Despite Universal having Bullet Train (and the upcoming The Fall Guy) director David Leitch in talks to handle the next Jurassic World film earlier this month, that didn't work out. But the studio has now locked in an interesting choice: Rogue One and The Creator's Gareth Edwards.
It makes sense from a genre point of view: Edwards has also brought the likes of 2014's take on Godzilla to screens, so he's more than adept with big reptiles and even bigger effects assignments. With franchise godfather Steven Spielberg and veteran producer Frank Marshall involved, the script is by another experienced hand, Jurassic Park writer David Koepp. Little has been revealed about the new film, beyond the fact that it'll feature new characters and a fresh storyline despite carrying the Jurassic World moniker (so no Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and the rest this time), so all we can guarantee at this point is dino-chaos. Edwards will need to work quickly, though; the company wants production to start in June, and a 2 July 2025 release date is already on the books. And the director going back to franchise work after his impressive, unique previous film is perhaps worrying, but this feels like the sort of "one for them" move so that can get back to his own original work in the future.