Juan Antonio Bayona in Talks to Direct Jurassic World 5

Following the global success of "Jurassic World: Rebirth", Universal Pictures is already working on the next installment in the dinosaur franchise. However, there's one major change: Gareth Edwards will no longer be directing due to creative differences. As insider Jeff Sneider reports, Juan Antonio Bayona is now in talks to direct "Jurassic World 5".

Bayona previously directed "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom". Although the second installment of the "Jurassic World" series, released in 2018, was a huge success at the box office, it failed to particularly impress fans and critics. Nevertheless, the Spanish director has proven that he can handle both large-scale blockbuster sequences and darker elements within the franchise.

As for the cast, however, everything remains the same. According to the latest information, Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali will once again take on the lead roles. David Koepp, who wrote the screenplays for "Rebirth" as well as "Jurassic Park" and "Jurassic Park: The Lost World", will be responsible for the screenplay. Filming is scheduled to begin next year, though a release date has not yet been announced.

An Overview of the Jurassic World Films to Date

For more than three decades, dinosaurs have been a staple of the modern blockbuster landscape. What began in 1993 with "Jurassic Park" was revived in 2015 with "Jurassic World". The second film series from the universe produced by Steven Spielberg built on the original trilogy while also introducing new characters and a new generation of dinosaurs. To date, three main "Jurassic World" films have been released, before "Jurassic World: Rebirth" set the series on a new course once again.

Jurassic World: The Park Becomes Reality

With "Jurassic World", Universal ventured to reboot the series in 2015. Director Colin Trevorrow took viewers back to Isla Nublar, where John Hammond's original dream had since become a reality: a massive theme park full of dinosaurs attracted thousands of visitors every day.

The story centered on siblings Zach and Gray, as well as park manager Claire Dearing, played by Bryce Dallas Howard. When a genetically modified dinosaur named Indominus Rex breaks out, the entire park spirals out of control. Together with raptor trainer Owen Grady, played by Chris Pratt, Claire tries to save the visitors. The film proved to be a massive box office success, grossing more than $1.6 billion worldwide. This laid the foundation for a new trilogy.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

The second sequel, "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom", followed in 2018. This time, Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona took the helm. The story begins with an impending catastrophe: a volcano on Isla Nublar is on the verge of erupting and threatens to wipe out the dinosaurs once and for all. Claire therefore returns to the island with Owen to save as many animals as possible.

But there's a much bigger plan behind the rescue mission. The dinosaurs are to be auctioned off and sold as weapons or luxury items. With the animals' escape from the Lockwood family estate, the series left the familiar island world for good for the first time. At the same time, the foundation was laid for a world in which dinosaurs and humans must live side by side in the future.

Jurassic World: Dominion

In 2022, "Jurassic World: Dominion" concluded the trilogy. Director Colin Trevorrow returned and not only reunited Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard but also brought back the original "Jurassic Park" heroes. Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum reprised their roles as Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm. The plot depicted a world in which dinosaurs now live all over the Earth. In addition to Claire and Owen, the story centered on young Maisie Lockwood and a global conflict involving a massive biotechnology corporation. The film thus brought together the characters and plot elements from both generations. The finale was once again a box office success, even though reactions to the film were significantly more mixed.

Jurassic World: Rebirth

In 2025, a new chapter finally began. "Jurassic World: Rebirth" introduced a new main cast featuring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali. At the same time, the series bid farewell to the previous main characters and told a standalone story within the same universe. Gareth Edwards took over as director and once again relied on a mix of dinosaur action, survival adventure, and science fiction. Although the film did not simply continue the story of the previous trilogy, the world of "Jurassic World" remained the central setting.