One of the most mysterious and frustrating moments in the Jurassic franchise has been the unexplained boat attack in 2001’s Jurassic Park III.
At the beginning of the film, two characters (Eric Kirby and his stepfather Ben Hildebrand) are parasailing when their boat crew is killed off-screen, leaving only a bloody trail behind. For over 20 years, fans have wondered: What caused that attack?
But now, with the release of Jurassic World Rebirth, the answer may finally be within reach.
The boat attack puzzled audiences because the creature behind it was never revealed. While there’s been plenty of speculation over the years, including theories about the Pteranodons, the most likely suspect has always been the Spinosaurus.
The large apex predator plays a central role in Jurassic Park III, terrorizing Sam Neill’s Alan Grant and the other supporting characters throughout the movie. But with no confirmation, the attack has remained an unsolved mystery—until now.
Jurassic World Rebirth brings the Spinosaurus back in a pretty major way. In one of the film’s thrilling new sequences, as revealed in the trailer, we see several Spinosaurs attacking a boat, reminding us that it’s just as deadly in the water as it is on land.
Related: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Teases Major Throwback to Classic ‘Jurassic Park’ Dinosaur
In an exciting twist, it’s also revealed that the sail-back dinosaurs have teamed up with the gargantuan Mosasaurus to take down Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), and the rest of their team, who have been sent to the abandoned InGen island in South America to retrieve life-changing DNA from three massive dinosaurs.
The Spinosaurus was one of the most memorable parts of Jurassic Park III. The sequence in Jurassic World Rebirth might turn out to be nothing more than just a fan-pleasing moment—but on the other hand, it could solve one of the franchise’s biggest mysteries.
When Can I Watch Jurassic World Rebirth?
Directed by Gareth Edwards (2014’s Godzilla, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Jurassic World Rebirth will be released in theaters on July 2, 2025.
Watch the official trailer below:
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).
What do you think killed the men on the boat in Jurassic Park III? Let us know in the comments!
