
For fans of Jurassic Park, the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth marks more than just the next entry in the beloved franchise—it’s an opportunity to revisit a moment from Michael Crichton’s original novel that has been missing from the screen for over 30 years.
Directed by Gareth Edwards and written by franchise veteran David Koepp, who wrote the original 1993 blockbuster and its 1997 sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, the film hits theaters on July 2, 2025, and marks the beginning of a “new Jurassic era.”
While Jurassic World Rebirth is the seventh installment in the long-running series, picking up five years after 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion, Koepp recently revealed to Variety that the new film incorporates material from Crichton’s 1990 best-seller.
“There was a sequence from the first novel that we’d always wanted in the original movie, but didn’t have room for,” he explained. “We were like, ‘Hey, we get to use that now.’” While Koepp didn’t specify which sequence, fans familiar with Crichton’s work and Universal Studios’ attractions are connecting the dots to the iconic river chase.
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In the book, the river sequence sees Alan Grant, Lex Murphy, and Tim Murphy narrowly escaping a Tyrannosaurus Rex while traveling down a river in an inflatable raft. This scene, packed with tension and excitement, was never adapted in Spielberg’s groundbreaking 1993 film but has long been a favorite among readers. Its omission inspired the creation of Universal Studios’ Jurassic Park: The Ride, which brings the action to life with animatronics and thrilling water-based sequences.
If this is what Koepp is indeed referring to, the decision to finally adapt this moment comes as Jurassic World Rebirth seeks to honor the franchise’s legacy while moving the story forward. The film stars Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett, who leads a mission to recover important dinosaur DNA. But her team’s quest uncovers a hidden island harboring a “sinister, shocking discovery,” as teased in the official synopsis.
Thailand’s striking national parks served the film’s on-location shoots, settings that could serve as the perfect backdrop for the river sequence’s long-awaited cinematic debut.
By incorporating the river chase, Rebirth would tie together the novels, the films, and the theme park attractions, offering a holistic celebration of Jurassic Park’s enduring legacy. With cutting-edge visual effects and a stellar creative team, the sequence could deliver the kind of jaw-dropping spectacle that defines the franchise.
As the release date approaches, fans of the novels, movies, and theme parks alike can look forward to a film that promises to thrill, surprise, and remind us why dinosaurs have captivated imaginations for generations. Will this long-awaited scene live up to the hype? We’ll find out when Jurassic World Rebirth roars into theaters this summer.
When Is Jurassic World Rebirth Out in Theaters?
Jurassic World Rebirth will be released in theaters worldwide on July 2, 2025.
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).
Would you like to see the Jurassic Park river sequence in Rebirth? Let us know in the comments below!