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

Jurassic World: Rebirth's First Trailer: A Step Backwards?

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

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A Return to Familiar Territory

While the Jurassic World trilogy received mixed reviews, the franchise remains a consistent box office powerhouse. The global appetite for dinosaur-themed blockbusters is undeniable. Director Gareth Edwards, known for his skill in depicting large-scale VFX sequences (as seen in Godzilla and Rogue One), is a compelling choice for this project. His expertise in CGI is a significant asset.

The trailer showcases impressive dinosaur visuals, a testament to Edwards's direction and attention to detail. The action sequences look promising, and the abundance of dinosaur screen time is a welcome sight. However, the film's apparent disregard for the "world of dinosaurs" concept, established in Fallen Kingdom, is a concerning oversight.

The Island Returns

The setting? Another island, a purported "research facility for the original Jurassic Park," seemingly neither Isla Nublar nor Isla Sorna. This feels like a regression, especially considering the previous trilogy's conclusion, which depicted dinosaurs dispersed globally. The official synopsis explains this by stating that the planet's ecology is inhospitable to dinosaurs, forcing them into isolated equatorial environments.

This creative choice seems like an unnecessary retcon. Why establish a "Jurassic World" only to abandon it? Similar to Dominion's reversal of Fallen Kingdom's ending, Rebirth appears to be discarding the series' most innovative concept: dinosaurs roaming freely across the globe. This is particularly baffling given the film's aim to relaunch the franchise with new characters and ideas. The established lore is also questionable; Dominion depicted dinosaurs thriving in diverse environments, contradicting Rebirth's premise.

Missed Opportunities

The Jurassic franchise is a safe bet, but that shouldn't preclude taking creative risks. The opportunity to explore new environments and storytelling possibilities is being missed. While Rebirth might hold surprises unseen in the trailer (rumors of an original title, "Jurassic City," suggest this), the franchise needs to move beyond the tired tropical island trope. The potential for innovative storytelling, perhaps even venturing into more ambitious territory, remains untapped. Only time will tell if Jurassic World: Rebirth will finally embrace the potential for something truly new.