The next Jurassic World movie has lost its director. Gareth Edwards, who helmed 2025’s Jurassic World Rebirth, will not return for the sequel. The filmmaker departed the project over creative differences.
Universal Pictures is now searching for a new director to take over the dinosaur franchise. The studio confirmed the split with a short statement.
Why Edwards Left the Project
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline that Edwards exited due to creative differences with the studio. Neither side has explained what those differences were.
Universal released a brief statement about the departure. “We had an incredible experience working with Gareth on Jurassic World Rebirth,” the studio said.
The filmmaker is now expected to focus on original projects he has in development.
The Sequel Is Still Moving Forward
Despite losing its director, the sequel remains on track. Screenwriter David Koepp is returning to write the script. Koepp wrote the original Jurassic Park in 1993 as well as The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic World Rebirth.
The main cast is expected to return. Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey are all set to reprise their roles from the first film. However, reports say the studio is still working out their schedules.
Production on the sequel is planned to begin in 2027. No release date has been announced yet.
A Big Success at the Box Office
Jurassic World Rebirth was a major hit. The film earned approximately $872 million worldwide. It made $340 million in the US alone.
The movie successfully relaunched the franchise with a new cast. It was positioned as a fresh chapter in the long-running dinosaur series.
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A History of Director Changes
This isn’t the first time the Jurassic franchise has changed directors. Since Steven Spielberg launched Jurassic Park in 1993, the series has regularly brought in new filmmakers.
Spielberg directed the first two films. Joe Johnston took over for Jurassic Park III in 2001. Colin Trevorrow revived the franchise with Jurassic World in 2015. J.A. Bayona directed Fallen Kingdom in 2018 before Trevorrow returned for Dominion in 2022.
Edwards himself wasn’t the first choice for Rebirth. David Leitch was in negotiations to direct but exited over creative differences before Edwards signed on.
Edwards will now become the sixth director to leave the franchise since 1993. The constants throughout have been Spielberg as executive producer and Frank Marshall as producer.
The search for a new director is underway, and the sequel is still expected to move forward with its cast and script in place.
Also Read: Velma Awards 2025 winners: Jurassic World and Firebuds Win Big
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