MOVIE NEWS – Initially, Jurassic World: Rebirth’s lead wasn’t written with a specific gender in mind. But Steven Spielberg, the legendary creator of the franchise, stepped in and declared it had to be Scarlett Johansson—ending a years-long pursuit by the actress to join the dinosaur saga.

Several years ago, the creative team of Jurassic World: Rebirth gathered at Universal’s headquarters to brainstorm casting choices. “Names were being tossed around, and it was clear we needed an A-lister,” director Gareth Edwards recalled in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “Then Spielberg suddenly said, ‘Scarlett has to be our lead—or she’s going to murder me. She’s been chasing me for ages to get into a Jurassic movie.’”

Johansson takes on the role of Zora Bennett, a battle-tested former soldier sent to a dinosaur-infested tropical island to retrieve genetic samples of the three most powerful land, sea, and air reptiles for a pharmaceutical company. Describing her role, the actress said: “Zora spent years in the military and private security. Her life has always been about duty and helping others. Despite all she’s faced, she holds onto her humor and optimism, which help her survive in the toughest moments. I wanted her to be someone vibrant and magnetic—someone people gravitate toward. She’s kind and loyal. David Koepp gave her so many rich layers—I just added my own.”

Jurassic World: Rebirth premieres in the U.S. on July 3, 2025