Look, everyone knows the feeling. You hear there’s a new Jurassic movie coming out and your brain immediately goes to Chris Pratt riding a motorcycle with raptors or Jeff Goldblum posing with an open shirt. But forget that. Jurassic World Rebirth is basically hitting the giant red reset button on the whole franchise.
It’s been five years since the events of Dominion, and the ecology of the planet has turned into a bit of a nightmare for the big lizards. They aren't roaming the streets of Vegas anymore. Most have died off because the modern world just isn't built for them. The ones that are left? They’re tucked away in massive, isolated tropical environments that mimic the Cretaceous era.
This is where the Jurassic World 2025 cast comes in. We aren't looking at dinosaur trainers or legacy scientists this time. We’re looking at mercenaries, big pharma suits, and a very unlucky family.
Why the Jurassic World 2025 Cast Is a Total Reset
Gone are the days of Owen Grady’s raptor whispering. Honestly, the vibe here is way more Rogue One than Jurassic World. It makes sense, given that Gareth Edwards is directing. He’s the guy who gave us the gritty 2014 Godzilla, so you know the scale is going to be terrifying.
The story follows a covert ops team. They aren't there to save the dinosaurs; they’re there to harvest them. Specifically, they need DNA from the three most massive creatures remaining on land, sea, and air. Apparently, these animals hold the key to a drug that could literally save millions of human lives.
Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett
Scarlett Johansson is the face of this new era. She plays Zora Bennett, a skilled covert operations expert. If you’re thinking she’s just Black Widow with a machete, you’re kinda wrong.
Director Gareth Edwards actually mentioned that the role was originally written to be non-gender-specific. Zora is a veteran who’s looking for one last payday so she can finally retire and find some meaning in her life. She’s tough, sure, but she’s also grappling with the ethics of what she’s doing. By the end of the film, she has to choose between a massive paycheck and doing the right thing for the planet.
Jonathan Bailey as Dr. Henry Loomis
If Zora is the muscle, Jonathan Bailey is the brains. Most people know him from Bridgerton or Wicked, but here he’s playing Dr. Henry Loomis, a paleontologist.
He’s not a rugged adventurer. He’s a guy who spends his time in museums and labs. Seeing him tossed into the jungles of Thailand (which stands in for the fictional island of Ile Saint-Hubert) is where a lot of the tension—and a bit of the humor—comes from. Fun fact: Bailey is actually a trained clarinetist, and he ended up playing a solo on the movie's soundtrack during a scene where his character finally touches a Titanosaur.
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Mahershala Ali as Duncan Kincaid
You’ve got two Oscars sitting in this cast thanks to Mahershala Ali. He plays Duncan Kincaid, Zora’s most trusted team leader.
Kincaid is the rock of the team. Interestingly, the original script had him dying in a heroic sacrifice involving a T-rex and some flares. They actually filmed that version. But Edwards liked the character (and Ali’s performance) so much that they filmed an alternate ending where he survives. Thank goodness, because you don't waste Mahershala Ali in the first act.
The Supporting Players and the "Civilian" Element
A Jurassic movie isn't a Jurassic movie without some kids in peril and a corporate villain.
- Rupert Friend as Martin Krebs: He’s the face of Big Pharma. Krebs is the one who hires Zora's team. He’s a suit who thinks he can control nature with a checkbook. We all know how that usually goes in these movies.
- Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Reuben Delgado: This is where the "family" element comes in. Reuben and his kids are shipwrecked on the island after a Mosasaurus eats their boat.
- The Delgado Kids: Played by Luna Blaise, David Iacono, and Audrina Miranda. They represent the "innocent" perspective, stuck between a group of mercenaries and a jungle full of apex predators.
What Really Happened with the Casting Process
It wasn't a straight line to get this group together. Actually, Glen Powell was offered a role early on but turned it down. He said the script was great, but he didn't feel like his presence added anything to the movie after already being in Twisters.
Scarlett Johansson, on the other hand, has been trying to get into this franchise for over a decade. She’s a massive fan of the original 1993 film. She even told interviews she’d have played a background extra just to get eaten. Luckily for her, she gets to be the lead instead.
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The filming took the crew all over the world:
- Thailand: The primary location for the island.
- Malta: Used for the massive water tanks for the Mosasaurus sequences.
- London: Specifically the University of Greenwich, which stood in for the New York museum where we meet Dr. Loomis.
The Verdict on the New Direction
Honestly, this feels like the first time since the original Jurassic Park that the franchise is taking itself seriously. There are no hybrid "super-dinosaurs" with cloaking abilities here. It's just humans versus the most massive animals to ever walk the Earth.
The focus on a smaller, more specialized Jurassic World 2025 cast allows for more character development. You actually care if Zora or Duncan make it off the island. It’s less about the spectacle of a theme park and more about the survival horror of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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If you’re planning on catching this in theaters, keep an eye out for the "Titanosaur" sequence. It’s being hailed as the "Brachiosaurus moment" of this generation—the first time the characters (and the audience) really stop to appreciate the majesty of these creatures before the screaming starts.
Practical Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Trailer: Universal has released teaser footage showing the Thailand jungles; look for the "Rebirth" subtitle to ensure you're watching the 2025 clips.
- Check the Timeline: Rebirth is set five years after Dominion, so you don't necessarily need to rewatch the Chris Pratt trilogy to understand the plot, but knowing the "dinosaurs are everywhere" ending of the last film helps.
- Look for Easter Eggs: The "Van Dyke" bar scene in the movie is reportedly packed with Steven Spielberg references, including a nod to Jaws.