Universal’s dinosaurs are far from extinct.
A new movie in the “Jurassic World” franchise is currently in development at the studio, with David Koepp — who adapted the 1993 original “Jurassic World” and its 1997 sequel “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” from Michael Crichton’s bestselling novels — set to write the screenplay. The project will have an all-new storyline that is intended to launch a new era for the franchise, though it’s uncertain whether any of previous stars, including Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, would return.
“Jurassic” mainstay Frank Marshall is coming back to produce, along with his regular producing partner Patrick Crowley. Steven Spielberg is executive producing through his company Amblin Entertainment. No director is attached yet.
The “Jurassic” movies are one of Universal’s most lucrative franchises, fueling a much wider financial ecosystem, from theme parks to toy licensing. All together, the franchise has grossed $6 billion at the global box office, not adjusted for inflation. The sixth and most recent edition, 2022’s “Jurassic World Dominion,” surpassed $1 billion worldwide. That film ended with humanity having to learn to live alongside dinosaurs, who have fully integrated into the wild after escaping the theme park in the 2018 film “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.”
Popular on Variety
Koepp has been a veteran screenwriter for more than 30 years, including writing the first entries in the “Mission: Impossible” and “Spider-Man” franchises, along with 1992’s “Death Becomes Her,” 2002’s “Panic Room” and 2005’s “War of the Worlds.” His latest film, the ghost story “Presence” with director Steven Soderbergh, just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He’s represented by CAA and attorney David Fox at Myman Greenspan Fineman Fox Rosenberg & Light.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported this story.
