In a franchise built on jaw-dropping dinosaur designs and ever-evolving science, it seems fitting that Jurassic World Rebirth would feature one of the most exciting updates in the history of the Velociraptor.
While the franchise has made significant strides in making the raptors bigger and more menacing, Rebirth appears to be returning to a more franchise-authentic depiction of the creatures, with a design that fans are bound to appreciate.
The new raptor look, revealed through leaked merchandise, seems to be a call-back to the feathered raptors seen in 2001’s Jurassic Park III. While the Jurassic World films have largely focused on hybrid dinosaurs and more fantastical portrayals, the new design signals a shift back to a more scientifically accurate version of these iconic predators.
The feathered raptors in Jurassic Park III were one of the first hints of the direction that paleontologists were taking in terms of dinosaur research, suggesting that raptors were likely covered in feathers rather than the scaly skin that had been traditionally depicted in films.
For fans of the original Jurassic Park, this return to a feathered design may feel like a long-awaited homecoming. While the raptors in Jurassic World were larger, more hybridized versions that lacked the scientific authenticity of their predecessors, this new approach in Rebirth speaks to a return to the franchise’s roots.
The raptors in Jurassic Park III were already a step in the right direction, but now the franchise appears to be taking full advantage of recent scientific discoveries about dinosaur plumage.
These new raptor designs were inadvertently revealed in a rather unexpected way—through party balloons. The designs were revealed on the website LA Balloons and shared by the user Chris Pugh (@ChrisLikesDinos) on X (Twitter).
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It’s an unusual method of revealing such an iconic element of the film, but it shows just how intertwined the Jurassic Park universe is with pop culture. Fans quickly seized on the images, and now there’s a renewed sense of anticipation surrounding the upcoming film.
Beyond the raptors, the Jurassic World Rebirth trailer has teased several exciting elements, including appearances from the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Spinosaurus. However, the raptors remain mostly hidden, with only their clawed feet visible in a subtle nod to the original film’s kitchen scene.
The mystery surrounding their full reveal only adds to the buzz, with fans speculating that Rebirth might even introduce a two-headed raptor—a feature that was hinted at in a brief shot of a mutated dead version of the creature in a tank in the trailer.
When Can I Watch Jurassic World Rebirth?
Jurassic World Rebirth will be released in theaters on July 2, 2025. Watch the 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 about these new Velociraptor designs? Let us know in the comments!
