In a momentous industry announcement likely to excite cinema aficionados worldwide, Universal Pictures is bringing back the veteran scribe of the first two “Jurassic Park” movies, David Koepp, to pen the script for the next anticipated “Jurassic World” film, slated to potentially roar into theaters as early as 2025. Preeminent industry source The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Koepp is already considerably advanced in conceiving the new film’s script, an evolution that’s expected to catapult us into a “new Jurassic era.”
Famed for his role in Spielberg’s original dinosaur-filled rollercoaster rides “Jurassic Park” in 1993 and its sequel “The Lost World” in 1997, Koepp is one of the industry’s most renowned and revered creative minds. His portfolio conspicuously boasts box office triumphs, with star-studded scripts from “Mission: Impossible” (1996) to “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008), and even the first Spider-Man movie (2002).
The project will pair Koepp’s screenplay prowess with the high-profile production team of Spielberg, eminent producer Frank Marshall, and his seasoned producing associate Patrick Crowley. This news may encourage speculation about the departure of franchise regulars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, both conspicuously absent from the current reports.
The Jurassic franchise has been nothing short of a cash-cow for Universal Pictures to date, with the previous three installments – “Jurassic World,” “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” and “Jurassic World Dominion” – collectively raking in a staggering near $4 billion at the global box-office.
Yet, despite this remarkable commercial success, critical receptions have been variable. Only the trilogy’s inaugural film “Jurassic World” received positive affirmation from critics, commanding a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and an even more robust stamp of approval from audiences with a 78% score. In comparison, “Fallen Kingdom” managed a moderate 46% score, while “Dominion” eked out a meager 29% — albeit its audience score notably higher.
The as-yet-untitled new film will seek to not only match the colossal success enjoyed by prior installments but simultaneously recapture the magic and acclaim of the original “Jurassic Park” which astonishingly maintains a 91% acclaim tag from both critics and audiences, standing among the greatest blockbusters ever made.
With Koepp at the helm of the new script, the visionary behind the original Jurassic frenzy has returned, sparking hope for a revival of the touching human narratives and awe-inspiring world-building that made the first Jurassic installments renowned worldwide. As the “new Jurassic era” dawns, an industry and audiences alike wait to see if the primal roar of the franchise can vibrantly echo once more. With big names reuniting and a promising script in development, this is an urgent, exciting, and highly significant news story for all film fantatics. The future of the Jurassic franchise has never been more dramatic or tantalizingly poised.
