"Jurassic World's Rebirth Trailer Fails to Deliver on Franchise Promises"

The summer movie season of 2025 is set to take us back to the age of dinosaurs with the release of the first trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth. As the seventh installment in the Jurassic Park franchise and the first in a "new era" following the conclusion of the Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard-led trilogy in Jurassic World Dominion, this film is directed by Gareth Edwards and features a fresh cast including Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali. Despite the talent behind the scenes, including the return of original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp, the trailer suggests that the film's premise might be a step backward for the series. Fans were promised a world of dinosaurs with Fallen Kingdom and teased again in Dominion, so where is it?

Let's delve into what the trailer reveals and what it leaves out, and explore why the Jurassic World series seems to be missing its biggest opportunity.

The Jurassic World trilogy has had a mixed reception among critics, yet it remains one of the most lucrative blockbuster franchises at the global box office over the past decade. The love for dinosaurs among audiences is undeniable, prompting Universal to swiftly assemble a new cast and crew for further adventures. Gareth Edwards, known for his work on 2014's Godzilla and Rogue One, brings a unique perspective to the series with his expertise in conveying scale through VFX-heavy films. His background in CGI is a significant advantage in crafting these four-quadrant blockbusters.

However, the trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth seems to miss out on the "world of dinosaurs" concept promised since Fallen Kingdom, overshadowing the excitement. The dinosaurs in motion look stunning, and Edwards' attention to detail in proportions and lighting sets this film apart from many unsightly blockbusters we've seen recently. Remarkably, Edwards managed this on a tight schedule, having been hired in February 2024 and starting production by June. While the trailer doesn't give us much time with the new cast to gauge their appeal, the action sequences promise plenty of dino screen time, which is not always a given, as evidenced by the forgettable evil locusts subplot in Jurassic World Dominion.

Despite these positive aspects, the absence of the promised "world of dinosaurs" concept lingers like an ominous cloud over the trailer.

It feels like déjà vu: yet another island filled with dinosaurs. Jurassic World Rebirth introduces a new island, supposedly "the research facility for the original Jurassic Park," which doesn't quite fit with the established canon. Returning to the franchise's familiar tropical island setting, isolated from civilization, feels like a retreat from the global dinosaur presence promised by the previous trilogy. According to Universal's synopsis, "Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet's ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived."

This explanation seems like an unnecessary course correction. Why set up a global Jurassic World in the previous films if it wasn't going to be utilized? Just as Dominion scaled back the dinosaur action to a contained preserve in the Italian Alps, Rebirth seems to discard the best new idea the series had in years: dinosaurs overrunning the world post-Fallen Kingdom. It's a puzzling creative choice for a film aiming to relaunch the brand with new characters and ideas, yet it falls back on the same old formula.

Furthermore, this choice doesn't align with the established lore from the previous films. Dominion showcased dinosaurs in various global settings, from snowy landscapes to urban areas. If the world was so inhospitable to dinosaurs, why did they thrive in Dominion? The Malta chase scene, featuring carnivores rampaging through a city, was the highlight of that film. The Jurassic franchise is a surefire hit in Hollywood, so why not take a bold step and explore new territories? Perhaps there are more surprises in store with Jurassic World Rebirth, as rumors suggested the original title was Jurassic City, hinting at a different setting the trailer might be concealing.

It's time for the Jurassic franchise to evolve beyond the tropical island setting. While not suggesting a full transformation into a Planet of the Apes-style narrative with dinosaurs, there must be a way to showcase these creatures in fresh environments. We await the release of Jurassic World Rebirth with cautious optimism, hoping the franchise will embrace the opportunity to explore new horizons rather than revisiting old ones.

Jurassic World Rebirth - Trailer 1 Stills

28 Images