The Jurassic World Franchise Wrote a Check That the Rebirth Trailer Refuses to Cash

Jurassic World: Rebirth's First Trailer: A Prehistoric Step Back?

The first trailer for Jurassic World: Rebirth, the seventh installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, has arrived. This new chapter, helmed by Gareth Edwards and featuring a fresh cast including Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali (alongside the return of original screenwriter David Koepp), marks a supposed "new era" following the Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard trilogy. However, the trailer suggests a potential regression for the series. Where is the globally-integrated dinosaur world promised by Fallen Kingdom and teased again in Dominion?

The trailer showcases impressive dinosaur visuals, benefiting from Edwards' expertise in large-scale VFX. His attention to detail in lighting and proportions elevates the film's aesthetic significantly. While the new cast remains largely unproven, the action sequences and extensive dinosaur screen time are promising. However, the film's apparent return to a familiar island setting overshadows these positives.

Back to the Island?

The trailer hints at a new island setting, described as the original Jurassic Park research facility. This retcon, aside from its questionable canon consistency, represents a step backward. The previous trilogy culminated in dinosaurs inhabiting diverse global environments. The official synopsis explains that the planet's ecology is now largely inhospitable to dinosaurs, confining them to isolated equatorial regions.

This feels like an unnecessary creative compromise. Why establish a global Jurassic World only to abandon it? The film seemingly discards the compelling concept of worldwide dinosaur integration, mirroring Dominion's containment of dinosaurs within a preserve. This creative choice undermines the intended relaunch with new characters and ideas, reverting to familiar tropes.

The established lore also seems inconsistent. Dominion depicted dinosaurs thriving in diverse environments, including urban settings. The trailer's explanation for their restricted habitats contradicts this portrayal. The Malta chase sequence in Dominion, a highlight of the film, showcased dinosaurs navigating a city, seemingly without the environmental challenges suggested by Rebirth.

The Jurassic franchise is a box-office juggernaut. Why not embrace risk and explore new creative avenues? While Rebirth might hold surprises beyond the trailer, the continued reliance on the island setting feels outdated. The rumored original title, Jurassic City, suggests a potential divergence from the trailer's depiction. Regardless, the franchise needs to move beyond its reliance on the tropical island motif. While not necessarily requiring a Planet of the Apes-style approach, a middle ground incorporating diverse environments is long overdue.

Jurassic World Rebirth - Trailer 1 Stills

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