The search for a new director for the next 'Jurassic World' film, tentatively referred to as 'Jurassic World 5,' appears to be narrowing, with reports indicating a strong possibility of J.A. Bayona returning to the prehistoric saga. This development, initially reported by TheWrap, citing information from The InSneider, comes after Gareth Edwards' recent departure from 'Jurassic World Renaissance' due to creative differences.
Edwards' 'Jurassic World Renaissance,' which carried the franchise's largest budget to date at $225 million, garnered $872 million globally. While a substantial sum for many films, it fell short of the billion-dollar benchmark consistently achieved by previous 'Jurassic World' entries. The original 'Jurassic World' (2015) commanded $1.67 billion, followed by Bayona's 'Fallen Kingdom' (2018) with $1.31 billion, and even the critically divisive 'Jurassic World Dominion' (2022) managed to cross the $1 billion mark. This financial context likely plays a significant role in Universal's current strategic choices.
Bayona is no stranger to the 'Jurassic' universe, having successfully directed 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' in 2018. His film was the second-highest-grossing entry in the 'Jurassic World' trilogy, demonstrating his ability to deliver both spectacle and box-office appeal within the established franchise framework. Before his foray into the world of dinosaurs, Bayona earned acclaim for his horror film 'The Orphanage,' produced by Guillermo del Toro, and the fantasy drama 'A Monster Calls.' More recently, he directed 'Society of the Snow' for Netflix, an adaptation of the harrowing 1972 Andes plane crash.
Universal's reported consideration of Bayona suggests a potential pivot back to a more established and financially reliable approach for the lucrative franchise. The studio may be looking to reignite the formula that delivered massive returns, possibly even signaling a return for characters like Chris Pratt, though Scarlett Johansson is reportedly unlikely to rejoin. This move could be interpreted as the franchise seeking to re-establish its footing after 'Renaissance' attempted a different direction.
Currently, discussions for 'Jurassic World 5' are in preliminary stages, and Universal Pictures has yet to issue an official confirmation regarding Bayona's involvement. Production is not expected to commence before 2027, pushing the potential release date for the fifth installment of the 'Jurassic World' series to 2028 at the earliest.