Jurassic Cash: Trailer Fails to Deliver on Franchise Promise

Jurassic World: Rebirth's First Trailer: A Prehistoric Step Back?

The first trailer for Jurassic World: Rebirth, the seventh installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, has arrived. This new chapter, helmed by Gareth Edwards and featuring a fresh cast including Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali (with the return of original screenwriter David Koepp), marks a supposed "new era" following the Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard trilogy. However, the trailer hints at a potential creative misstep.

A Return to Familiar Territory

While the Jurassic World trilogy received mixed reviews, its consistent box office success demonstrates the enduring global appeal of dinosaurs. Universal's decision to assemble a new cast and crew, notably director Gareth Edwards (known for Godzilla and Rogue One), is intriguing. Edwards' expertise in large-scale VFX is a significant asset. The trailer showcases impressive dinosaur visuals, highlighting Edwards’ attention to detail in lighting and proportions. His ability to achieve this on a compressed production schedule (hired February 2024, production by June) is remarkable. While the new characters require further assessment, the action sequences and extensive dinosaur presence are promising.

Despite the visual achievements, the trailer's reliance on a familiar setting casts a shadow. The "world of dinosaurs" concept, teased since Fallen Kingdom, appears largely absent.

Who's the best Jurassic hero character?

Alan Grant (Sam Neill)Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern)Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum)Owen Grady (Chris Pratt)Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard)I haven't seen Rebirth yet but I'm voting for Scarlett Johansson already.Other (Tell us in the comments.)AnswerSee ResultsAnother Island?

The film's setting—a purported "research facility for the original Jurassic Park"—is yet another island, seemingly neither Isla Nublar nor Isla Sorna. This retrenchment to familiar territory feels incongruous with the previous trilogy's conclusion, which depicted dinosaurs globally dispersed. The official synopsis explains that the planet's ecology is inhospitable to dinosaurs, confining them to isolated equatorial environments.

This feels like an unnecessary reversal. Why establish a "Jurassic World" only to abandon it? Similar to Dominion's retconning of Fallen Kingdom's ending, Rebirth discards the promising concept of a world overrun by dinosaurs. This creative choice undermines the film's intended relaunch with new characters and ideas. The established lore is also inconsistent; Dominion depicted dinosaurs thriving in diverse environments, contradicting Rebirth's premise.

The Jurassic franchise's consistent success suggests a willingness to take creative risks. While Rebirth might hold surprises beyond the trailer, the persistent reliance on the tropical island setting is a missed opportunity. The franchise needs to venture beyond this well-trodden path, exploring new environments and storylines.

Jurassic World Rebirth - Trailer 1 Stills

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