Look, we’ve all been through the ringer with these movies. After Jurassic World Dominion wrapped up in 2022 with that massive, somewhat messy "dinosaurs are everywhere now" finale, most of us figured the franchise was heading into a long hibernation. Maybe a decade-long nap. But Hollywood moves faster than a hungry Raptor in a kitchen.
Surprise.
The new Jurassic park movies aren't just a distant "what if" anymore. We actually already have the first major piece of the next era. It's called Jurassic World Rebirth. It hit theaters in July 2025, and honestly, it’s a lot different than what the rumors originally suggested. If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok or old Reddit threads, you’ve probably seen a lot of misinformation about what this movie is—and what’s coming next.
The "New Era" Isn't a Reboot (But Sorta Is)
One of the biggest things people get wrong about Jurassic World Rebirth is calling it a hard reboot. It isn't. Universal was very careful to label this a "standalone sequel."
Think of it like Mad Max: Fury Road or even how The Force Awakens handled things. It exists in the same timeline as Steven Spielberg’s 1993 masterpiece, but it basically ignores the baggage of the previous trilogy. You won't find Chris Pratt training Raptors like dogs here. There’s no Owen Grady, no Claire Dearing, and notably, the legacy trio of Grant, Sattler, and Malcolm has finally been given a rest.
The story picks up five years after Dominion.
The world has changed. It turns out that having dinosaurs in snowy mountains or suburban neighborhoods didn't really work out for the animals. Most of them died off because Earth's modern ecology is just too harsh. The ones that are left have retreated to "equatorial regions"—basically tropical exclusion zones that mimic the Mesozoic climate.
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Why Scarlett Johansson Changed the Vibe
Casting Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett was a deliberate move to shift the tone from "action-adventure" to "covert-ops thriller."
Johansson’s character is a skilled ops expert leading a team into these forbidden zones. She isn't there to save the dinosaurs. She’s there to harvest them. The plot revolves around a pharmaceutical company called ParkerGenix. They’ve discovered that three specific "colossal" species—one on land, one in the sea, and one in the air—contain DNA that could literally cure human heart disease.
It’s a return to the "corporate greed vs. nature" theme that Michael Crichton loved.
Gareth Edwards, the guy who gave us Rogue One and The Creator, directed the film. You can feel his fingerprints everywhere. He treats the dinosaurs like massive, terrifying forces of nature again. They aren't characters with personalities; they are looming, scary monsters that make humans look like ants.
What's Actually Next? (The Future After Rebirth)
Now that Rebirth has pulled in over $869 million at the global box office, the question is: what’s the plan for the rest of the new Jurassic park movies?
Rumors are already swirling about a direct sequel to Rebirth, often referred to by fans and industry insiders as "Jurassic 8." While Universal hasn't officially stamped a date on it yet, the ending of Rebirth left some massive doors open.
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Specifically, the discovery of a "third island."
For years, we only cared about Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna (Site B). But Rebirth introduced Île Saint-Hubert. This was an undisclosed InGen research facility that was apparently doing things far more "disturbing" than what we saw in the original park. If you saw the movie, you know about the "Mutadons." If you didn't, basically imagine things that make the Indominus Rex look like a house cat.
The David Koepp Factor
The secret weapon for this new phase is David Koepp. He’s the guy who wrote the original Jurassic Park script and The Lost World. Steven Spielberg personally asked him to come back to write Rebirth.
Having Koepp involved means the focus has shifted back to:
- Tight, suspenseful set pieces.
- Scientific "what if" scenarios.
- A smaller, more intimate cast (mostly Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey).
Honestly, the chemistry between Ali’s character, Duncan Kincaid, and Bailey’s paleontologist, Dr. Henry Loomis, is one of the best parts of the new direction. It feels less like a superhero movie and more like a survival horror film.
Where the New Jurassic Park Movies Were Actually Filmed
If you watched Rebirth and thought the islands looked different than the classic Hawaiian cliffs of Kauai, you’re right.
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Gareth Edwards wanted a "fresher" look. Instead of returning to the same spots in Hawaii used since 1993, the production moved to Thailand and Malta.
- Thailand: They shot extensively in Krabi and Phang Nga Bay. Those jagged limestone cliffs (karsts) you see in the background are real. It gives the island a more claustrophobic, alien feel compared to the wide-open valleys of Hawaii.
- Malta: Used for the more "urban" Mediterranean feels and those massive water tanks for the Mosasaurus scenes.
- UK Studios: Most of the "InGen Bunker" scenes were built at Sky Studios Elstree in London.
This shift in location is a big part of why the movie feels more "grounded." They used real jungles and real waterfalls (like Huai To Waterfall) whenever possible.
Addressing the "Mutant" Elephant in the Room
One thing hardcore fans get heated about is the "Mutadons."
In the previous Jurassic World movies, the hybrids were a bit of a polarizing topic. Some loved the Indominus; others thought it was too much like a movie monster. In the new Jurassic park movies, the approach to genetic engineering has gotten a lot darker.
Instead of making "cool" hybrids for a park, the new lore suggests InGen was experimenting with mutations to solve human medical issues. It’s a lot more "body horror" than "theme park attraction."
David Koepp has gone on record saying that these mutations were "accidents" of science. The creatures aren't meant to be "bad guys"—they’re just broken animals that shouldn't exist. This nuance makes the scares feel a lot more earned.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve on the next set of movies, here is how you can actually keep up without falling for the fake "leaks" on YouTube:
- Watch the "Rebirth" Deleted Scenes: The Blu-ray and digital releases (available now in early 2026) contain about 20 minutes of footage regarding "Site C." It explains exactly how the drug ParkerGenix was developing actually works.
- Check Out "Jurassic World Evolution 3": This game was released last October. While it’s technically a separate thing, the developers at Frontier worked with Universal to include the Rebirth dinosaur designs and the Thailand-inspired maps. It’s the closest you’ll get to exploring the new island.
- Follow the "Jurassic Outpost" Forums: Forget the major news sites that just aggregate trailers. The die-hard fans at Jurassic Outpost usually spot filming permits and casting calls months before they hit the trades.
- Rewatch the Original 1993 Film: Seriously. Rebirth is filled with small nods to the first movie that you’ll miss if you haven't seen it recently. The way they handle the Raptor "hiss" and the lighting in the final act is a direct love letter to Spielberg’s original style.
The era of the "theme park" is over. We’re in the era of "survival of the fittest" now. Whether you love the new direction or miss the old cast, one thing is certain: the new Jurassic park movies have finally found a way to make dinosaurs scary again.