Gareth Edwards’ upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth is set to act as a soft reboot of the Jurassic Park franchise, but its direction could bring it closer to Legendary’s Monsterverse than the original films.
Edwards, who previously kick-started the Monsterverse with 2014’s Godzilla, is no stranger to large-scale creature features. Given his filmmaking style, it’s not surprising that Jurassic World Rebirth seems to be embracing bigger dinosaurs, more action, and grand spectacle.
While this could make for an exciting blockbuster, it raises concerns about whether Jurassic World Rebirth will retain the identity of the original Jurassic Park films or lean too heavily into a Monsterverse-style action movie.
Jurassic World Rebirth’s Massive Dinosaurs Feel More Like Kaiju
A Shift Towards Gigantic, Almost Mythical Creatures
Jurassic World Rebirth follows Scarlett Johansson’s Zora Bennett as she leads a scientific expedition to a mysterious island, where Jonathan Bailey’s Dr. Henry Loomis seeks to extract DNA from Earth’s largest remaining dinosaurs for medical advancements.
This premise places a strong focus on giant dinosaurs, such as:
- Titanosaurus (one of the largest land dinosaurs ever)
- Mosasaurus (a colossal aquatic predator)
- Quetzalcoatlus (a massive flying reptile)
These ultra-large dinosaurs give Rebirth a Monsterverse feel, resembling the kaiju from Godzilla and Kong: Skull Island more than realistic prehistoric creatures.
Additionally, the introduction of a new hybrid dinosaur further distances the franchise from its grounded sci-fi roots, making it feel more like a Hollow Earth creature than a scientifically plausible dinosaur.
This approach isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it risks losing what made Jurassic Park so special—the sense of wonder and fear grounded in real-world science and suspense, rather than giant monster battles.
Jurassic World Rebirth’s Action-Heavy Approach Feels More Like Monsterverse Than Jurassic Park
Big Action Set Pieces Replace Suspenseful Tension
While Edwards’ 2014 Godzilla was relatively grounded compared to recent Monsterverse films, Jurassic World Rebirth appears to be taking a full-action approach akin to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
The film’s trailer showcases massive set pieces, including:
- A boat ambush sequence, where three spinosauruses help a mosasaurus hunt down the vessel in a high-stakes chase scene.
- Several moments highlighting epic dinosaur confrontations rather than the slow-burning suspense seen in Jurassic Park (1993).
This heavy reliance on large-scale action mirrors the later Monsterverse movies, where bigger spectacle took precedence over storytelling.
While action-packed moments have always been part of the franchise, Jurassic Park stood out because it built tension and atmosphere first, making the dinosaur encounters feel unpredictable and terrifying.
If Jurassic World Rebirth leans too much into high-energy battles and giant-scale destruction, it risks feeling more like a kaiju movie than a classic dinosaur thriller.
Jurassic World Rebirth Should Learn From the Monsterverse’s Success—But Not Copy It
Finding the Right Balance Between Action and Suspense
The Monsterverse has thrived by embracing large-scale spectacle, and it’s easy to see why Jurassic World Rebirth would want to borrow some elements from it. However, to succeed as a Jurassic Park movie, it needs to retain its unique identity.
How to Keep Jurassic World Rebirth Feeling Like Jurassic Park
Reintroduce the sense of awe and fear
- The first Jurassic Park wasn’t about massive dinosaur fights—it was about the majesty and terror of bringing prehistoric creatures back to life.
- Rebirth should slow things down at times to let the audience feel the weight of these creatures’ existence, rather than constantly bombarding them with action.
Focus on human survival rather than monster battles
- Jurassic Park (1993) thrived on suspenseful, grounded survival scenarios (e.g., the T. rex attack in the rain, the Velociraptors in the kitchen).
- If Rebirth treats dinosaurs like unstoppable forces of nature rather than oversized kaiju, it can strike the right balance between tension and excitement.
Limit hybrid dinosaur concepts
- The Jurassic World movies have increasingly relied on fictional hybrid dinosaurs, making them feel less like sci-fi and more like monster movies.
- While Rebirth includes a new hybrid, it should avoid over-relying on genetically engineered super-dinosaurs.
Build horror and suspense into its set pieces
- The original Jurassic Park was as much a horror movie as it was an adventure film.
- Instead of purely explosive action, Rebirth should feature moments of dread and tension—dinosaurs stalking their prey, suspenseful chases, and claustrophobic survival sequences.
Jurassic World Rebirth’s Success Depends on Its Identity
With Gareth Edwards at the helm, Jurassic World Rebirth has the potential to be a visually stunning, thrilling new chapter in the franchise. However, if it leans too far into Monsterverse-style action, it risks losing what made the original Jurassic Park films so special.
If it embraces suspense, awe, and grounded sci-fi storytelling, Rebirth could be the refresh the franchise truly needs—one that both honors the past and carves a unique path forward.
