MOVIE NEWS – The new Jurassic World: Rebirth aims to reboot the dino franchise, but with six previous films behind it, many are wondering: what new story could possibly be told? According to director Gareth Edwards, he had a very specific idea in mind.

“Our film is a massive love letter to Steven Spielberg and his earlier movies,” Edwards told Entertainment Weekly, before diving into the creative vision behind the project.

The filmmakers aimed to deliver a visceral experience—both literally and figuratively—that evokes the original Spielberg-directed Jurassic Park and his breakthrough hit Jaws. Staying true to this vision, they deliberately avoided convenient shortcuts: rather than placing actors in front of blue screens to later add digital effects, the cast was thrown into real, unwelcoming jungles, steaming primeval swamps, and even the churning ocean, so that every scene would feel tangible and immersive.

“Jurassic Park was a landmark in the use of CGI, but we fell so in love with the technology that we eventually lost our way trying to outdo each other,” Edwards explained. “The original JP only used a few dozen digital effects shots. The real magic wasn’t in the tech, but in how it brought another world to life. So I wanted to go back to those ideas—the ones that left me in awe as a kid.”

According to Edwards, the influence of JP and Jaws also shines through in the film’s streamlined characters and sleek storytelling, which aim to allow viewers to fully immerse themselves in this never-before-seen adventure.

As for the filming locations, the Jurassic World: Rebirth crew shot in Southeast Asia and across various Mediterranean islands, often in extremely harsh conditions—giving the actors a real sense of what it might feel like to step into the domain of mutant dinosaurs.

(Jurassic World Rebirth – domestic release: July 2, 2025.)