Scarlett Johansson is set to make waves once again as she joins the cast of the next installment of the Jurassic Park franchise, titled Jurassic World: Rebirth. Given her enthusiasm and commitment to the series, fans are buzzing about what her new role might entail.
Johansson will portray Zora Bennet, a former mercenary who leads scientists on a daring hunt for dinosaur blood believed to have medicinal properties for curing heart disease. The film also stars Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Mahershala Ali, Luna Blaise, and David Iacono, with direction by Gareth Edwards, known for his work on Rogue One and Godzilla.
Speaking with Vanity Fair, Johansson revealed the extreme lengths she went to for her dream role, having monitored trade publications for years and forwarding news about potential Jurassic films to her agents. “I was really crazy about the [original] film, and I slept in a Jurassic Park pup tent in my bedroom...,” she shared, indicating the deep-rooted passion she has had for the franchise since childhood.
While filming reshoots for Black Widow at Pinewood Studios, Johansson expressed her excitement about being so close to the set of Jurassic World Dominion. She recalls her eagerness to see the sets and participate, saying, “I was like, ‘Show me the sets! I want to participate!’”
Her dedication led to a meeting with none other than Steven Spielberg, the director who helmed the original Jurassic Park films. Johansson recounted, “I hadn’t really sat with him and talked about work, and we spent hours just catching up and chatting.” The encounter took a nostalgic turn when Spielberg asked about her connection to Jurassic Park. “I said, ‘It is actually true. I’m confirming. I’m a huge superfan,’” she admitted, acknowledging her earlier reluctance to share her childhood tent story for fear of seeming overly zealous.
Last June, Johansson elaborated on her decade-long pursuit of joining the franchise. “I’ve been trying to get this franchise in any possible way for over 10 years. I’m like, ‘I’ll die in the first five minutes! I can get eaten by whatever!’” This determination has clearly paid off with her eventual casting, which she described as “unbelievable.”
Meanwhile, Jonathan Bailey, known for his roles in Wicked and Bridgerton, also generates buzz for his character Dr. Henry Loomis, whose physical appearance has drawn comparisons to Milo from Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Fans took to Twitter to draw these parallels, pointing out the uncanny resemblance between Bailey’s glasses and hairstyle to those of the animated character. One tweet mused, “Honestly, the resemblance is pretty uncanny...between the glasses, hair, and costume, the resemblance is pretty uncanny.”
The anticipation for Jurassic World: Rebirth is palpable, especially following the lukewarm reception of the previous installment, Jurassic World Dominion, which struggled to impress both critics and audiences alike. Screenwriter David Koepp has emphasized the necessity of honoring the canon set by the first six films, and many fans hope this return to basics will reinvigorate the franchise.
With the excitement building over the new cast members and the nostalgic connections to the past, the upcoming release of Jurassic World: Rebirth promises to offer both adventure and homage to the beloved series. Scheduled for release in 2025, it’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated films, blending the franchise's legacy with new energy from talented actors like Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey.