The excitement for Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) is building, but for some reason, the buzz just doesn’t seem as intense as it was for the earlier Jurassic films.
Directed by Gareth Edwards (2014’s Godzilla) and starring Scarlett Johansson (Avengers: Endgame), the film is set on an abandoned InGen island, where a top-secret expedition to retrieve critical genetic material from three massive dinosaurs encounters a “sinister, shocking secret” that’s been kept hidden from the world for decades: mutant dinosaurs.
But despite the intriguing setup, there are some major concerns among fans.
The film will introduce “mutant dinosaurs” known as the “Distortus Rex” and the “Mutadons” — as recently revealed in an Empire exclusive — which has some wondering if the franchise is straying too far from its roots.
The Jurassic series is known for its incredible dinosaurs, but introducing mutated versions feels like an attempt to push the boundaries far beyond what fans have come to love.
Related: ‘Jurassic World’ Experience Set for 2025 Opening After Universal Studios GB Announcement
Another issue lies in the film’s branding. The Jurassic Park series was rejuvenated win 2015 with Jurassic World, but Rebirth seems to be leaning too heavily on nostalgia. For instance, the use of familiar tropes, like the jungle-island expedition, feels very recycled.
While it’s understandable that a franchise like Jurassic would draw on its past successes, Rebirth lacks the bold rebranding that made Jurassic World such a phenomenon in 2015.
With a star-studded cast, including Johansson, Mahershala Ali (The Green Book), and Jonathan Bailey (Wicked), Jurassic World Rebirth still has the potential to break new ground. However, the underwhelming trailer, combined with the mutant dinos, suggests that the film may struggle to meet the high expectations set by its predecessors, each of which were massive commercial successes worldwide.
- Jurassic Park (1993) — $1.058B
- The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) — $618.6M
- Jurassic Park III (2001) — $368.8M
- Jurassic World (2015) — $1.671B
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) — $1.31B
- Jurassic World Dominion (2022) — $1.004B
Despite these concerns, the Jurassic franchise has always found a way to succeed, even in the face of adversity. The potential for Jurassic World Rebirth to expand the Jurassic universe in a positive way remains, but whether it can live up to the legacy of the films that came before it is still uncertain. Fans of the series will certainly be watching closely to see if the sequel can recapture the magic that made Jurassic World a global phenomenon.
When Is Jurassic World Rebirth Out?
Jurassic World Rebirth releases in theaters on July 2. The film 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).
Watch the trailer below:
Are you excited about Jurassic World Rebirth? Let us know in the comments down below!
