Jurassic World Rebirth's cast consists entirely of franchise newcomers, including Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono, and Ed Skrein.

Rebirth is basically rebooting the franchise after the Jurassic World trilogy, released from 2015 to 2022. Much of the movie's marketing has centered around the film returning to the franchise's roots, namely with Koepp returning to write the script, having adapted Michael Crichton's novels into Steven Spielberg's original Jurassic Park and its 1997 sequel, The Lost World. This was followed by Jurassic Park III, which wasn't written by Koepp, based on a novel by Crichton, or directed by Spielberg. However, for Rebirth, Koepp wanted to return to the tone of the original Jurassic Park trilogy.

Jurassic World Rebirth Is Bringing Back The Horror Of Steven Spielberg's Original

Humans Are Back In The Dinosaurs' Environment

Though every Jurassic movie includes horror to some extent, Spielberg's original film is where it originated, and is arguably the most effective at it. The first Jurassic film features the franchise's most poignant scenes that evoke a sense of scariness, from the T. rex breaking free during the storm, the tense raptor encounter in the kitchen, and the dilophosaurus' venomous spit. The subsequent sequels simply don't feature as many memorably frightening scenes, and the Jurassic World trilogy opted to up the ante in of action, rather than horror.

The Jurassic World trilogy includes 2015's Jurassic World, 2018's Fallen Kingdom, and 2022's Dominion.

Spielberg's original movie masterfully evokes a sense of terror through suspenseful pacing, eerie sound design, and groundbreaking visual effects. The slow reveal of the dinosaurs, particularly the terrifying T. rex and the cunning velociraptors, builds a sense of dread rather than relying on constant action, as Jurassic World does. Spielberg used the isolation of the park, stormy weather, and child endangerment to heighten the tension, creating a primal fear that no sequel has matched in of atmosphere or intensity.

Much of Jurassic World Rebirth's marketing has been centered around it bringing back this sense of horror. Rebirth is returning to the idea of humans going into the dinosaurs' environment, as opposed to the last two Jurassic World movies, which shifted the dynamic to dinosaurs living among humans. As revealed by the trailers, Rebirth includes several suspenseful elements, including a standout scene involving a Mosasaur attacking characters on water, which is reminiscent of the horror found in Spielberg's Jaws.

Jurassic World Rebirth Has A New Island Story Like The Lost World

A Team Infiltrates A Forbidden Island

Jurassic World Rebirth's story involves a team traveling to a new secret island, much like how 1997's The Lost World introduced "Site B." Set four years after the original film, the first sequel follows a team, led by Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and paleontologist Dr. Sarah Harding (Julianne Moore), who are dispatched to InGen's second island, Isla Sorna, where the company's dinosaurs were originally cloned and are roaming freely. There, the team documents the dinosaurs and encourages non-interference as John Hammond's nephew plans to exploit them and create a new theme park in San Diego.

Similarly, Rebirth is set five years after Jurassic World Dominion's ending and follows a team dispatched to an island on a mission. The team includes covert operative Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), and team leader Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), who are recruited by a pharmaceutical company to infiltrate a restricted island that was once the site of the original research facility for Jurassic Park. There, they are to extract DNA from dinosaurs, which could hold the key to creating a revolutionary drug capable of saving countless human lives.

The team discovers a "sinister, shocking discovery that's been hidden from the world for decades."

Just like the introduction of Site B in The Lost World, Rebirth is featuring a new secret island. This opens the door to infinite possibilities, including new mutated dinosaurs, such as the six-limbed Distortus rex, the main antagonist of the movie. The film will also introduce new dinosaurs such as the Titanosaurus and Aquilops. The island itself also holds secrets that have been buried since the early days of Jurassic Park. As the synopsis teases, the team discovers a "sinister, shocking discovery that's been hidden from the world for decades."

Jurassic World Rebirth Includes A Survival Family Story Like Jurassic Park 3

The Team Encounters A Shipwrecked Civilian Family

While Jurassic World Rebirth's trailers have focused mostly on Johansson's character, her team, and their expedition to the island, there is also a subplot involving a civilian family fighting for survival, similar to Jurassic Park III. The 2001 sequel brought back paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), who is tricked by a wealthy couple into traveling to Isla Sorna to find their missing son. On the island, the family reunites and must fight to survive, with some help from Dr. Grant.

Rebirth features a similar storyline, as the main team encounters a civilian family, whose boat tour was capsized by aquatic dinosaurs. The shipwrecked family consists of Reuben Delgado (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), the father of two daughters, Teresa (Luna Blaise) and Isabella Delgado (Audrina Miranda). Eventually, both groups become stranded on the island, and they must fight side by side to ensure their survival, again similar to Jurassic Park III.

Including the story of a family fighting for survival should significantly raise the emotional stakes in Rebirth.

Including the story of a family fighting for survival should significantly raise the emotional stakes in Rebirth. Audiences can naturally empathize more with a parent fighting to protect their children, as opposed to a group of covert operatives and scientists carrying out a mission for a pharmaceutical company. By weaving in the Delgado family's fight for survival, Rebirth's story should have a more personal and human dimension, making every dinosaur encounter more intense and every close call more gripping.

Jurassic World Rebirth Channeling The Jurassic Park Trilogy Could Help It Be Great

It Combines What Made Them All So Memorable

Rebirth channeling the spirit of the original trilogy could help it become a truly great installment. It's trying to bring back the suspenseful horror of Spielberg's original, the island isolation of The Lost World, and the family survival story of Jurassic Park III. By combining these three distinct elements, Jurassic World Rebirth hopefully won't be just another dinosaur spectacle, but a bold reboot that honors the spirit of the original trilogy while forging a new future for the franchise.

Jurassic World Rebirth releases on July 2, 2025.