Executive of Production Development Jacqueline Garell are overseeing the production at Universal.
