Jurassic World 4 / Jurassic World: Rebirth (likely, but not yet officially) is heading to the UK for its next phase of production after about a month of filming in Malta! Malta production involved all of the film’s stars, who were spotted locally as well, filming in the large water simulation tanks at Malta Film Studios as well as many gorgeous ocean coastline locations. Behind the scenes images and videos from fans on-site in Malta have teased more about the plot and vehicles of the film as production shifts to its final major location – Sky Studios Elstree in the United Kingdom.
Jurassic was no stranger to Malta, and in the modern Jurassic world it is no stranger to the UK. Jurassic World: Dominion filmed at the UK’s Pinewood Studios and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom spent time in the UK as well. Beginning around the week of August 18th and continuing to supposed picture wrap on October 18th, Jurassic World 4 / Jurassic World: Rebirth will utilize soundstages with practical sets and also LED Volume technology at Sky Studios Elstree, a recent production partner of NBCUniversal. Possible practical set builds of ancient ruins have been spotted by fans in the UK as well, and we discussed this in full on a recent episode of the InGeneral Podcast:
Recently (star of the next Jurassic film) Scarlett Johansson’s husband Colin Jost shared some story insights on the film with his friend Q of Impractical Jokers, who said that the story is “fucking awesome,” “back to basics in an awesome way,” and could be “fixing Jurassic Park.” Star Jonathan Bailey also recently shared in an interview that the screenplay “asks some fundamental questions … just like the first movie.” After 30-plus years, what will the seventh Jurassic movie be? For a full breakdown of everything we know so far about Jurassic World 4 / Jurassic World: Rebirth, check out the latest video on our YouTube channel:
Islands of Adventure Concept Art (Behind the Gates)
During the pre-production of Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg already had teams conceptualizing and planning Jurassic Park The Ride, at Universal Studios Hollywood, before the first film was in production. Upon opening in 1996, the attraction was met with high praise and acclaim for its thrilling experience and immersive storytelling.
But Universal parks weren’t finished with Jurassic just yet. During this same time, on the other side of the country, Universal was hard at work expanding their operation in Orlando. And not just a little expansion like a singular new ride or show, no. They were in the process of creating a whole new theme park that would allow guests to enter their favorite literary worlds. Universal’s team was developing a park where guests would be able to skip around with Whos in Suess Landing, explore ancient ruins in Lost Continent, make a splash with their favorite cartoon characters in Toon Lagoon, save the world in MARVEL Superhero Island. It would also be decided that the final land, “rounding” out the park, would be where guests could come face to face with the greatest animals that ever walked the planet in a fully realized Jurassic Park.
Promotional Artwork of Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure (Universal Destinations & Experiences)
At this new Jurassic Park, guests would be able to come face to face with dinosaurs like never before and be immersed in the world of Jurassic. There was the Discovery Center where raptor eggs would be seen hatching throughout the day, and Triceratops Encounter (later renamed to Triceratops Discovery Trail) where guests could experience one of the majestic three-horned creatures up close. In Camp Jurassic guests can traverse various pathways, explore caverns, or sail through the air like pterosaurs at Pteranodon Flyers. Of course, in the center of it all, would be the main attraction- the Jurassic Park River Adventure (Orlando’s version of Jurassic Park The Ride.)
With all of these pieces integral to “selling” this world, it became apparent that Universal would need a team to help maintain a cohesive vision for what they were attempting to create. Enter Bob Shreve.
Image of Bob Shreve from promotional material of Islands of Adventure
Shreve was brought on to be Show Producer for the entirety of the Jurassic area at Islands of Adventure (or IOA.) With a Masters in theatrical design and years of experience working and designing for theatres and other theme parks, like Walt Disney World, Shreve moved to Universal to take on this titanic project.
We reached out to Shreve to reflect on his work at Islands of Adventure, the process of bringing Jurassic Park to life, and changing the theme park world forever.
JO: To start off, if you could take us back to the beginning of Jurassic being a part of Island’s of Adventure that’d be wonderful. At one time Jurassic Park The Ride was expected to be near where Men in Black now is, but then it was opted for a full land. What did that happen? What was the key moment when Universal said “YES, all in on Jurassic,” and what did that mean for Islands of Adventure?
BOB: I came to the project in 1995 after the IOA project was fully in development and well into the design development phase. As I understand it, once Universal made the decision to develop IOA, JP became a cornerstone for the project, and the idea to develop it like the Hollywood attraction was tabled in lieu of a full-fledged land. All of that occurred before I joined the team.
JO: How did you get the Show Producer title for the Jurassic area at IOA specifically? Was it something about the brand that pulled you or was it assigned? Where does that journey begin?
BOB: In 1995 I was working for Imagineering, living in FL, handling SQS for EPCOT along with Patrick Brennan. I was contacted by Robin Reardon, who I had worked with on projects at WDI. Randy Prinz had brought onto the IOA Project as the Executive Producer and she reached out to me as she felt I would make a good producer. Initially, I was offered SUESS LANDING but, once Lisa Girolami agreed to join the team, they felt she was a better fit for SUESS and transferred me to JP. All of this occurred before I moved to LA to join the team in person.
JO: The Jurassic land, until the inclusion of Harry Potter, felt like the centerpiece. The majestic Discovery Center stands in the center focal point when you enter, demanding your attention. IOA’s original “castle” as it were. Was that intentional?
BOB: Yes, it was very intentional. It was felt that the JP brand was the most iconic as it related to the public at large and would be the central gate driver for ticket sales. By placing it at the center point on the far side of the lagoon, it would drive guest utilization through all the other islands in the park.
JO: How closely did you work with other departments like marketing, promotions, etc. I mean, Island of Adventure was promoted in a Jurassic Park video game, there were exclusive toys, and then everything in park that had to fit the world’s aesthetic. Was collaboration “Universal,” as they say, between you all?
BOB: There was very little integration with marketing at that time at Universal, which, frankly, was one of the downfalls of the project. Most of the brand development was simply lifted from the film efforts. It should be remembered that Universal changed ownership during the development of the project and it had a ripple effect on the development process.
JO: A lot of the production and planning was happening while Crichton released The Lost World, and then The Lost World: Jurassic Park was subsequently filmed, marketed, and released. Were there any changes in the plans for the land/ride/attractions from when it started to when it ended that we’re because of the sequel?
BOB: No, by the time LOST WORLD came out, we were well into construction so no changes were tolerated.
JO: There are several attractions hinted at and teased still throughout the land that unfortunately have not come to be (as of yet.) Helicoptour-tours, Jeep Safari, and several more. Can you recall any rides, attractions, shows, or experiences that we’re on the table but shelved?
BOB: Both Helicoptours and Jeep Safari were developed at a conceptual level, however, further development was placed on hold to allow focus on completion of the IOA project. It was anticipated that, should IOA be successful, these would be some of the first expansion projects undertaken. Sadly, due to underperformance in attendance for the park, this did not happen.
JO: Also, the AMAZING scale model at the entrance of River Adventure (which shows several of these canceled attractions,) it’s to see anything like it! Was there a thought that prompted showcasing it so prominently?
BOB: Frankly, we needed something to fill the queue for guest engagement and we were on a tight budget. Dan Torres, the Production Designer for RIVER ADVENTURE, came up with the idea to simply use the model that was constructed during the design of the IOA project. Each of the lands was modeled in great detail as this was before you could use CGI. Each land and attraction was constructed so it could be removed from the master model for study. Since it was already built and paid for, it was a great idea to use it as a queue prop, especially because we felt it was something John Hammond would do to promote his new Park.
JO: On a similar note, were there any dinosaurs or moments from the opening day attractions that were cut?
BOB: Not that I recall. We took great pride in delivering all of the things we were asked to provide.
JO: Was there talk of building the same River Adventure as Hollywood, or when/why were choices made to change moments in Orlando’s?
BOB: Yes, the project team was initially told to deliver the Hollywood version of the ride intact as a “cookie-cutter” attraction. However, Hollywood was having significant issues with their jeep drop effect so our team was asked to come up with an alternative, so we developed the raptor cage drop.
JO: How did you develop the story for the areas of the land and which characters were “involved?” Many many elements of the island reference or are lifted straight from Crichton’s novel. Some of them really “deep cuts.” What elements from the novel, film, and expanded material were most useful and important to you to include? What material did Amblin and Universal say was most important to include?
BOB: I was not involved in the initial development of the attraction (concept phase), so I do not feel I can properly answer this question. It would be better to direct this question to Dale Mason, Phil Hettema or Gary Goddard.
Interior Nursery of the Discovery Center at Islands of Adventure
JO: How important was it for there to be educational aspects of the area? At its core Jurassic is sci-fi that is grounded in real science. Paleontology, geology, genetics, animal behavior and zoological sciences, and more. Perhaps more than any other offering at IOA or Universal, Jurassic at IOA originally had a sense of adventure and discovery meets learning and inspiration (especially with attractions such as all of the original Discovery Center, and Triceratops Encounter.)
BOB: We felt it was very important to have an educational aspect to JP as it reflected John Hammond’s and InGen’s mission and goals. We were very aware that pretty much every 9-year old would know a lot about dinosaurs when they arrived at the park, so we needed to feed that curiosity and expand on it. We engaged Eisterhold Associates, a leading museum design company, to develop concepts for the Discovery Center and to make it as interactive as possible.
JO: Was the island ever almost Isla Nublar or was it always going to be Isla Aventura? Do you feel like the inclusion of the Jurassic World property with VelociCoaster and Raptor Encounter affects the world originally created at IOA?
BOB: The working title for the project was Isla Nublar but marketing would never have agreed to let it be marketed as anything other than Jurassic Park – too much brand recognition. As for the inclusion of Jurassic World, I think this is a natural evolution of the brand and is fitting. TRICERATOPS ENCOUNTER was always plagued with technology issues – it was far too complex to exist in a theme park environment – and its replacement with the coaster was a good idea to revitalize the area.
Maquette of the Triceratops from Triceratops Encounter (Behind the Gates)
JO: Do you know much about who produced the dinosaur maquettes / sculpts? Stan Winston School of Character Arts recently posted an article about their Stegosaurus and it showcases both the [The Lost World’s] AND [Jurassic Park The Ride/River Adventure’s] stegos (which have differences from one another.) Were the designs for the [new] dinosaurs in-house or did some of them come from partnering with Winston’s team? And did the sculpting and building of them change or evolve as the films were made?
BOB: The dinosaur maquettes were developed for the Hollywood attraction and, I believe, were developed by Winston Studios. I have no explanation for the difference between the two stegosaurs. We developed the maquette for the Triceratops. All design for it was executed by Hall Train, who was recommended to us by Winston Studios when they decided they were too busy to take on the project. Hall deserves a lot of credit for the development of the Triceratops, its functions looks, and manufacture. He was amazing in his skillful talents and the ideas he brought to the attraction.
A section of the mural in the basement of the Discovery Center at Islands of Adventure, showcasing a plesiosaur, stalking tyrannosaurs, and a family of sauropods.
JO: Do you recall much about the story of the murals in the Discovery Center? Apparently, the originals were rumored to be missing or were missing when making IOA from their original usage in Hollywood?
BOB: I seem to recall an issue with the murals, but I do not remember exactly what it was. They may have been missing and we had to recreate them for the IOA attraction, but I honestly do not remember.
JO: How much thought was put into foliage / “no grass” throughout the land?
BOB: A ton. Under the brilliance guidance of Mark Kuskowski, the landscape was a critical component of the design. Due to budget concerns, he was challenged to deliver a believable “jungle” experience using prehistoric plants from day one. Mark traveled extensively to find the perfect specimens for the attraction. I think he succeeded brilliantly.
Fencing inside of Camp Jurassic. You can see that Universal “spared no expense” when it came to the lush foliage that fills the Jurassic area of Islands of Adventure.
JO: What, for you, was the most challenging aspect of bringing Jurassic to life? I mean, it’s probably challenging enough to bring dinosaurs back to life, but were there any surprise problems, hiccups, or changes along the way that wouldn’t have been expected when preparing to showcase creatures dead for 66 million years?
BOB: Several. Mark Kuskowski found a five palm cluster we wanted to use as the icon landscape element as the entered the area. It was placed in front of the Discovery Center adjacent to a central filtration pond that we engineered to clean and circulate all the water in the main lagoon. To get it installed (it was huge) without destroying the surrounding area development, we had to plant it very early in the project. It was the first tree planted on site and we had to take many precautions to protect it as the area grew up around it. I think the pond did not work as well as intended and the landscape around it took off, obscuring the five palm cluster that we so laboriously planted.
Another issue was the Banyan tree for Camp Jurassic. Mark searched long and hard for the perfect tree, which he found in South Florida. We made arrangements to have it transported to Orlando, but the contractor hacked so many branches off the tree that, when it arrived, it was pathetic looking. Mark was distressed and had it planted at the end of Scene 1 in the RIVER ADVENTURE just before the JP gates and found a new tree, which we carefully transported to Orlando and installed in Camp Jurassic. Comically, it did not flourish as well as the original tree.
JO: For you, what was the moment it all came together? Was it riding River Adventure opening day? Getting sneezed on by one of the Triceratops? Seeing a baby raptor hatch? What moment gave you that classic “[We] did it…” Malcolm moment.
BOB: It all came together during the soft opening of the Park. All our attractions, except Triceratops, were fully operational and the guest reactions were very gratifying.
JO: Similarly, what did you find to be the most impactful or important element of the land?
BOB: Without a doubt, it was, as intended, the architecture and landscaping. We purposefully did not want the guests to engage with any dinosaurs as they walked the land. This was to encourage them to enter the attractions to see the dinosaurs. So the area development needed to convey the grandeur of the movies, which I feel it did magnificently.
Old “animal tracker” unit that was in front of the Discovery Center, before being removed for VelociCoaster. A reference to the motion sensor tracking system used in Crichton’s original novel.
JO: Are there any favorite “Easter Eggs” of yours in the land? Are there any that you believe people haven’t discovered yet or aren’t well known? There are literally SO many littered throughout the island.
BOB: We buried a lot of easter eggs in the queue for Triceratops – too many to recount and I am not sure they remain.
JO: If you could see the Jurassic land grow, change, or evolve further- what kind of offerings would you hope to see? More stories told through rides? Shows? More edu-tainment type offerings like the Discovery Center? What do you think should be focused on?
BOB: I think, in synergy with the film franchise, the area needs a lot of “thrill”. I think the VelociCoaster attraction is the right direction for the area.
JO: What is your favorite dinosaur?
BOB: Hands down, it would be the Triceratops.
This Triceratops fossil replica served as the entrance for (the now closed) Triceratops Encounter attraction.
JO: If there are any other details, anecdotes, or thoughts you would like to share during your time as the Show Producer for Jurassic.
BOB: I consider myself fortunate to have been selected to be part of this project. It is one of the highlights of my career and afforded me an opportunity to participate in theme parks at a level I had previously only dreamed of.
JO: What would you say to others who may be interested in a career in themed entertainment?
BOB: I would encourage a career in this industry. It is engaging, challenging, and fun. Developing the proper tools is a pre-requisite for participation in today’s industry and requires a mastery of computer graphics and pre-visualization tools as well as creative talent.
Shreve makes an appearance in this early promotional footage for the island that originally aired on USA Channel in the 90’s, which you can watch below:
With the park opening in 1999, these mighty creatures were no longer merely trapped in museums, books, or movies- they were brought to life right in front of us. With the world of Jurassic Park fully realized, fans of the franchise, dinosaur lovers, and thrill seekers alike finally had a place to live out their own prehistoric adventures.
While the initial opening of Universal’s Islands of Adventure was rocky, the park has since gained great acclaim and notoriety over its twenty-five years of operation, with multiple awards for attractions, restaurants, entertainment offerings, and more. The Jurassic area, specifically, is still considered one of the main pulls for guests visiting the resort. VelociCoaster is considered one of the best rollercoasters ever made, the Discovery Center was used in several Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary marketing videos last year, and River Adventure (even with it showing its age) still has boats filled with people screaming and laughing their way through surviving an encounter with the park’s dinosaurs.
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory took San Diego Comic-Con 2024 bystorm! During a large panel featuring showrunners, writers, and the entire cast of the show, an October 17th release date was revealed for the upcoming second season along with the first poster, teaser trailer, and new images from the first episode. Check out the new trailer and more info below, and follow DreamWorksTV for a recap of the entire panel!
Photos from the “Inside Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” panel at San Diego Comic Con 2024
The poster above debuted during the panel along with this logline:
“With the Nublar Five stowed away on a dinosaur-filled cargo ship headed to parts unknown, their mission to find who is after them sets them on a collision course with the mysterious Broker. Unaware that Brooklynn is alive, the discovery of her whereabouts will call into question everything they thought they knew about each other.”
It sounds as if the suspense, mystery, and great characters will continue to shine in season two of Chaos Theory. In these new images from the first episode of season 2, the dark, horror atmosphere that is present at the beginning of the new season is on full display. The first image shows us Darius on the dinosaur transport ship standing across from a gallimimus, while the second shows him hiding from a Majungasaurus behind a crate of cabbages, using his phone to distract or take a video of the dinosaur.
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory season two is looking great so far. We are so excited by these new images and the teaser trailer, and can’t wait for October 17th! Stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest on season 2, and don’t miss our full breakdown of the trailer below:
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory Series Details:
Season 2 Release Date: October 17 Episodes: 10 (22 min)
Voice Actors: Paul-Mikél Williams as “Darius,” Sean Giambrone as “Ben,” Darren Barnet as “Kenji,” Raini Rodriguez as “Sammy,” Kausar Mohammed as “Yasmina,” Kiersten Kelly as “Brooklynn”
Executive Producers: Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow, Frank Marshall Executive Producers & Showrunners: Scott Kreamer, Aaron Hammersley Supervising Producer: Zesung Kang Animation Studio: DreamWorks Animation
San Diego Comic-Con 2024 is coming up this weekend, July 25-28, 2024! There will be plenty of Jurassic at the con with Mattel and Jurassic World: Chaos Theory making major appearances and plenty of Jurassic-related creators and merchandise present. Jurassic Outpostwill be on-site and have you covered on all things Jurassic! Read on for details on all of the Jurassic-related panels and appearances at SDCC 2024:
Sunday July 28, 2024 11:30am – 12:30pm PDT Room 29CD
The Jurassic Park/World franchises have fascinated audiences and have inspired a whole generation of dinosaur lovers and paleontologists. Gabriel-Philip Santos and Michelle Barboza-Ramirez, hosts of the PBS digital series PBS Eons and co-founders of Cosplay for Science, invite a group of experts to break down the dino-DNA of the dinosaurs seen in the latest chapter of the Jurassic World franchise, Chaos Theory, and explore exactly what it is about these “terrible lizards” that continues to capture audiences of all ages. Featuring Dr. Stuart Sumida (paleontologist, Camp Cretaceous technical consultant), Randy Flores (geochemist, UCLA), Dr. Hank Woolley (paleontologist, Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County), Dr. Lisa Lundgren (education researcher, Utah State University), and Tony Turner (educator, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County).
Set six years after the events at Camp Cretaceous, members of “The Nublar Six” are struggling to find their footing off the islands, navigating a world now filled with dinosaurs and people who want to hurt them. From DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures, and Amblin Entertainment, executive producers Scott Kreamer and Aaron Hammersley along with series cast members offer an inside look at the hit Netflix series Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, and what’s in store for season 2.
Fans in attendance will also get to see the first episode of season 2 of Chaos Theory early and will receive an exclusive poster.
Get ready for a bit of chaos, Comic Con style! 👀 Join the cast and executive producers of #JurassicWorld#ChaosTheory for an exclusive @Comic_Con panel, featuring an exclusive screening of the first episode of Season 2! 🦖 Sunday, July 28 at 3pm in Room 6DE #SDCC2024pic.twitter.com/QTIDKr8RTE
Friday July 26, 2024 3:00pm – 4:00pm PDT Room 29AB
William Stout has attended every single Comic-Con. His massive book Fantastic Worlds covers his 50 years as a professional artist. This talk will mostly be about his work in comics and the comics giants he has worked with. It’s a selected preview of his three-volume box set on all of his comics work coming soon from Flesk Publications. Bill will also give fans a sneak peek at his two forthcoming Flesk books on his two decks of playing card art, each boasting 56 new painted images.
Thursday July 25, 2024 11:00am – 12:00pm PDT Room 32AB
Liz Climo (creator of The Little World of Liz Climo and international bestselling author and illustrator) and popular podcast host Steven Ray Morris (See Jurassic Right, Keanan and Lakin Give You Déjà Vu, My Favorite Murder) discuss the past 20 years of her career, from her work on The Simpsons to her shift into webcomics, and her last ten years in publishing.
Follow along on Jurassic Outpost for all Jurassic updates from SDCC 2024!
The production of Jurassic World 4 is heading to Malta for its next phase following over a month of filming in Thailand! Thailand filming included all of the film’s stars and cast in the many lush jungle and gorgeous waterfall, river, and water-filled locations that the country offered. Behind the scenes images and possible leaks tease more about the film, and trademark filings have possibly revealed a title, all as the production shifts to a major new location in Malta – but not in the Jurassic ways you might think.
Cast members for the new #JurassicWorld movie have been spotted on the island of Malta, with filming assumed to begin on Monday! The 771 foot blue screen that surrounds the water tanks can be seen in this photo. https://t.co/ud8ZxcO09w
Any Jurassic fans in Valletta? If so we’d love pics if you’re able to see anything at Malta Studios. Cast have been spotted on the island and we assume filming will begin on Monday. In this pic you can barely see the 771 foot long blue screen that now surrounds the water tanks. pic.twitter.com/BcBWxdF9N0
Jurassic World 4 begins the next stage of its production in Malta primarily in order to film extensively in large water tanks equipped with massive blue wall attachments, likely to simulate larger bodies of water or complete immersion. Water elements have been discussed as playing a major factor in the production and plot of this film. Water finds a way, after all. However, in addition to Malta Film Studios’ water tanks and stages, the production will also make use of Malta’s stunning coastline and open ocean locations.
Welp guys, looks like Jurassic World 4 (SAGA) has begun filming in Malta. They aren’t just using studio water tanks! It looks like they are shooting out on the open ocean too. Thank you @whatsupscarlett for the heads up! pic.twitter.com/nsQtqGzmN2
Jurassic World 4 is shaping up to be visually beautiful, and the nature of production in Malta seems to confirm water settings and ideas are going to play a significant role in this film. The cast are beginning to be spotted on location in Malta as well.
— Jonathan Bailey Daily ✨ (@jbaileydaily) July 21, 2024
To recap production so far and look at the schedule ahead:
Filming began in Thailand on or around June 13th, and wrapped around July 16th
Filming in Malta began in some capacity on July 16th and is estimated to be roughly six weeks in length – with some casting calls indicating the need for body doubles required from July 22nd through August 14th, and others stating the production runs July to September.
Upon completion of filming in Malta, production will move to Sky Studios Elstree in the UK for at least a month of filming on stages and also with LED Volume technology.
Jurassic World 4 will wrap in the UK, where the production’s main base is located, on October 18th, but it’s uncertain what the full extent of UK filming will be.
Further adding to the current intrigue around this film during its production are trademark and website filings by Amblin and NBCUniversal for “Jurassic World Rebirth.” Will the title of Jurassic World 4 be Jurassic World: Rebirth?
According to new trademark filings, #JurassicWorldRebirth could be the title of the next #JurassicWorld movie! What do you think about this title? 🦖🦕
All indications point to production moving along relatively smoothly and on-time. No film is ever completely perfect, but something feels like it is going right this time for Jurassic. David Koepp, Gareth Edwards, Scarlett Johansson – all top-tier talent. As production wraps for her in Thailand and makes its way to Malta, Scarlett Johansson has not shied away from sharing her enthusiasm and passion for the production in recent interviews on the press tour for her new film Fly Me To The Moon (and let me play among the dinosaurs).
Get ready to roar with excitement – the biggest dinosaur event in Sydney is stomping back into the Sydney Zoo: The Dinosaur Safari! Don’t worry, it’ll be just like taking a walk in the woods… 65 million years ago. Jurassic Outpost was on site for a first hand look at this fun dino attraction!
Get ready to ROAR with excitement! The BIGGEST dinosaur event in Sydney is stomping back into Sydney Zoo in Eastern Creek.
Discover all your favorite life-sized, moving and roaring dinosaurs on this thrilling prehistoric adventure.
Dinosaur Safari will lead you on a prehistoric adventure through Sydney Zoo, where you will discover all your favourite life-size, moving and roaring dinosaurs. With more than double the dinos, this year’s event is steg-o-soaring to new heights! Travel back through time and come face to face with a Triceratops, Velociraptor, the brilliant Brachiosaurus, mighty T-Rex and so much more!
If you look closely, you might even spot similarities between the animals at Sydney Zoo and these ancient creatures: the way they look and move, how they hunt or even how they rear their young.
Dinosaur Safari is FREE with your zoo ticket. Here for a limited time only – check out these incredible prehistoric beasts before they go extinct!
It’s a long road we have to drive on before we reach the release day of ‘Jurassic World 4.’ While filming has begun, there are mostly just rumors floating around. Anyone else a little tired of those? Perhaps during this time we should check out other dinosaur-related content. Well, I’ve got a new novel for you that may pique your interest: ‘Mara Brown: White Death!’
Synopsis:Just off of the Florida’s Atlantic coast lies Egret Island; the one place on earth where humans and dinosaurs live side-by-side. However, when something not entirely human nor dinosaur begins stalking the island by night, Mara Brown is the only one able to stand up and fight back. Becoming the vigilante known as the White Death, Mara sets out to defend her home and determine the origins of these mysterious new predators.
It features original vibrant artwork that was wonderfully illustrated by Arturo Garcia!
Author Billy Reed is “[…] a lifelong fan of dinosaurs, video games, and movies. He has a passion for mental health awareness and believes that everyone should spend their time doing the things that make them feel happy and fulfilled. His literary works serve as a love letter to the media he grew up with such as the creature feature movies and the action-heavy cartoons of the 90s and 2000s.”
Billy spoke exclusively to Jurassic Outpost about his passionate inspiration and process for creating his novel:
[I was inspired by] my lifelong love of dinosaurs and paleo media in general. I really wanted to write a story with dinosaurs unlike anything that had been done before. In 2018 when ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ came out, I really started thinking of stories where people and dinosaurs coexist. I found that concept really fascinating. Like what if a Parasaurolophus was no different from a deer crossing the road. Over the next year, I kept coming up with new story elements for this setting. I started adding elements from other media I grew up with like a wise-cracking protagonist with an indomitable spirit, a shady mega corporation, and other ideas for unique monsters that the dinosaurs of this world could interact with.
My FIRST draft of the story was made in 2019 and never saw the light of day. It was drastically different from what the story eventually became. It was a lot more of a mystery type story than the sci-fi action story I would eventually make. Then in 2020 when the pandemic hit, I decided to revamp it and make it into a novel trilogy. This idea lasted until around mid-2022. At that point I wrote two novels that I put out on Amazon but was kind of burnt out on that setting. I also felt like I had improved a lot as a writer and had a lot of things about the story I wanted to change. The last thing I did for that continuity was a comic that was beautifully illustrated by Emily Stepp. You can find that one on my Instagram in its entirety.
In 2022 I decided I would entirely redo the story and make it just one book this time. This would be the definitive version of the story and I decided in advance I would give myself as much time to work on it as I needed. And after two consecutive years of work, we have the novel you can find on Amazon today!
The publishing process [wasn’t] too hard since I opted for Amazon’s self-publishing. It’s a free to use service that Amazon offers which is very user friendly and easy to figure out. I genuinely love that they provide anyone with a platform to get their stories out there.
‘Mara Brown: White Death’ is now available in paperback and eBook/Kindle formats through Amazon! It sounds like a fun and intriguing story in a dinosaur world that many fans of the ‘Jurassic Park’ franchise can feel right at home in, especially during this time before ‘Jurassic World 4’ arrives.
Do you plan to check out ‘Mara Brown: White Death?’ Are there other dinosaur-related novels you are reading in anticipation of more official ‘Jurassic Park’ content? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest.
Filming has begun on the next installment of the Jurassic World franchise! The Gareth Edwards-directed, David Koepp-written Jurassic Park sequel began filming this week in the beautiful fishing village of Ban Ba Kan, Thailand, and Thailand production is slated to continue from June 13th to July 16th. Also within the latest updates shared by Variety: this movie will be “a completely fresh take launching a new Jurassic era, following three adults and three teens getting stuck on the Island.” Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Mahershala Ali, Rupert Friend, Luna Blaise, David Iacano, and Audrina Miranda are set to star.
Thailand filming locations also include Bangkok, Trang, Phang Nga, Ao Phang Nga National Park around Koh Tapu, Koh Song and Koh Naka, Phuket, Khlong Rut, Chiang Mai, Huai Waterfall, Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, Koh Kradan, Emerald Cave, Chao Mai Beach, and Trang Province.
Production will then move to Malta between July and September, facilitated by Latina Productions and Malta Film Studios.
Sky Studios Elstree studio filming in the UK will follow through the presumed production wrap in October.
A letter has been sent to the National Park Service stating that “The Film and Video Committee has granted permission to SAGA Productions Limited to make the movie “SAGA” between 13 June – 16 July 2024. Specified filming locations include Bangkok, Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket, Trang. pic.twitter.com/UyGvQD5xig
Thanks hugely to Reel News Hawaii and other locals, we have multiple looks at production base camp and the settings in which Jurassic World 4 will be filming in Thailand – including what looks like ancient ruins in an island setting!
Producer Frank Marshall also shared photos from Thailand as he joined the production:
The upcoming video game Jurassic Park: Survival is in active development, and this week IGN got an exclusive look at the game and unveiled some brand new concept art and in-game screenshots! Their exclusive reveal also included new information about the game plus some hints at the plot, characters, dinosaurs and a whole lot more.
Jurassic Park: Survival will unfortunately not be released in 2024
Brand new locations will feature that weren’t seen in the original movie
Maya Joshi won’t be the only character in this game
There is a chance that non-movie dinosaurs will feature
Jurassic Park is Universal’s “most requested game”
With many a tease leading up to Summer Game Fest, Jurassic Park: Survival was expected to make an appearance – with most of us assuming a new trailer would play during the Xbox portion of the event. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be, but thanks to an IGN exclusive on the anniversary of Jurassic Park’s release, we have a new behind-the-scenes look at the game.
Included within the update was concept art that shows us new areas of the island that we might be able to explore. Also included were some new in-game screenshots – a first for this title. It’s important to mention that concept art doesn’t confirm it will appear in the game, but it’s a pretty good sign that it might.
The first piece of concept art shows us an InGen building marked A1, a sort-of bunker and the Communications tower on Isla Nublar. A Jurassic Park staff jeep is parked outside, the doors wide open. A beautiful rainy night captures the island we know so perfectly, this must be the night of the storm…
You might recognize this building as the one from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom! It’s the radio tower bunker that was first featured in that movie. The structure itself – built on Kualoa Ranch in Oahu – was part of the original Jurassic Park, but repurposed by Jurassic World staff to track the islands’ dinosaurs.
What we are now seeing is that same – or what we assume is the same – dilapidated radio tower, but back in its prime at Jurassic Park in 1993. This is pretty damn cool and for fans of Fallen Kingdom, an awesome way to connect the two movies.
Next up is an even cooler piece that will resonate with most fans: Maya Joshi rushing down the river in a yellow dinghy being pursued by two raptors.
A scene originally planned for the first movie and similar to moments in the first novel featuring Dr. Grant, Tim, and Lex navigating down the river while being pursued by a T. rex. The scene never made it to production but Jurassic Park: Survival represents the perfect opportunity to bring it to life. Just the thought of having to navigate a boat of some kind down this river while being pursued by the escaped dinosaurs of Jurassic Park is very exciting.
IGN also shared a few in-game screenshots from the Alpha stage of development.
We see the tropical jungle of Nublar and a stealthily approaching T. rex, three Velociraptors stalking in the night, seemingly as a pack, and then something different – the theatre. The rotating theatre from Jurassic Park in which multiple John Hammonds and Mr. DNA explain InGen’s miracle of dinosaur cloning.
We knew as much but now we see it, in-game: We will be able to walk through the Visitors Center’s many buildings andattractions. This is a fantastic aspect of this game, and is something fans have wanted since the movie was released!
These updates didn’t make everyone happy – the anticipation for a new trailer was real, but this establishes something important. The game might not be as far along as we all thought, and that is okay. More time for the game to be the best it can be is a good thing.
But the game still looks promising, and is still promising to deliver all of the things that Jurassic fans have wanted for a long time, as IGN details in their article.
While there is a lot to unpack, the information they’ve shared is all positive and it’s hard not to remain excited. We wish they could have confirmed whether or not the game will be open world, but either way it sounds like survival will be the key, as the name implies. Here’s hoping Alien: Isolation is an inspiration for them.
Saber has a lot to live up to with how long for this type of Jurassic Park game to come to fruition, and they surely understand that. That being said, let’s not push and let’s not force them in any way to rush because this game deserves the time to develop correctly. Wherever they are in the development phase right now, the first trailer holds a lot of promises for what Survival is going to be. It makes sense that the development is still going to take a while. The game will not be out in 2024, that much we know. It’s more than likely now going to be late 2025 or sometime in 2026.
But we’ll have plenty of new Jurassic to consume between now and then!
This tease from IGN was awesome, and as much as it feels like a bit of a response to the lack of appearance at Game Fest, it’s exciting just to hear and see more about the game! It’s in development, it’s on track, and it’s looking great!
Sort of brings to mind the kind of updates we got for… Jurassic Park: Survival… back in the day…
How excited are you to play this video game and what did you think about this update? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned for more news!
Today, a piece of film history has been unearthed. ‘Jurassic Park’ may be over 30 years old, but we are still discovering pieces of its past.
Mark Bushey, a prop collector who specializes in horror film artifacts, came across an amazing find from eBay.
“[It is an] S-Test — Publicity Stills for Jurassic Park, dated March 02, 1993. Unlike 35mm trailers, this is not a trailer and there is no audio track anywhere on the film and the images appear horizontal, rather than vertical like traditional trailers.”
While on the surface this strange find looks like it is merely stills from the film that we have all seen before, there is one image that stands out from the rest. I will say in advance to please NOT share the following images without giving credit to Mark Bushey. He has given us permission to use them for this article. And just to clarify, he does not have the scene itself, only the still image via the reel amongst the other still images:
The still image is from a scene/shot that was cut from ‘Jurassic Park,’ a fun moment during the arrival of the park’s guests on the island. Grant mistakes a Brachiosaurus leg for a tree trunk, which then suddenly moves. Following that we get the full reveal of the majestic animal, as shown in the final film. This brief moment was storyboarded and depicted in David Koepp’s script, but it was unknown if it was shot or had completed ILM VFX. Now, we now know both were true.
In my opinion, I can actually see why this shot was cut. While ILM’s Brachiosaurus looks amazing for its time, the dinosaur’s leg doesn’t quite match the trees as well as it was depicted in John Bell‘s storyboards (as seen above, thanks to Astrid Vega). It is possible that Spielberg later cut this moment since it’s not as effective as originally envisioned, but something he wouldn’t have known for sure until the final shot was realized.
Rick Carter’s Jurassic Park depicts an early version of the sequence with the storyboards and an older script.
Given that these stills were dated March of 1993, months before its June release, there is a wonder if a slightly longer cut of the film did exist at one point that included these completed moments. For years, some fans have touted seeing a longer cut (specifically in the UK by people like Jamie Arnold) during the beginning of its theatrical run. Stills of other cut scenes have been found over the years, but so far the only footage we have ever seen of one is in the film’s trailer: Ellie Sattler grabbing a leaf on their way to the Brachiosaurus. But this new Brachiosaur leg image is the first time we have seen a deleted moment that had completed VFX.
While Mark is ecstatic with his incredibly rare find, he is willing to consider parting with it for the right price. If interested, contact him through his Facebook page.
(Special thanks to Jiří Alpharaptor Schön for pointing out this amazing find!)
Will we ever see an extended cut of ‘Jurassic Park?’ Will other stills of deleted scenes, or footage, find their way online in the meantime? What do you think of this newly-discovered Brachiosaur leg shot? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest news about the past and future!
