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, 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), promises a "new era" following the Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard trilogy. However, the trailer's premise feels disappointingly regressive. Where's the globally dispersed dinosaur world teased in Fallen Kingdom and Dominion?

A Return to Familiar Territory

While the Jurassic World trilogy received mixed reviews, its box office success is undeniable. Universal's decision to reboot with a new cast and director, Gareth Edwards (known for his visual spectacle in Godzilla and Rogue One), was predictable. Edwards' expertise in large-scale VFX is a significant asset.

The trailer showcases impressive dinosaur visuals, a testament to Edwards' skill. The pacing and lighting are superior to many recent blockbusters, especially considering the film's accelerated production timeline (commencing in June 2024 after Edwards' February hiring). While the new characters remain somewhat undefined, the action sequences look promising, and the substantial dinosaur screen time is a welcome sight. (Remember the locusts from Dominion? Probably not.)

Despite the positive aspects, the trailer's reliance on a familiar island setting overshadows its potential. The "world of dinosaurs" concept, hinted at since Fallen Kingdom, is conspicuously absent.

Who's the best Jurassic hero character?

Alan Grant (Sam Neill)Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern)Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum)Owen Grady (Chris Pratt)Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard)I haven't seen Rebirth yet but I'm voting for Scarlett Johansson already.Other (Tell us in the comments.)AnswerSee ResultsBack to the Island? Really?

The film's setting—a previously unseen island described as the original Jurassic Park research facility—feels like a retread. Ignoring inconsistencies with established canon, the choice to return to a tropical island setting feels like a missed opportunity. Why revert to this formula when the previous trilogy concluded with dinosaurs inhabiting diverse global environments? The official synopsis explains that post-Dominion, dinosaurs are largely confined to isolated equatorial regions.

This feels like an unnecessary step back. Why establish a "Jurassic World" only to abandon it? Similar to Dominion's retconning of Fallen Kingdom's ending, Rebirth discards the series' most promising concept: a world overrun by dinosaurs. This creative choice undermines the film's intended relaunch with new characters and ideas.

The established lore also suffers. Dominion depicted dinosaurs thriving in various settings, including snowy and urban environments. If the world is so inhospitable, why did they fare so well in the previous film? The Malta chase sequence in Dominion—a highlight of the film—demonstrates dinosaurs' adaptability.

The Jurassic franchise is a Hollywood sure thing; audiences crave dinosaurs. Why not embrace bolder creative choices and explore uncharted territory?

While Rebirth might hold surprises beyond the trailer, the persistent reliance on the tropical island trope is concerning. The rumored original title, Jurassic City, suggests a different setting intentionally omitted from the trailer. Regardless, it's time for the franchise to break free from this tired motif. While not advocating for a full-blown Planet of the Apes scenario, a middle ground exists—one that showcases dinosaurs in diverse, novel environments. We await Jurassic World: Rebirth with cautious optimism, hoping the franchise finally prioritizes innovation over repetition.

Jurassic World Rebirth - Trailer 1 Stills

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