Jurassic World's 'Rebirth' Trailer Squanders Franchise Potential

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, is here. This new chapter, helmed 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 supposed "new era" following the Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard trilogy. However, the trailer suggests a regression for the series. The promised "world of dinosaurs," teased in Fallen Kingdom and Dominion, seems conspicuously absent.

A Return to Familiar Territory

While the Jurassic World trilogy received mixed reviews, its box office success is undeniable. The global fascination with dinosaurs guarantees continued franchise profitability. Director Gareth Edwards, known for his masterful visual scale in films like Godzilla and Rogue One, is a compelling addition. His expertise in CGI promises visually stunning results, a stark contrast to some recent underwhelming blockbusters. Edwards' rapid turnaround—hired in February 2024 and already in production by June—is impressive. While the trailer doesn't fully showcase the new cast, the action sequences and dinosaur presence are promising.

Despite the potential, the trailer's reliance on a familiar setting is concerning. The dinosaurs, while visually impressive, are confined to yet another island—a supposed "research facility" for the original Jurassic Park. This contradicts established canon and ignores the global dinosaur presence established in the previous films. The official synopsis explains this by stating that the planet's ecology is inhospitable to dinosaurs, limiting them to isolated equatorial environments.

Missed Opportunities

This creative decision feels like a missed opportunity. The previous trilogy built towards a world overrun by dinosaurs, a concept now seemingly abandoned. Dominion's ending, similar to Rebirth's island setting, also downplayed the global dinosaur presence. This retrenchment undermines the potential of a relaunch with new characters and ideas. The inconsistencies are glaring; Dominion depicted dinosaurs thriving in diverse environments, contradicting Rebirth's explanation of an inhospitable world.

The Jurassic franchise is a guaranteed success; its potential for innovation is being squandered. While Jurassic City, a rumored previous title, hints at a different setting, the trailer's focus on a tropical island is disappointing. The franchise needs to move beyond this tired trope. While not advocating for a full-scale Planet of the Apes scenario, exploring new environments and narratives is crucial. Jurassic World: Rebirth might surprise us, but for now, the franchise's reluctance to embrace change is concerning.

Jurassic World Rebirth - Trailer 1 Stills

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