Author: Caleb Burnett

Jurassic Park ‘FINAL SCENE RAY ARNOLD’ Comic-Con Set Coming to Mattel Creations July 22nd!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

“Hold on to your butts!“

This year’s San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Jurassic Park toy set is bringing to life a never-before-seen moment from the original Jurassic Park film: Ray Arnold’s untimely demise.

In the climax of Jurassic Park, Ray Arnold volunteers to journey to the maintenance shed to reset and restore power to the park. We never fully witness his unfortunate fate, but Dr. Ellie Sattler discovers what has happened to him all the same.

“Theoretically, yes, but we’ve never shut down the entire system before. It may not come back on at all.”

The folks at Mattel Creations have done a fantastic job – this set truly spares no expense. It features a highly posable, 3.75-inch version of Ray Arnold himself (complete with detachable arm) and a 2.4-inch tall, 7-inch long vicious velociraptor so that fans can imagine and play out Ray’s final moments. Completing the set is the full control panel from the film, which serves as a stand for Ray and the raptor and also plays audio of his best quotes from the film. And we would be remiss if we didn’t mention his bloody, dismembered arm – an absolute highlight, marking the return of human “dino-damage” from the Kenner Days. All of this is contained in the gorgeous packaging seen below, complete with numerous lights and sounds.

“White Rabbit Object. Whatever it did… it did it all.”

This set is very exciting and truly a treat for fans of Jurassic Park. It will be on sale on Mattel Creations (Mattel’s collaboration and direct-to-consumer platform) on Thursday, July 22 at 9am PST / 12pm EST. Additionally this year, Mattel Creations is celebrating collectors during Comic-Con with their first-ever Mattel Creations: 12 Days of Fandom activation! Be sure and head to Mattel Creations on July 22nd and order this set before it’s extinct!

For an in-depth look behind the scenes of the ‘Final Scene Ray Arnold’ toy and packaging construction & design, check out the official Mattel Creations reveal trailer, exclusively in HD on our YouTube channel below!

More ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ Score Teases from Michael Giacchino & Colin Trevorrow!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Both Michael Giacchino and Colin Trevorrow have enriched social media timelines with looks behind the scenes of the ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ scoring process over the last couple of weeks. The teases were strictly in photo form, but as of today both Giacchino and Trevorrow have shared the very first audio snippets from the new film!

First, Giacchino:

Giacchino’s audio tease features a calm and rather affecting full orchestra rendition of the main theme from ‘Jurassic World’. The wooden T. rex from past photos makes an appearance along with the full orchestra in London via Zoom in the background. The camera pans down to reveal two partial orchestral score pages from the recording session. It’s really satisfying to hear the main musical theme returning for this film. The nature and dynamics of the music in this tease could lend themselves to a solemn scene somewhere in the film, or perhaps a majestic scene featuring a dinosaur landscape.

Next, Trevorrow shared a tease of his own:

Trevorrow’s audio tease is an entirely different story. The video features him playing what looks to be Dark Souls III with a recording from Giacchino’s new ‘Dominion’ score serving as the music for the video game. The music in this tease is starkly different from that of Giacchino’s post. It features jarring strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion musically punching and stabbing in a truly terrifying way. It is reminiscent of Bernard Hermann’s ‘Psycho’ score and also composer Igor Stravinsky’s wild musical works. Giacchino has previously said that these two composers were major influences for his ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ score. This music is clearly meant for a horrifying moment in the film. It’s exciting to hear these musical styles and influences returning for ‘Dominion’ after building through the first and second ‘Jurassic World’ films.

Giacchino also teased that the haunting main theme from ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ might make an appearance in Dominion’s score:

Most importantly, Giacchino shared that the scoring process for ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ has been completed!

The process was slightly different and took longer than normal in order to observe safety protocols, but Giacchino’s team along with Trevorrow and everyone at Abbey Road got the job done. Giacchino even sent everyone at Abbey Road cupcakes to thank them for their hard work:

The completion of the scoring process and these musical teases for ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ are very exciting. This is a huge step towards the completion of the film and release next summer. Music is an integral part of the Jurassic franchise and we can’t wait to see and hear more from the score! What do you think about these Jurassic score teases and what do you want to hear from the score for ‘Dominion’? Let us know below!

Michael Giacchino Teases Scoring ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ in London!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Composer Michael Giacchino has shared what is likely the first of many teases for the scoring process of Jurassic World: Dominion. It comes in the form of a photo of an orchestral score page (with only a few notes visible) in his Los Angeles studio.

While Giacchino is observing, monitoring, and participating in the process from L.A., the orchestral musicians are recording remotely in London. Looking closely at the photo, recording seems to be taking place at Abbey Road. It’s clear that the very best in recording and visual technology is being used to synchronize the scoring process.

According to Giacchino, the London musicians are spread out between two separate studios (likely within Abbey Road) to ensure proper social distancing and safety measures are in place.

What is very cool about this tease is that Colin Trevorrow himself represents the “boots on the ground” for Giacchino at the studio in London. It’s exciting to see this kind of artistic collaboration happening over great distances, and amazing that it is possible. While the incredible musicians in London create the score, Trevorrow and Giacchino discuss and produce the score despite being thousands of miles apart.

Giacchino later added a progress update to his thread with the top of another orchestral score page. The musical cue fits perfectly into the world of Jurassic with the title “Alan For Granted.”

As far as what is happening musically in the first photo, it is a bit hard to tell. There don’t seem to be any discernible Jurassic musical themes, which is probably purposeful on Giacchino’s part. The top of the orchestral score isn’t clear, but the string section, harp, and piano that are visible on the page seem to be playing rather dissonant, incidental music. This could be heard in a moment between musical themes or perhaps even in a frightening or suspenseful moment. The musical portion of the second photo is silent (at least on the visible page), but that title is truly great and very intriguing.

What do you think of this ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ score tease from Michael Giacchino? We are grateful for his willingness to share tidbits during the scoring process and hope to see (and hear) more as we move closer to the film’s release! Let us know your thoughts below!

Jurassic World: The Exhibition Brings Its Worldwide Tour Back to North America!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett
Image via CityNeon Holdings

The dinosaurs of Jurassic World: The Exhibition are coming back to the United States to continue their worldwide tour – beginning in Dallas, Texas! Produced by CityNeon Holdings, the show had its most recent stops in Chengdu and Guangzhou, China and Seoul, South Korea.

Watch the announcement from CityNeon below:

Jurassic World: The Exhibition began its first iteration in Melbourne, Australia in 2016 and continued across the globe in cities like Paris, Madrid, Philadelphia, and Chicago. It covers over 20,000 square feet and features full-size animatronic dinosaurs visitors can see up-close. The latest iteration of the exhibition features exciting new features and updates.

Image via CityNeon Holdings

For starters, many of the dinosaur animatronics have been upgraded to film accuracy – most notably the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Blue the Velociraptor. There are also brand new dinosaurs joining the show: a full-size Carnotaurus, Stygimoloch, and Ankylosaurus.

Image via CityNeon Holdings

Perhaps the most exciting update to the exhibition is the addition of a “baby dino encounter.” In this section, guests will be able to see and touch baby dinosaurs with the guidance of expert Jurassic World scientists. This includes a baby Parasaurolophus, Stygimoloch, and yes, even Bumpy the Ankylosaurus.

Image via CityNeon Holdings

True to the world of Jurassic, guests will also encounter a full size Brachiosaurus and Triceratops along their journey. They’ll also see the inner workings of the Jurassic World laboratory, and come face to face with the terrifying Indominus Rex.

Image via CityNeon Holdings

Jurassic World: The Exhibition is truly carrying on John Hammond’s dream for the world to see. It’s starting its return to North America in Dallas, Texas but is expected to continue with stops across the U.S. Where would you like to see Jurassic World: The Exhibition stop next?

You can find more information and purchase tickets at JurassicWorldExhibition.com!

Image via CityNeon Holdings

New World: A Jurassic World Fan Film – Watch It Today!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Filmmaker Dillon Brown and Horror Nerd Productions are releasing a new fan film set in the Jurassic World franchise, and you can watch it now! New World: A Jurassic World Fan Film centers around the dinosaur and human chaos that could follow the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The logline is as follows:

“After the events at Lockwood Manor in Northern California, the genetically engineered dinosaurs captured from Isla Nublar are now roaming the world, many of them freely. Adjusting to this new life is difficult, as most places have issued strict guidelines on interacting with the animals, and many communities have even gone on lockdown as a safety precaution. Presented as a series of found-footage smartphone clips, and telling a wraparound story about a rogue videographer who sells dinosaur footage to news outlets, New World: A Jurassic World Fan Film presents a unique look at what our world has become.”

The film features original dinosaur effects as well as cameos and contributions from members of the Jurassic fan community. It was originally slated to release on April 16, 2021 but was finished early and is available now!

A note from director Dillon Brown:

“This entire film was shot using smart phones, and almost all of the effects you see were used by combining free apps on an iPhone. The entire film cost under $40 to make and was done as an experiment in pandemic filmmaking, allowing friends to get together virtually and create a film from a safe distance. Every VFX shot started out on a phone and utilizing free assets online, we were able to create our film. This was an exercise in bringing together the Jurassic Community and is in no way affiliated with the Jurassic World brand beyond a not-for-profit fan film.”

You can watch the film right now at the link below!

You can find more of Dillon and Horror Nerd Productions‘ short films and other work here.

What do you think will happen in the world following the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom? Check out New World: A Jurassic World Fan Film and let us know what you think below!

Universal Orlando Resort Releases First Look at Jurassic World ‘Velocicoaster’ Ride Vehicles!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

“I don’t get it. It says InGen on the side of that ride vehicle!”

Universal Orlando Resort released a first look at what park guests will be riding in when the Jurassic World Velocicoaster becomes a reality next year:

The reveal video describes the vehicles as “designed for speed” and “engineered for the hunt”, seemingly comparing them to a predatory velociraptor pursuing its prey.

The ride vehicles are strikingly futuristic and feature sleek proportions, bright lights on the headrests and front areas, and a shiny canvas of that signature ‘Jurassic World’ blue. The iconic Jurassic T. rex skeleton logo and the InGen company logo adorn the side and rear sections of the vehicles.

Gregory Hall, who has been responsible for creative and art direction on the Velocicoaster, shared more official images of the ride vehicles on Twitter shortly after the announcement:

The ride vehicles certainly look to be equipped for top speeds that will excite theme park and Jurassic fans alike. While their design aligns with the bright, modern aesthetic of the Mercedes vehicles and other designs that we have seen in ‘Jurassic World’ and beyond, it is a bit distanced from the established rugged, jungle safari theme found in previous Jurassic rides and attractions.

What do you think of the Jurassic World Velocicoaster ride vehicles? How excited are you for the ride to open next summer? One thing is for sure: we can’t wait to experience the Velocicoaster when it opens to the public Summer 2021.

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Sam Neill Confirms: GIGANOTOSAURUS to Debut in ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Jurassic World: Dominion won’t hit theaters until June 2022, but we just got a large and very exciting update. While on the press tour for his upcoming movie ‘Rams’, Sam Neill (aka Dr. Alan Grant, the dinosaur man himself) revealed a giant surprise: the new big bad dinosaur of the third Jurassic World film will be none other than Giganotosaurus.

In the interview, Neill says,

“I’ve just had the last five months working with dinosaurs, and it was really fun to do. We have a dinosaur called a Giganotosaurus … Apparently that’s the biggest dinosaur that’s ever been discovered. And, you know, it could eat you in a second if the guys on the controls didn’t like you.”

So, not only is a massive new dinosaur making its entrance into the Jurassic franchise, a full-size animatronic will make its presence even more terrifying in the film. As Neill said, the Giganotosaurus could swallow him whole if the team of puppeteers were feeling particularly murderous.

While Giganotosaurus has not yet appeared in a Jurassic Park or Jurassic World film, it is not without its heritage within the franchise. Most notably, early Indominus Rex designs, then known as the Malusaurus, looked strikingly similar to the towering titan.

The Giganotosaurus also appeared in early concept art for Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom.

Giganotosaurus was a Carcharodontosaur, one of the largest theropods to ever walk the earth. It lived roughly 98 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period, and roamed what is now Argentina. Most modern estimates have it as large as a Tyrannosaur, though many posit that it grew even larger. Giganotosaurus didn’t live in the same time period or geographical area as T. rex, but we wouldn’t be surprised if this giant dinosaur crosses paths with a T. rex or another species now that it’s joining the roster of de-extinct creatures in the Jurassic franchise.

As for who cloned this dinosaur, we’re not sure, as it’s never appeared on InGen’s lists. However, its DNA contributing to the Indominus Rex suggests they at least had incomplete genomes of the animal. That being said, we firmly believe this animal is not from InGen’s lab, and is likely BioSyn’s crowned gem.

Check out our video below for a full breakdown of Sam Neill’s interview, the species reveal, the animatronic, and more.

It might be a long wait until 2022, but we cannot wait to learn more about the third Jurassic World film and the Giganotosaurus. Does this species reveal increase your excitement for ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’?

Let us know in the comments below, and check out our YouTube channel for more Jurassic content, including everything we know about Jurassic World: Dominion so far!