Director Reveals Unique Detail About Scarlett Johansson’s Role in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’

The Jurassic franchise is roaring back to life with Jurassic World Rebirth, and this time, it’s all about starting fresh. Billed as the dawn of a “new Jurassic era,” the film takes bold steps forward while bidding farewell to iconic characters like Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum).

Leading the charge is Scarlett Johansson, stepping into the role of Zora Bennett—a skilled covert operations specialist with a mission that combines action, adventure, and ethical dilemmas. Zora’s task is no small feat: securing DNA samples from three of the most massive land, sea, and air-dwelling dinosaurs for pharmaceutical purposes.

However, the stakes rise when her team encounters a marooned family on a dinosaur-infested island, while uncovering “a sinister, shocking discovery”.

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Johansson’s casting in Jurassic World Rebirth is no coincidence. After Chris Pratt’s magnetic lead in the Jurassic World trilogy, the filmmakers were clearly looking for another powerhouse star. Johansson, known for her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), brings star power, action chops, and audience appeal.

Director Gareth Edwards confirmed this in an exclusive interview with Empire Magazine, where he revealed the character of Zora was written as non-gender-specific.

Talking about Johansson’s role in Jurassic World Rebirth specifically, he said, “She’s looking for meaning in her life after leaving the military. This opportunity comes along where [after it] basically she’d never have to work again, but through that journey, she starts to question the ethical rights and wrongs of what they’re doing.”

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Interestingly, Top Gun: Maverick star Glen Powell passed on a role in the film. While fans speculate which character the was offered, Edwards’ casting decision for Johansson seems to have hit the perfect note.

Johansson’s long-time dream to join the Jurassic franchise is no secret. “I’ve been trying to get into this for over 10 years,” she admitted in an interview earlier this year.

Given Edwards’ track record with monster-driven blockbusters like Godzilla (2014), we’re hoping Johansson’s Zora won’t meet an early demise. Official stills, however, already hint at high-stakes drama, with scenes filmed in Thailand’s lush jungles and Malta’s massive water tanks showing Zora in dangerous, dinosaur-laden terrain.

The ensemble cast is as exciting as the premise. Jurassic World Rebirth stars Scarlett Johansson (Avengers: Endgame), Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer), Rupert Friend (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Mahershala Ali (The Green Book), Luna Blaise (Manifest), David Iacono (Dead Boy Detectives), Audrina Miranda (Lopez vs Lopez), Philippine Velge (Station Eleven), Bechir Sylvain (BMF), and Ed Skrein (Deadpool).

Are you ready for this new Jurassic adventure? Let us know in the comments below!