Author: Caleb Burnett

David Koepp and Steven Spielberg Bring Sequence from Crichton’s Jurassic Park Novel to Jurassic World Rebirth

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Since Jurassic World Rebirth‘s announcement just over a year ago, those following the production have awaited insights from its writer and Jurassic legend David Koepp – and lately we have gotten just that. Koepp recently shared his 9 Jurassic Commandments, and has also been on the press circuit for his new work with Steven Soderbergh. This week he joined Variety to discuss Presence (his latest Soderbergh collaboration) and provided even more Rebirth teases during the conversation.

You can read the full conversation here.

From Variety:

Koepp has proven himself to be one of Hollywood’s preeminent screenwriters since Steven Spielberg recruited him to pen “Jurassic Park” in his twenties. But between spectacle features, he has often returned to more contained settings, as with David Fincher’s home invasion thriller “Panic Room” or Soderbergh’s own tech-skeptic “Kimi,” released three years ago. But “Presence” put Koepp in a darker place than usual.

These movies don’t unfold in confined settings, but do you find a similar thrill in restrictions when you’re writing for an established property, like “Jurassic” or “Indiana Jones”?

Those are harder because of the lack of restrictions. The first “Jurassic” was at the dawn of CG. I asked Steven [Spielberg], “Well, what are my limitations here?” And he said, “Only your imagination.” I was like, “Okay, well, that’s a little hostile.” But we were making up whatever we felt like, then he was seeing if we could figure it out. Those are giant movies, so there’s a lot of expectations and there’s a lot of money. The level of tension and anxiety surrounding it is a lot higher. On this one, by virtue of the fact that its budget was a lot smaller and Steven was paying for it himself, there were whole levels of approval that just weren’t present.

You’ve returned to the “Jurassic” franchise to write “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which releases this summer. What was the impetus behind that homecoming?

The first two movies were two of my favorite experiences ever. And Steven said, “What about starting over? Let’s try something all new.” I said, “Oh, that’s a cool idea. What if blah, blah, blah,” and then I threw an idea back. That’s it. It caught. You do that all the time with your friends and collaborators: throw ideas back and forth. And sometimes they catch, usually they don’t. There is pressure because it’s going to cost a lot of money and there are going to be big expectations and blah, blah, blah. But there was no pressure at first — just the pursuit of our ideas.

There isn’t even a source novel you’re pulling from for this one, right?

No. I reread the two novels to get myself back in that mode though. We did take some things from them. There was a sequence from the first novel that we’d always wanted in the original movie, but didn’t have room for. We were like, “Hey, we get to use that now.” But just to get back in that head space 30 years later — is it still fun? And the answer is yes, it still really is. Dinosaurs are still fun.

The excitement continues to mount for Jurassic World Rebirth, thanks in no small part to David Koepp’s enthusiasm and passion. Great to hear about the blank slate he and Spielberg approached Rebirth with, and even better to hear they are adapting a sequence from Michael Crichton‘s original Jurassic Park novel! What do you think that sequence could be? There is so much material left to pull from in Crichton’s Jurassic works, which Koepp reread to prepare for his return to writing for the franchise. He’s just like us.

Koepp also spoke with SlashFilm to discuss Presence and writing a brand new Jurassic story for Rebirth.

From /Film:

For screenwriter David Koepp, 2025 might be best remembered as the year where he reunited with two guys named Steven. He’s currently on the press circuit promoting his script for Steven Soderbergh’s unconventional ghost story “Presence” after having worked with the director previously on 2022’s pandemic-era thriller “Kimi,” and this summer, audiences will see the fruits of Koepp’s reunion with another Steven — Mr. Spielberg, who is executive producing “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which just missed a slot on /Film’s Most Anticipated Movies of 2025 list.

See, Spielberg asked Koepp, who wrote the first two “Jurassic Park” movies back in the 1990s, if he was interested in taking a shot at cooking up a new direction for the “Jurassic” franchise in the aftermath of “Jurassic World Dominion,” a movie that made over a billion dollars but which was not beloved by critics or general audiences. With that question posed, Koepp made an observation about the franchise as a whole:

“When Steven [Spielberg] said, ‘Hey, do you want to try to come up with a new one?’, it had seemed to me that the tone and characters of the movies changed every three movies. So after the first three, it changed into ‘Jurassic World,’ which was a different tone and wholly different characters, and then that came, it seemed, to a logical conclusion. So [‘Jurassic World Rebirth’] seemed like a chance to say, ‘OK, what now?'”

According to the official synopsis from Universal, this new film takes the “Jurassic” movies “in an ingenious new direction.”

“We didn’t want to deny any events that occurred,” Koepp told me. “[The new film is set] in that world. But how might that world have changed in the last five years, and whose story is this now? So it was a chance to start over, and still play in this incredibly fun sandbox with the enthusiasm of a big studio behind you. It was the best of all possible worlds. And Steven and I got to do the absolute most fun part of filmmaking, which is, ‘Hey, what if…’ and then you just make up stuff.”

Some of the “stuff” they made up: In the five years since the events of “Dominion,” dinosaurs have learned that they can essentially only live in climates similar to the ones they operated in previously. The three biggest dinos on the planet “hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind,” and it’s up to skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) to snag the genetic material that can make that dream a reality. Mahershala Ali is on board as a team leader, there’s a stranded family that gets roped into the action, and the synopsis also teases “a sinister, shocking discovery that’s been hidden from the world for decades.” Color us intrigued.

Steven Spielberg and David Koepp “trying to come up with a new one” has to be music to Jurassic fans’ ears. His words about changing the tone and characters every three movies while not denying any events that have occurred bode well for what’s to come in his Rebirth story and the franchise as a whole. We can’t wait to see what Koepp and Spielberg have come up with for the seventh Jurassic Park film!

What do you think about what Koepp had to say in these interviews? What Jurassic Park novel sequence would you like to see in Jurassic World Rebirth? Let us know in the comments, and watch our full breakdown below.

Jonathan Bailey & Scarlett Johansson Retrieve a Prehistoric Egg in New Jurassic World Rebirth Image

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Scarlett Johansson was guest co-host of NBC’s Today Show this week, and unveiled another new image from the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth!

In this new image, Scarlett Johansson’s Zora Bennett and Jonathan Bailey’s Dr. Henry Loomis look to extract DNA from a large prehistoric egg that presumably belongs to a Quetzalcoatlus. They are kneeling over a sizable nest hidden in ancient ruins and seem to be attached to climbing gear. Dr. Loomis wields the big extraction tool/syringe that was attached to Zora Bennett’s gun in a previously released Rebirth image. Daylight filters down onto the egg and our two characters through openings in the temple, creating a very Raiders of the Lost Ark-inspired shot. The entire environment, the characters, and the creatures involved here feel so Jurassic – that’s a great thing.

Watch our full breakdown of the new egg image and Scarlett Johansson’s time guest co-hosting the Today Show below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for all the latest.

Mother’s Cookies Introduces Dynamite Dinosaurs – Inspired by Jurassic World

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Mother’s Cookies continues their snack partnership with Universal Pictures and Jurassic World with new cookie creations in 2025!

Mother’s Cookies Dynamite Dinosaurs

Featuring four ‘Jurassic World’ inspired dinosaur shapes and ‘Jurassic World’
packaging, these frosted cookie treats just got a prehistoric makeover.

Mother’s® Cookies Introduces First-Ever Chocolatey Flavor – Dynamite Dinosaurs – Inspired by Jurassic World

Mother’s® Cookies is sparking a new level of creativity and imagination for fun parents with the launch of its first-ever chocolatey cookie: Dynamite Dinosaurs. This new addition to the Mother’s Cookies portfolio, the first in four years, is inspired by the fierce yet fun world of dinosaurs from the iconic franchise, Jurassic World, from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.

Families can enjoy these deliciously baked chocolate cookies coated in blue and green vanilla flavored frosting, all topped with orange and black sprinkles to make each bite a celebration. Each cookie shape resembles the fierce, yet fun dinosaurs that excite fans from Jurassic World including Pteranodon, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brachiosaurus, and Triceratops. These cookies are perfect for themed parties, after-school snacks, or when you’re in need of a sweet treat, delivering a roaring good time with every bite.

“Mother’s Cookies is all about providing families with fun ways to create memories together and what better way to do so than by adding two things to our portfolio we know kids love – chocolate and dinosaurs,” said Rachna Patel, Vice President, Distinctive Brands Marketing at Ferrero. “The launch of Jurassic World-inspired Dynamite Dinosaurs is a monumental milestone for the brand, as it is the first chocolatey cookie for our portfolio. We are confident consumers will love these new cookies as much as our classic vanilla shortbread and look forward to seeing all the snack time adventures.”

Mother’s Dynamite Dinosaurs Cookies, inspired by Jurassic World, are available now at retailers nationwide.

For snack time inspiration and more from the brand, visit MothersCookies.com and follow Mother’s Cookies on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest).

About Mother’s® Cookies
Since 1914, Mother’s Cookies have been sparking celebrations and creating sweet moments of cookie joy. With its iconic fully frosted animal cookies covered in sprinkles, Mother’s encourages parents and kids to take a step back from the daily grind and to live life playfully, or as Mother’s puts it, Stop and Taste the Frosting. The Mother’s portfolio includes Original Circus Animal Cookies, Mythical Creatures Cookies, Dynamite Dinosaurs Cookies as well as seasonal offerings like Puppy Love, Springtime Buddies, Eerie Critters and Reindeer Games Cookies.

About Ferrero®
Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. The Ferrero Group brings joy to people around the world with much-loved treats and snacks including Nutella®, Kinder®, Tic Tac®, and Ferrero Rocher®. More than 47,000 employees are passionate about helping people celebrate life’s special moments. The Ferrero Group’s family culture, now in its third generation, is based on dedication to quality and excellence, heritage and a commitment to the planet and communities in which we operate.

Ferrero entered the North American market in 1969 and has grown to more than 5,400 employees in 15 plants and warehouses, and eight offices in North America across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. It has expanded its presence and portfolio with the addition of iconic brands such as Butterfinger®, CRUNCH®, Keebler®, Famous Amos®, Mother’s Cookies®, and other distinctive cookie and chocolate brands. Follow @FerreroNACorp on Twitter and Instagram. www.ferreronorthamerica.com.

About Jurassic World
From Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, Jurassic World immerses audiences of all ages in a new era of wonder and thrills where dinosaurs and humankind must learn to coexist. Jurassic World is more than a film franchise. At every turn, this $6 billion film series delivers a larger-than-life destination for exploration, discovery, and epic adventure. Dinosaurs live again and they live in Jurassic World. An all-new event film – Jurassic World Rebirth – arrives in theaters July 2025.

“It was just fun to return to that world of great adventure backed by real science…” – David Koepp on Returning for Jurassic World: Rebirth

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Nearly one year after the film’s announcement, we are finally hearing from Jurassic World: Rebirth writer and Jurassic veteran David Koepp. He joined host Mike DeAngelo on The Discourse Podcast and had great things to say about his return to the dinosaur franchise he helped start.

From The Discourse:

David Koepp stopped by The Discourse recently to talk about his latest career developments, like working with Steven Soderbergh on “Presence.” But Koepp also teased his return to a major franchise he once helped make a classic: “Jurassic Park.” He writes Gareth Edwards‘ upcoming “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” his first film in the franchise since “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.” So what brought Koepp back to pen a new dinosaur actioner after 25 years?

In Koepp’s words , it was the chance to write a streamlined script in a familiar world. “That was a ball. I had such a nice time on it,” said about writing “Rebirth.” I hope people like the movie because the series tended to change after three, and it felt like, ‘Okay, so let’s change our tone.” Steven [Spielberg] and I were interested in a tone that was maybe more akin to the very first movie. I saw it early on as a mission movie. I like things that are driven by bottles, by containment, you know?”

“And so, developing a limited team and a thing that they have to accomplish – that was all really fun,” Koepp continued. “And it was just fun to return to that world of great adventure backed by real science and write some cool new characters. You don’t often get a chance to have a blank slate and say, ‘What do you want to do?’ There were no franchise expectations other than dinosaurs.”

Koepp even went so far as to create a list of rules the franchise needs to abide by moving forward, which was inspired by the most unlikely of sources. “I actually wrote a list of our nine commandments, which was inspired by Chuck Jones, who had written nine commandments for the Roadrunner cartoons – like all adventures must take place in the American Southwest, gravity is always the coyote’s worst enemy, all products must come from the Acme corporation,” Koepp said. “And so I made a list of things that we had to abide by – one was the events of the previous six movies that cannot be contradicted or denied because I don’t like a retcon. Those are no fun. Two, Humor is oxygen. Science must be real. You know, all the things that we wanted our movie to be. And I just had a great fun doing it with Steven and then with Gareth [Edwards].”

Reflecting on the experience, Koepp described the surreal nature of returning to a franchise 30 years later. “It was trippy to go back to a London soundstage 30 years after I walked onto a Los Angeles soundstage and see the jungle and the people in their jungle gear,” he said. “And it was just all back. It even smelled the same.” But the cast of “Rebirth” are all newcomers to “Jurassic Park” this time around. Edwards’ new film stars Scarlett Johannson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahersala Ali, and hits theaters on July 2, 2025.

And while the new “Jurassic Park” movie isn’t an official reunion between Koepp and Spielberg, Spielberg’s upcoming UFO blockbuster certainly is. Koepp also had enough time on the podcast to confirm that his upcoming collaboration with the director is a sci-fi adventure reminiscent of Spielberg’s earlier works. “Yes, it is like a sci-fi… Well, I don’t know. I’m not supposed to say. But, yes, it is,” Koepp confirmed. “It does harken back to maybe a different tone than [what he’s done lately]. Something he used to do that he hasn’t done for a little bit.”

In other words, everything old is new again when it comes to Koepp’s recent scriptwriting. Spielberg’s next picture hits theaters on May 15, 2026. – Additional reporting by Mike DeAngelo.

David Koepp wrote Jurassic Park (1993) and The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), adapting from Michael Crichton’s novels, and he has been involved in small capacities for ideas, writing, and revisions on multiple films in the franchise since then. He is undoubtably one of the foremost voices on the Jurassic franchise story and certainly has a fantastic resumé within the series.

It is truly great to hear him talk about Jurassic in such detail again after all this time, and to hear about the ease and enjoyment in his return to collaboration with Steven Spielberg. His passion for the franchise is still clear, as he even introduced his own new “franchise commandments”! I can’t think of too many names who would be a better choice to create a set of Jurassic commandments.

1. The events of the previous 6 movies cannot be contradicted or denied

2. Humor is oxygen

3. Science must be real

Great adventure and real science. Very sound guidelines for a franchise like Jurassic. What are the other six? I love his words about returning to a Jurassic set after all this time, and being a part of developing a new story from a blank slate. What he had to say about the other trilogies is also generally on point:

“…the series tended to change after three, and it felt like, ‘Okay, so let’s change our tone.”

I can’t wait to see what “tone” Koepp has helped create for Rebirth, and how those Jurassic commandments play out. What would your commandments be?

You can read the full extent of Koepp’s Jurassic comments and listen to the full episode of The Discourse Podcast here. He also spoke about the upcoming UFO event film he is writing for Steven Spielberg, set to release Summer 2026, plus his work and friendship with Steven Soderbergh and Kevin Bacon.

Jurassic World: Rebirth Stars Share More On Upcoming Film

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

As the Wicked press tour and other promotional events continue, Jurassic World: Rebirth stars Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson have shared more details and personal feelings about their time filming this summer, their experiences with the Jurassic franchise, and the run-up to the seventh film next year.

Scarlett Johansson joined NBC’s TODAY for her “milestone birthday” recently to discuss her career, upcoming projects, and her experience directing for the first time:

When asked about Jurassic and the upcoming film, Johansson shared:

“Jurassic World: Rebirth, we just finished it. I feel like we’re still shooting it. We shot it in Thailand, Malta, and the UK, and it was a whirlwind. We shot for the last five months or something like that. My life-long dream has always been to participate in Jurassic in any way – I’ll do your craft service, your dinosaur motion-capture, I was like, put the dots all over me I’ll be that person. It was… It was a crazy ride, and it’s coming out, like, tomorrow basically.”

Her excitement and passion for the Jurassic franchise have been evident in every interview since she was announced as cast, and it’s great to hear about her experience during production. She certainly had nice things to say about her future Jurassic co-star and current Wicked star Jonathan Bailey as well. Water finds a way.

Jonathan Bailey spoke to Who What Wear about his career, fashion, Wicked, and upcoming performances:

From Who What Wear, Bailey on joining the Jurassic franchise in Rebirth:

Following Richard II, Bailey will return to the big screen with Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali in Jurassic World: Rebirth, playing paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis. A passing of the torch from Wicked co-star Jeff Goldblum, perhaps? We’ll have to wait and see, but Bailey does call Goldblum’s Jurassic Park character Dr. Malcolm the “rizz king” and credits the actor’s performances for keeping him “enthralled and titillated.” “If I can achieve half of what he did in the original Jurassic, I’ll be very happy,” he adds.

What Bailey can say about his own experience at this time is how excited he is to be joining the major franchise given how deeply nostalgic it is for him. Jurassic Park was the first film Bailey saw in the cinema with his family. He gets goosebumps thinking back on that time. “I just remember feeling so alive,” he says. “It’s a bit like Wicked [and] going back to singing and dancing. [I’m] now going back to one of these iconic experiences that I found so inspiring then, to be able to infiltrate that world.” To say Bailey is excited about this movie would be an understatement. “The idea of the John Williams theme playing under trotting through some grass fields chasing a dinosaur, you can’t get more mind-blowing and eye-popping than that,” he says.

Needless to say, Scarlett Johansson is a massive star, and Jonathan Bailey is becoming one before our eyes. The Jurassic franchise has impacted so many artists and filmmakers, and it’s apt that the franchise’s next big names have such deep connections to the films. Both have incredible acting skills and have built quite the portfolio for themselves. Jurassic World: Rebirth boasts one of the best casts of any 2025 film, which should help it attract audiences across the globe.

EMPIRE Magazine Reveals New Jurassic World: Rebirth Still and Insights from Director Gareth Edwards

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

“It goes back to what I loved about the original, with an embarrassment of riches of different set-piece-type scenarios and tense, fun action moments. There were a lot of opportunities as a filmmaker to have a lot of fun and try and play games with the audience,” Jurassic World: Rebirth director Gareth Edwards tells Empire. He shared more about the film, alongside a brand new still of Scarlett Johansson‘s covert operations expert Zora Bennett, in their January 2025 Preview issue, out November 21st.

More from Empire Magazine:

The Jurassic franchise has been through all kinds of evolutions already. There was Spielberg’s classic original Jurassic Park, which led to The Lost World and Jurassic Park III. And then in 2015 began the Jurassic World trilogy, giving us a fully-fledged dinosaur theme park before letting the pre-historic beasts loose on the world. Now, Jurassic is about to be reborn – quite literally, with Jurassic World Rebirth ready to bare its teeth. This time, Godzilla and Monsters director Gareth Edwards is putting his scaly-beast expertise to good use, working from a script by original Park scribe David Koepp – ready to take the saga back to the source.

“It goes back to what I loved about the original,” Edwards tells Empire in our Andor Season 2 issue, “with an embarrassment of riches of different set-piece-type scenarios and tense, fun action moments. There were a lot of opportunities as a filmmaker to have a lot of fun and try and play games with the audience.” Set give years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, it continues the dinos-in-the-wild premise established across that trilogy, while beginning “a whole new chapter in the timeline of Jurassic”.

While it’ll be packed with prehistoric beasts (“there are certain dinosaurs it would be a crime against cinema not to include,” notes Edwards), the new human lead is Scarlett Johansson – whose operative Zora Bennett is leading an epic dino-DNA hunt. “She’s looking for meaning in her life after leaving the military,” Edwards teases of her role, “and this opportunity comes along where [after it] basically she’d never have to work again. But through that journey, she starts to question the ethical rights and wrongs of what they’re doing.” You’re saying she was so preoccupied with whether or not she could, she didn’t stop to think if she should? Buckle up for some classic Jurassic.

Read more about Jurassic World Rebirth in Empire’s Ultimate 2025 Preview, led by Andor Season 2 – in the January 2025 issue. Pre-order a copy online here. Jurassic World Rebirth comes to UK cinemas in July.

The new image of Scarlett Johansson’s Zora Bennett appears to be in the same location or a similar one to the previously shared set photo above. It could even be the same scene with Jonathan Bailey’s Dr. Loomis, as Zora appears in her ex-military operation attire and is wielding some kind of large combination of a weapon and dino-DNA extraction syringe. What is this location, and how will this weapon/tool be used? The location itself and the lighting and colors present are excellent and feel quite in-line with Jurassic. According to director Gareth Edwards, Bennett is “looking for meaning in her life after leaving the military, and this opportunity comes along where [after it] basically she’d never have to work again. But through that journey, she starts to question the ethical rights and wrongs of what they’re doing.” This brings interesting depth to her character within the Jurassic world, but what could it also mean for the larger story of Jurassic World: Rebirth?

Edwards also stated that “it’ll be packed with prehistoric beasts (there are certain dinosaurs it would be a crime against cinema not to include,” and that “it goes back to what I loved about the original.” With a new director on board, David Koepp bringing a fresh writing perspective after time away from the franchise, and new star-power embarking on adventures in very Jurassic environments, we could be headed towards a very exciting rebirth for the Jurassic franchise. What dinosaurs will we see, and what dino-DNA are we after – and why? What is the dynamic between humans and dinosaurs as we traverse the globe with Dr. Henry Loomis, Duncan Kincaid, and Martin Krebs on Zora Bennett’s operation? How does it all connect to the “sinister, shocking discovery that has been hidden from the world for decades”?

Jurassic World: Rebirth – in theaters July 2, 2025.

Creative Beast Studio Announces PBS Eons Partnership

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

PBS Eons, Complexly, and indie toymaker Creative Beast Studio have partnered to launch a new line of prehistoric elephant action figures via BackerKit crowdfunding campaign. It’s the first action figure tie-in for the PBS YouTube series, and includes fan favorites like Woolly Mammoths. 

Designed by David Silva, a toy industry veteran and mastermind behind the realistic dinosaur action figure line “Beasts of the Mesozoic,” these 1/18th scale action figures are scientifically accurate, hand painted, and fully articulated. Silva has also made figures for popular entertainment brands including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Godzilla, Spiderman, G.I. Joe, Terminator 2, Aliens, Predator, Spawn, and Pacific Rim.

Produced by PBS Digital Studios and Complexly, PBS Eons takes viewers on a journey through the history of life on Earth. Hosts Kallie Moore, Michelle Barboza-Ramirez, Gabriel Santos, and Blake de Pastino are tour guides to the past, demonstrating what existence was like for the animals and plants that came before us.

Read on for more from PBS Eons, Complexly, and Creative Beast Studio:

Complexly and Creative Beast Studios Launch BackerKit Campaign for Prehistoric Elephant Action Figures

  • Produced by PBS Digital Studios and Complexly, PBS Eons takes viewers on a journey through the history of life on Earth, where they learn about extinct plants and animals
  • To add a new dimension to the series’ learning environment, Eons and Complexly tapped Creative Beast Studios to design scientifically accurate action figures portraying stunning proboscideans including woolly mammoths 

MISSOULA, MT and HACKENSACK, NJ – September 3, 2024

Complexly and Creative Beast Studio today launched a new line of prehistoric elephant action figures inspired by weekly YouTube series PBS Eons with a BackerKit campaign. Depicting extinct proboscideans (elephants and their close relatives), these scientifically accurate, hand painted, and fully articulated action figures give fans of the popular Eons series and those who love majestic megafauna the opportunity to hold a woolly mammoth in the palm of their hand. Fans can support the Backerkit campaign here.

To create the new line of 1/18th scale prehistoric elephant action figures, Eons and Complexly partnered with veteran toy designer and Creative Beast Studios founder David Silva, who boasts more than 20 years of experience crafting figures for popular entertainment brands including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Godzilla, Spiderman, G.I. Joe, Terminator 2, Aliens, Predator, Spawn, and Pacific Rim. He is a proven innovator in the toy industry, having also launched his own line of scientifically accurate dinosaur action figures, “Beasts of the Mesozoic,” which includes multiple species of raptors, tyrannosaurs, and ceratopsians. With the prehistoric elephant line of action figures, Silva is venturing out of the Mesozoic and into the Cenozoic. 

“There is enthusiastic demand for high quality, realistic action figures of extinct fauna, and it’s an honor to work with PBS Eons and Complexly to create the first proboscidean action figure line of my career,” said Silva. “With these woolly mammoths, we’re transporting the engaging, educational content from Eons directly into the hands and hearts of viewers. Built using data from the latest scientific discoveries and painted with colors inspired by modern-day creatures living in similar environments, we know that fans will love this line of prehistoric proboscideans.” 

Produced by PBS Digital Studios and Complexly, PBS Eons takes viewers on a journey through the history of life on Earth. From the dawn of life in the Archaean Eon through the Mesozoic Era — the so-called “Age of Dinosaurs” — right up to the end of the most recent Ice Age, hosts Kallie Moore, Michelle Barboza-Ramirez, Gabriel Santos, and Blake de Pastino act as tour guides to the past, demonstrating what existence was like for the animals and plants that came before us. 

“Working with David has been a dream for our team, and we’re so excited to present these one-of-a-kind action figures to fans of the PBS Eons YouTube series,” said Seth Radley, Executive Producer for Eons at Complexly. “Eons brings the wonder of deep time into the homes of natural history fans of all ages. To maintain that high standard of scientific rigor, we turned to an expert who has no peers when it comes to sculpting spectacular prehistoric action figures. We know our fans will love David’s beautiful and charismatic proboscideans.”

The initial $185,000 BackerKit goal includes two all-new woolly mammoth action figures. Stretch goals may be reached on the BackerKit crowdfunding platform after the initial goal is met, giving contributors the opportunity to unlock other extinct proboscideans, including Gomphotherium, Platybelodon, and Moeritherium. 

The BackerKit’s first wave of prehistoric elephant action figures includes:

  • Woolly Mammoth: $200
  • Woolly Mammoth & Baby Woolly Mammoth (”Snowy”) Bundle: $225
  • Baby Woolly Mammoth: $35 

Click here to download hi-res images. The PBS Eons proboscideans BackerKit runs through 10:00 pm ET on October 3rd. If fully funded, the figures are estimated to ship in mid 2025. 

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About PBS Digital Studios

PBS Digital Studios produces original, digital programming designed to engage, enlighten, and entertain online audiences. The PBS Digital Studios network has more than 30 million subscribers on YouTube, generating an average of 50 million views each month. Since 2012, it has launched over 120 original series and has accumulated over five billion lifetime views on YouTube. Series include the Webby Award-winning BE SMART and SOUND FIELD, as well as popular series such as WEATHERED, EONS, MONSTRUM and SPACE TIME. For more information on PBS Digital Studios, visit PBS.org.

About PBS 

PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’ premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on Twitter. 

About Complexly

Founded in 2012 by Hank and John Green, Complexly is one of the largest global online educational companies. We produce over a dozen education video channels and podcasts with a worldwide audience of 32 million subscribers and five billion views on YouTube.

Eons is a YouTube channel produced in collaboration with PBS Digital Studios featuring hosts Kallie Moore, Michelle Barboza-Ramirez, Gabriel Santos, and Blake de Pastino. Each episode, we take our audience on a journey through the history of life on Earth. Over the past seven years, we’ve created over 400 videos that have been viewed over 686 million times.

Crash Course has created over 1,500 videos covering 45 academic courses with more always in the works. Subjects include World History, English Literature, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Physics, Psychology and Philosophy. The show is an immensely helpful tool for students and teachers, but it also has a large viewership of casual learners who seek out online educational content independently. Around 65% of viewers watch Crash Course without being currently enrolled in an associated class. Crash Course has over 15 million subscribers and its videos have been viewed over two billion times.  

SciShow is an online video series that delves into the scientific subjects that defy our expectations and make us even more curious! Our goal is to capture the awesomeness of this bizarre universe and make it easy for everyone to understand and enjoy. SciShow has over eight million subscribers and its videos have been viewed over two billion times.

About David Silva

David Silva has been sculpting and designing in the toy industry for companies including McFarlane Toys, Hasbro, and NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) since 2003. He specializes in creature-related action figures, with past and current work devoted to toy lines such as Spawn, McFarlane’s Dragons, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Predator, Aliens, Terminator, Pacific Rim, and Godzilla. He launched Creative Beast Studio in 2009 to focus on dinosaur model kits, a passion since childhood. David received the Spectrum 22 Silver Dimensional award for his piece “Dragon vs. Raptors” in 2015.

About Creative Beast Studio

Founded in 2009 by toy industry veteran David Silva, Creative Beast Studio is home to Cyberzoic, the “Beasts of the Mesozoic” dinosaur action figure line, model kits, and more. Originally created to meet fans’ rabid demand for accurate depictions of dinosaurs, Creative Beast Studio’s “Beasts of the Mesozoic” line of dinosaur action figures features the only scientifically-accurate representations of its kind on the market. The line has evolved into the go-to destination for authentic-looking dinosaurs using the most up-to-date scientific knowledge publicly available. Today, Creative Beast Studio focuses on its new IP Cyberzoic and “Beasts of the Mesozoic” dinosaur action figures, while also creating highly detailed collectible resin model kits for prehistoric animals and fantasy characters including dragons. In the future, Mr. Silva plans to expand the Cyberzoic universe and release more prehistoric action figures under the “Beasts of the Mesozoic” brand.

The great news is that as of October 8, 2024, the project has reached its funding goal and is fully funded! Be sure to check out our previous interviews with David and Creative Beast, and check out the studio and PBS Eons for great content and updates on projects like these!

Jurassic World: Rebirth Celebrates Principal Photography Wrap

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

After filming and production in locations across the globe including Thailand, Malta, and the U.K., Jurassic World: Rebirth has wrapped principal photography! Producer Frank Marshall celebrated the news on social media along with other members of the cast and crew:

Picture wrap comes a bit early, as Rebirth was initially expected to continue until at least the first week of October. However, the production seems to have moved along rather quickly and efficiently, and judging the demeanor and shared feelings of the cast, crew, and producers, was very successful. This type and speed of production timeline is fairly common in modern blockbusters, and while we all would’ve liked a few more animatronics, the lack of numerous full animatronics likely sped up production just a bit. According to photos from Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and others on social media, the cast and crew received a custom Jurassic Park music box that plays John Williams’ theme as a wrap gift. Check out the gallery below for more photos from the cast and wrap party:

Jurassic World: Rebirth now moves into the post-production process with about nine months until release, and we can’t wait to see what’s next! It’s hard to believe we’ve reached another wrap party for another Jurassic movie. Thus begins the wait for the first teaser and the beginning of Rebirth promotion – we’ll only learn even more about what this film is from here. What is your excitement level for this film?

July 2, 2025 here we come! Listen to the latest episode of the InGeneral Podcast below for our discussion of and reaction to picture wrap and more. Stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for all the latest!

Jurassic World: Rebirth Stars Film at UK’s University of Greenwich

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Old Royal Naval College on the campus of the University of Greenwich was the site of at least two days of filming for Jurassic World: Rebirth during its time in the UK. Stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Rupert Friend were on-site in-costume, accompanied by new props representing full-size dinosaurs and skeleton specimens in transport crates from a museum.

*Mild spoilers likely ahead for Jurassic World: Rebirth*

Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson’s tactical operations expert) was seen in a very professional, dark blue suit outfit, and Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend’s big pharma representative) could be spotted in a suit not far behind her. Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey’s paleontologist) was also spotted in professional attire alongside them, walking in a regal hallway setting filled with large pillars and classical art. Multiple prop dinosaur skeletons were also seen displayed around them and in wooden crates, seemingly headed to or coming from the “Neo-Jurassic Wing” of the “Natural History Museum of North America.” While that museum and wing name are technically fictional, they are likely new lore additions in the seventh Jurassic Park film.

Taking in the classical and educational look of this filming location and the professional look of the stars’ costumes, we could be seeing a museum or educational building in which the audience, with Zora and Krebs, meets Loomis for the first time while in his professional environment. A first act Jurassic exposition scene in what might be a museum with dinosaur displays sounds fantastic. More photos, videos, and speculation can be found on social media as well as in our latest Jurassic World: Rebirth news update video.

Massive thanks to ReelNews, UnBoxPHD, KeepingUpWithScarlett, and others on-site in the UK for sharing these images from set with the world. Be sure to follow and subscribe to their pages for an up-close look at Rebirth‘s UK production. Filming will continue on sound stages and sets at Sky Studios Elstree through at least early October. What are your thoughts on this first look at characters and a museum-like set in Jurassic World: Rebirth? Are you excited for this movie? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost.

First Official Logo and Images for Jurassic World: Rebirth Revealed

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

The day has finally arrived, and a new era is born: The title of the next Jurassic film has been officially announced as Jurassic World: Rebirth! A new official logo was also released along with two new images and more information about the story and cast. Read on for more:

Jurassic World: Rebirth will be the fourth Jurassic World film and the seventh Jurassic Park film. Its first logo reveal features a somewhat metallic aquamarine and gold Jurassic World logo with the subtitle Rebirth. A sunrise shines through to illuminate it, echoing the sunset at the end of Jurassic World: Dominion.

Two new images from the film (above) were released alongside a new synopsis and character details (below). The images are gorgeous and, I must say, very Jurassic. They showcase our first look at Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey in a jungle or what appears to be long grass, as well as our first look at Mahershala Ali in the darkness holding a flare, looking up and screaming at… something big. Behind him is a post with a sign affixed to it that says “Await rescue craft here.” Could this be on a dock or near something marine? A version of the InGen logo can also be seen on the sign. Are we on Isla Sorna or one of the five deaths? Or somewhere new?

A new era is born.

Next summer, three years after the Jurassic World trilogy concluded with each film surpassing $1 billion at the global box office, the enduring Jurassic series evolves in an ingenious new direction with Jurassic World Rebirth.

Anchored by iconic action superstar Scarlett Johansson, breakthrough talent Jonathan Bailey and two-time Oscar® winner Maheshala Ali, this action-packed new chapter sees an intrepid team racing to secure DNA samples from the three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air.

Also starring acclaimed international stars Rupert Friend and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, the film is directed by dynamic visualist Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) from a script by original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp.

Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.

Academy Award® nominee Johansson plays skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett, contracted to lead a skilled team on a top-secret mission to secure genetic material from the world’s three most massive dinosaurs.

When Zora’s operation intersects with a civilian family whose boating expedition was capsized by marauding aquatic dinos, they all find themselves stranded on an island where they come face-to-face with a sinister, shocking discovery that’s been hidden from the world for decades.

Ali is Duncan Kincaid, Zora’s most trusted team leader; Emmy nominee and Olivier Award winner Jonathan Bailey (Wicked, Bridgerton) plays paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis; Emmy nominee Rupert Friend (Homeland, Obi-Wan Kenobi) appears as Big Pharma representative Martin Krebs and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer, Murder on the Orient Express) plays Reuben Delgado, the father of the shipwrecked civilian family.

The cast includes Luna Blaise (Manifest), David lacono (The Summer I Turned Pretty) and Audrina Miranda (Lopez vs. Lopez) as Reuben’s family. The film also features, as members of Zora and Krebs’ crews, Philippine Velge (Station Eleven), Bechir Sylvain (BMF) and Ed Skrein (Deadpool).

Jurassic World Rebirth is directed by BAFTA winner Edwards from a script by Koepp (War of the Worlds), based on characters created by Michael Crichton. The film is produced by Oscar® nominee Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley, both longtime Jurassic franchise producers and of this summer’s blockbuster, Twisters. The film is executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Denis L. Stewart and Jim Spencer.

The new synopsis and character details present some intriguing possibilities for the world and future of Jurassic. Five years after Dominion, what is going on in the world and with the dinosaurs? What locations will this story be taking us to, and what will the “sinister, shocking discovery that’s been hidden from the world for decades” be? Check out our latest video in which we broke all of this down in detail:

Are you excited for Jurassic World: Rebirth? What do you think of the logo, images, and new plot details? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost!