What's going on with Jurassic World 3? It feels like it's been a while since we've heard much about it. Then again, it's not set to come out until summer 2021, so it's still only a gleam in Owen Grady's eye. Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow is returning, after J. A. Bayona took over as director of the second film, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
There were three Jurassic Park movies and now we're waiting on the third Jurassic World movie -- which is not to say the Jurassic movies will definitely stop after this.
Colin Trevorrow was joined by Jurassic World stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard at the grand opening ceremony for "Jurassic World: The Ride" at Universal Studios Hollywood. While at the event, Trevorrow hedged a bit when asked if Jurassic World 3 will be the final film in the franchise:
I’m kind of a one movie at a time kind of guy, so my eyes are on this one. And it’s a celebration of everything that has existed in the franchise up until now.
Well, that's promising. Does that sound like an original character return hint to you? Jurassic World 3 is meant to start filming this spring 2020, so there's time to iron out more details. Those details may include exactly which original cast members may (or may not) return.
Variety asked Colin Trevorrow about the rumors -- or just hopeful chatter, really -- about Laura Dern, Sam Neill, and Jeff Goldblum possibly returning for the third Jurassic World movie.
I can confirm nothing. But nothing would make me happier than to be able to work with any of those people.
Jeff Goldblum's Dr. Ian Malcolm already (briefly) returned for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and he's one of the many fans who want Laura Dern to bring back Dr. Ellie Sattler. Laura Dern definitely sounded open to returning to the role, so that may be an early hint. She also recently reunited with Sam Neill and they shared a Jurassic Park "flashback" photo together.
While it's still early days, we do know a certain amount so far about Jurassic World 3. It already has a release date of June 11, 2021, and so far no one has said it's moving. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom left us with plenty of questions -- amid the lingering tears after THAT heartbreaking scene. Colin Trevorrow has already said the dinos won't attack cities in the third movie.
Back in early February 2019, Chris Pratt offered a tease on what's to come in Jurassic World 3, and his words suggested to some that a significant time jump may be coming:
I can’t say anything, but I can tell you when I heard the pitch, I was blown away. I can’t believe that we’re going to make that movie, and I can’t believe they found a way to deliver on the promise of the end of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Like, ‘Wait what? The island has blown up. The animals are out, we can’t put them back in the box. What are we going to do? How are not only these dinosaurs but this technology moving forward going to affect the planet?’ We jump forward, and it’s like, ‘Oh! Oh, right! Oh, damn!’…it’s going to be pretty epic. ... You will not be disappointed.
Chris Pratt is pretty good at plugging movies, and his words got me hyped for Jurassic World 3 -- which is tough to do since I was not completely sold on Fallen Kingdom. Fallen Kingdom made an insane amount of money in 2018 -- $1.3 BILLION around the world -- but critics and fans actually seemed to agree (for once) that the movie wasn't that great.
As the sun now stands, Jurassic World 3 is opening June 11, 2021. We'll see if that changes ahead, since it's nearly two years from now.
