Universal may be going back to a familiar face. According to The InSneider, which broke the news ahead of THR's Borys Kit, the studio is in talks with J.A. Bayona to direct the next ‘Jurassic World’ movie, eight years after he made ‘Fallen Kingdom.’
Kit adds that Bayona "is at the top of the list" of directors Universal wants for the next instalment, so the ball is in Bayona's court if he's willing to return to IP land. A nice paycheck awaits him.
As you may have heard, “Jurassic World Rebirth” director Gareth Edwards was supposed to return but exited over "creative differences," the second time the franchise has lost a director that way. Universal then reportedly approached “Twisters” director Lee Isaac Chung. When that didn't pan out, the studio went back to Bayona, just as it went back to Colin Trevorrow for ‘Dominion.’
‘Fallen Kingdom’ made $1.3B worldwide. ‘Rebirth’ made $869M, a fine number for most franchises but a step down for this one. Universal wants ‘Jurassic’ back in billion-dollar territory, and it apparently thinks Bayona can get it there.
Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali are all expected to return. David Koepp, who wrote the original “Jurassic Park,” is writing the script. Plot details are being kept under wraps. This will be the eighth film in a franchise that has grossed nearly $7 billion worldwide.
The new entry might be titled “Jurassic World: Liberation,” since multiple ‘Liberation’ domain names were acquired a few months ago. Cameras are expected to roll next year, ahead of a rumored June 9, 2028, release.
Bayona hasn't directed a feature since “Society of the Snow,” his 2023 Oscar nominee. His résumé also includes “The Orphanage,” “The Impossible,” and “A Monster Calls.”
Bayona hasn't directed a feature since “Society of the Snow,” his 2023 Oscar nominee. His résumé also includes “The Orphanage,” “The Impossible,” and “A Monster Calls.”