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Jurassic World: Dominionpremiered in 2022 and raked in enough of a profit for the studio to want more. Naturally, anything that brings in $1 billion deserves a sequel, despite how it ended. While no director is officially attached toJurassic World 4, it already has its writer in David Koepp. Koepp wrote the original screenplay for the firstJurassic Park, giving longtime fans hope for something new and refreshing in the franchise.
2015 saw the franchise relaunch with a soft reboot inJurassic World, starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. Two sequels,Fallen KingdomandDominion,followed soon after, seemingly tying up theJurassic Parkstory.Dominionwent as far as bringing backJurassic Parkactors Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. However, if Universal Pictures goes forward withJurassic World 4, it’s going to need to do more than bring back actors from previous installments.
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One of the aspects that madeJurassic Parkas critically acclaimedas it was Spielberg’s ability to make the audience feel the same tension as the characters. While fans of Michael Crichton’s literature had a good idea about who survived the ordeal on Isla Nublar, moviegoers had no way of knowing. The film used the less-is-more technique, which Spielberg used to great effect inJaws.But it’s not just Spielberg; this type of storytelling is also widely used in horror films.
This technique elicits a visceral feeling in the audience. They see things taking place on screen, but they don’t see who or what is committing these acts. This allows the audiences' minds to fill in the gaps, and that’s significantly more powerful than nearly anything a director can put onscreen. An audience shouldn’t feel relaxed when these prehistoric animals are onscreen. They need to feel larger than life, like there’s no escape for the heroes.
Focusing on thefranchise’s horror DNAis the only way to raise its stakes. Audiences shouldn’t know who is likely to survive and who is going to die. They should be on the edge of their seat throughout the film.
Less Campiness in the Next Jurassic World
Focusing on the franchise’s horror aspect, it needs to cut down on its humor. Some movies succeed with the goofiness, butJurassic Worldis not one of those films. In fact, the entireJurassic Parkfranchise isn’t the place for overly comedic moments. The trilogy ofJurassic Worldtoned down its campiness in each film, with peak camp occurring in the firstJurassic World. In the first of the trilogy, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) trained a pack of raptors to see him as the Alpha. While it’s a fun idea on paper, seeing the raptors follow Grady into battle as he rides a motorcycle is a conceptbetter suited for Dwayne Johnson’sRampage,or a B-movie equivalent.
Proponents of the Raptor squad could argue that raptors opening doors in Spielberg’sJurassic Parkwas just as campy, yet nobody batted an eye. That’s because opening up doors with door handles on a hinge was within the realm of possibility for an intelligent predator. The film established that the raptor’s instinct was to be an optimal hunter. However, following prey with its back to them goes against their instinct.
There were cleverly placed comedic moments throughout the originalJurassic Park, but they didn’t quite reach the heightsJurassic Worldexhibited. A newJurassic Worldshould focus more on the tension, drama, and terror of humans coexisting with prehistoric behemoths. The new film should use comedic momentsthe same way Spielberg did: sparingly, to ease any tension.
The Next Jurassic World Should Look to Spielberg’s Jurassic Park
All this is to say that a newJurassic Worldneeds to revisit its roots. While Spielberg’s film didn’t follow Crichton’s novel with 100% accuracy, he delivered an exhilarating cinematic experience that lives on today. It’s one of themost influential films of all time. Maybe it’s rose-tinted glasses, but fans want to relive that experience with futureJurassic Parkinstallments. Seeing the franchise reduced to simple-minded popcorn-eating action flicks about as deep astheFast and Furiousfranchiseis demoralizing.
The newer films touch on Crichton’s original influences from Mary Shelley’sFrankensteinnovel, where science attempts to play God without fully understanding what they have created. However, only Spielberg’s firstJurassic Parkdid a decent job of getting that message across. Just as Ian Malcolm reminded John Hammond, somebody should remind the studio:
Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.
Any new entry into the franchise needs to focus more on this theme or use something different in order to refresh the franchise.With David Koepp, the original writer ofJurassic Park’s screenplay, behind the screenplay forJurassic World 4,perhaps these changes will be made.
