Universal Pictures recently revealed a new Jurassic World movie slated for 2025, helmed by acclaimed Godzilla and Rogue One director Gareth Edwards. While no casting has been confirmed, the project already shows intriguing promise.
After failing to seal a deal with David Leitch, Universal, and Amblin Entertainment moved swiftly to lock in Edwards. The director impressed Jurassic Park creators Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall in meetings last week. Soon after, the studios extended an offer Edwards is expected to formally accept once negotiations conclude.
What Do We Know About Jurassic World 4 So Far?
Plot details remain undisclosed for now. But Deadline reports the 2025 Jurassic World installment will take the franchise in a “completely fresh” direction without returning cast members Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, or original trilogy stars.
I hear the script for the new Jurassic World movie is actually good this time
— Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK) February 21, 2024
Daniel Richtman, CNBC reporter wrote on his Twitter, “I hear the script for the new Jurassic World movie is actually good this time”
David Koepp, who penned Jurassic Park and The Lost World scripts, will write this next chapter. So there is creative firepower in place to potentially revive the essence of those first two acclaimed films.
For his part, Edwards has experience reviving monster universes, having helmed the 2014 Godzilla reboot kicking off Legendary’s ongoing MonsterVerse series. His tense, grounded sci-fi style bodes well for a more focused Jurassic World tale.
While reports claim neither Pratt nor other franchise leads will return for Jurassic World 4, that does not rule out possible cameos down the line.
Much like legacy characters appeared in Jurassic World: Dominion, Pratt’s Owen Grady could resurface later alongside new protagonists. But Edwards and Universal apparently want a fresh cast dynamic for this 2025 entry jumpstarting another Jurassic trilogy.
Who Might Replace Chris Pratt as Leading Man?
Without Pratt on board, speculation will run rampant over which rising star could anchor Jurassic World 4 as its dinos-meet-humans headliner. The role demands action chops, comedic timing, and serious dramatic presence.
Names like John Boyega, Taron Egerton, or Glen Powell come to mind. Perhaps a surprise name in the vein of Pratt’s initial casting will emerge instead. But Edwards likely craves a dynamic lead against whom to pit his prehistoric creatures anew.
While some fans voice reluctance to lose Pratt’s Owen as the protagonist, Edwards’ reputation inspires confidence he can redirect Jurassic World’s creative energy for the better. Potentially dropping ongoing narrative baggage allows Edwards to take the concept back to its roots.
And by all accounts, Edwards still boasts the skills that yielded the masterful one-two punch of Godzilla and Rogue One. The director grasps how to blend awe-inspiring spectacle, restraint, character, and heart. Recapturing Jurassic Park’s early magic seems possible under his vision.
Until Universal reveals more, speculation will continue swirling over how drastically Edwards will shift the series’ trajectory for 2025 and beyond. But the keys to this kingdom now rest in highly capable hands.
