Author: Caleb Burnett

Jurassic World: The Legacy Of Isla Nublar Playthrough Event and First Impressions!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

“Welcome… to Jurassic Park.”

This weekend we were fortunate to be invited to Funko’s Hollywood HQ and store for a special event centered around the upcoming legacy game from Prospero Hall and Funko Games: Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar. During the event we got to spend time with other great Jurassic folks as well as the people responsible for developing this new game. Read on for our first impressions and exclusive photos of our playthrough!

From left to right: Jennifer Durst (Jurassic Jen), Nima Neemz Nakhshab (JurassicYourWorld), Caleb Burnett (Jurassic Outpost), and Brad Jost (The Jurassic Park Podcast) posing in the immersive Jurassic Park section of the Funko Hollywood HQ and store.

“A gripping journey of ambition and adventure.”

Our first impression of Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar is that it is visually gorgeous from start to finish. The art of the box, instruction materials, gameplay pieces, and more were all inspired by science fiction art, comic books, and B-monster movies of the 1950s. This game is an absolutely massive, intricate story that gives players the chance to experience what it would be like to build John Hammond’s dream from the ground up. Up to four players collaboratively work to set up the Isla Nublar we all know and love, building everything from the Visitor Center to the genetics lab to dinosaur paddocks. View exclusive images of our first playthrough and the special edition “chase” game box cover in the gallery below:

“Welcome to Isla Nublar.”

That phrase is what players are greeted with upon their entry into Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar. The game’s title communicates important aspects of what’s in store for its players: A ‘legacy’ board game requires that many decisions you make with your characters and in placing things on the island can be quite permanent. After choosing from a few classic Jurassic characters and a new one or two (with more to be unlocked as you play), the adventures of the game begin. Including the tutorial, the game contains twelve story based adventures with five “rounds” in each. Players must work together to learn how to build their own Jurassic Park while completing objectives, solving puzzles, and running away from newly created dinosaurs. Players are aided by their characters’ unique special abilities, and once you get the hang of it, this game is an absolute Jurassic blast.

“Creation is an act of sheer will.”

Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar is a wonderful expedition into what it would be like for players to leave their own Jurassic legacy on the island of Isla Nublar. We were only able to get through a couple of the adventures in our allotted time, but there was already so much to love about this beautifully complex game and the immense amount of interwoven Jurassic franchise lore. Funko Games and Prospero Hall consulted with Industrial Light & Magic, Amblin, and Universal Pictures to create the stunning artwork, instruction booklets and stickers, sculpted game pieces, and game boxes that will keep Jurassic fans and players engaged in the awesome experience they’ve crafted.

“Next time it’ll be flawless…”

We cannot thank the folks at Funko, Funko Games, and Prospero Hall enough for the invitation to this playthrough event and for the experience of the amazing game they’ve put together. During the event we also had the opportunity to speak with the developers and the leading folks at Funko Games about their philosophy and experience when developing this game – be on the lookout for those interviews very soon!

Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar is headed to Kickstarter on March 22, 2022, and supporting upon launch reserves your copy of the game. Retail pickups for the game are expected to be announced in the near future. Are you excited for Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for all upcoming Jurassic news!

Seven New Sets from ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ LEGO Line Revealed!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Hold on to your butts! Several new sets from the upcoming ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ LEGO line have been revealed today, featuring not only new package designs but brand new prehistoric creatures, characters, vehicles, and locations! Read on for details on the sets and full image galleries.

From LEGO’s official release:

The LEGO Group and Universal Add New Building Sets to the Jurassic World Line Up

Billund, Denmark February 18, 2022: We need more teeth! The LEGO Group and Universal Brand Development have announced exciting new Jurassic World sets inspired by the upcoming theatrical release – Jurassic World Dominion – set to hit theatres in June 2022, from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.

Continuing to build out the portfolio for Jurassic World fans globally, the newest sets, featuring the largest assortment of dinosaurs than ever before in LEGO® brick form, also include fan favorite characters like Owen, Claire, Ian Malcolm, Dr. Ellie Sattler and more. Each set offers a chance for fans to dive into their very own prehistoric world, with endless creativity, storytelling and adventure for all.

Some of the new sets based on Jurassic World Dominion include:

LEGO® Jurassic World Pteranodon Chase

Age: 4+

Piece Count: 91

Price: 19,99 EUR/USD

Measures: Over 3.5 in. (9 cm) high, 4.5 in. (12 cm) wide and 5 in. (13 cm) deep

Description: This awesome set, inspired by the upcoming Jurassic World Dominion movie, has everything you need for action-packed play. It includes a brick-built dock, fish stall and buggy, Owen Grady and Maisie mini-figures with a fishing rod and lasso, and a Pteranodon figure. Let the chase begin!

LEGO® Jurassic World T. rex Dinosaur Breakout

Age: 4+

Piece Count: 140

Price: 49,99 EUR/USD

Measures: Over 6 in. (15 cm) high, 6 in. (16 cm) wide and 2.5 in. (6cm) deep, and the T. rex stands over 4 in. (11 cm) tall

Description: Enjoy hours of thrilling dinosaur action with this playset inspired by the upcoming Jurassic World Dominion movie. Build the airport with a helipad, a helicopter and a fence for the mighty T. rex to smash through. The set also includes Owen Grady, Zia Rodriguez and wildlife guard mini-figures, plus a dinosaur egg, walkie-talkie and tranquilizer, to play out your own exciting stories.

LEGO® Jurassic World Atrociraptor Dinosaur: Bike Chase

Age: 6+

Piece Count: 167

Price: 19,99 EUR/USD

Measures: Over 2.5 in. (6 cm) high, 7 in. (17 cm) wide and 5 in. (13 cm) deep. This playset combines with the T. rex & Atrociraptor Dinosaur Breakout (76948) set

Description: Get set for action-packed play with this brilliant set, inspired by the upcoming Jurassic World Dominion movie. It’s got a market with a wall for the fierce Atrociraptor and a cool motorcycle to smash through, a battle pit for 2 small dinosaur figures, plus Owen Grady and Rainn Delacourt mini-figures.

LEGO® Jurassic World Blue & Beta Velociraptor Capture

Age: 6+

Piece Count: 173

Price: 29,99 EUR/USD

Measures: Over 2.5 in. (6 cm) high, 5.5 in. (14 cm) long and 2.5 in. (6 cm) wide, and the whole playset can be combined with other LEGO® Jurassic World building toys

Description: Check out this fantastic playset, inspired by the upcoming Jurassic World Dominion movie. It features Maisie and Rainn Delacourt mini-figures, dinosaurs Blue and Beta, a truck, bike and a dinosaur cage with a trap, plus a chicken drumstick to use as dinosaur bait. So, get building and then play out your amazing action-adventure stories.

LEGO® Jurassic World Quetzalcoatlus Plane Ambush

Age: 7+

Piece Count: 293

Price: 49,99 EUR/ 39,99 USD

Measures: The Quetzalcoatlus dinosaur figure measures over 11.5 in. (29 cm) wide and has posable wings and a snapping beak; The airplane measures over 3.5 in. (9 cm) high, 8.5 in. (22 cm) long and 11.5 in. (30 cm) wide, and Owen’s motorcycle from the 76945 set fits inside the cargo hold

Description: Recreate epic action from the upcoming Jurassic World Dominion movie with this exciting playset. It includes a cool airplane with space in the cockpit for Owen Grady, Claire Dearing and Kayla Watts. The plane also has spinning propellers, an opening cargo hold and engines designed to break off under attack from the Quetzalcoatlus. Are you ready to fly?

LEGO® Jurassic World T. rex & Atrociraptor Dinosaur Breakout

Age: 8+

Piece Count: 461

Price: 89,99 EUR/ 79,99 USD

Measures: The market measures over 7 in. (18 cm) high, 10 in. (26 cm) wide and 3.5 in. (9 cm) deep, and it combines with the LEGO® Jurassic World Atrociraptor Dinosaur: Bike Chase (76945) set

Description: Get ready for dinosaur drama with this playset inspired by the upcoming Jurassic World Dominion movie. Build a market with an enclosure for the T. rex and a big rig truck with a cage to transport the Atrociraptor. Then play out your own exciting stories with Owen Grady, Claire Dearing, Rainn Delacourt and Soyona Santos mini-figures, plus 2 tranquilizers to calm those dinosaurs down!

LEGO® DUPLO® Dinosaur Nursery

Age: 2+

Piece Count: 27

Price: 19,99EUR/USD

Measures: The Triceratops stands over 1 in. (5 cm) tall and the set can be reconfigured to inspire endless imaginative play possibilities

Description: Animal-loving toddlers can join Claire Dearing to care for 3 baby dinosaurs inspired by Jurassic World. This set includes a Triceratops in a cave, a Pteranodon in a nest, and a Brachiosaurus using its long neck to nibble leaves from a tree. As your little learner plays with the adorable dinosaurs in their forest habitats, they’ll also develop their fine motor skills and emotional intelligence.

These new sets feature some very cool new creatures and some intriguing new characters! They will be widely available starting April 17, 2022 on LEGO.com, in LEGO Retail Stores, and at major retailers worldwide.

What do you think of these sets? Let us know in the comments below and follow Jurassic Outpost for more Jurassic news!

Images courtesy of LEGO and Universal Pictures.

US Snowboarder Shaun White Encounters an Apatosaurus in Third ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ NBC Olympics Ad!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

The third television spot of the ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ x NBC Winter Olympics crossover ad campaign has been released – this time starring US Olympic Snowboarder Shaun White! The first ad featured Olympic Alpine Ski Racer Mikaela Shiffrin, and the second featured US Olympic Figure Skater Nathan Chen. Watch the third ad below:

The ad showcases White training for the half-pipe event on a snowy mountain range – similar to the first two spots. Jurassic inspired music returns as he begins his descent. At the peak of his first jump, White is suddenly eye to eye with an apatosaurus towering above the trees. He stops on the edge of the half-pipe, and the apatosaur brings its neck down to his level. Its breath fogs his goggles, prompting him to remove them and stand in awe of the massive creature. The ad once again ends with a promo card for the Winter Olympics beginning February 3rd on NBC and ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ in theaters June 10th.

The third entry in the ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ x NBC Winter Olympics crossover ad campaign boasts epic visuals and music, countered by a majestic close encounter between Shaun White and a massive apatosaur. These ads have provided a fun beginning to the upcoming film’s advertising. It seems one more possible date to watch for this crossover is February 4th at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Olympics on NBC. Stay tuned Jurassic fans; the ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ marketing has only just begun.

What are your thoughts on these ads? Tell us in the comments below and follow Jurassic Outpost for the latest news!

Images and video courtesy of Adweek and NBC Sports.

Parasaurs Roam Free Alongside US Figure Skater Nathan Chen in New ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ NBC Olympics Ad!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

“They do move in herds.“

The second of three ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ x NBC Winter Olympics crossover ads has been released, this time featuring US Olympic Figure Skater Nathan Chen! The first ad featured Olympic Alpine Ski Racer Mikaela Shiffrin, and the third ad will feature US Olympic Snowboarder Shaun White. Watch the newest ad below:

The ad begins as Chen trains for the upcoming Winter Olympics on a frozen lake, high in a snow-covered mountain range. A herd of parasaurolophus stampede through a ravine towards him as Jurassic inspired music begins. It crescendos as the group stops along the bank of the frozen lake, creating a moment of awe before the magnificent creatures. The leader of the herd and Chen lock eyes for a moment before the group bolts away into the snowy distance. The ad ends with a promo card for the Winter Olympics beginning February 3rd on NBC and ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ in theaters June 10th.

This second entry in the ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ x NBC Winter Olympics crossover ad campaign really ups the concept of the first a bit and brings in some beautiful music and dinosaurs to boot. Who knows what the next ad and the culmination of this campaign will bring! What do you think of these ads? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest news!

Images and video courtesy of NBC Sports.

‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ Marketing Campaign to begin with Winter Olympics tie-in on the TODAY Show!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

NBCUniversal has just announced via press release their marketing plans for the upcoming Winter Olympics and Super Bowl XLVI, and within those plans is some big Jurassic World: Dominion news!

From the initial press preview:

“NBCU will involve all of its platforms for both the Olympics and Super Bowl build-up, including with Universal Studios a Jurassic World x Olympics promo launch on Jan. 21, five cross-company roadblocks, SUV and Chrisley Knows Best custom promotions and $40 million in local and affiliate support.”

Speaking further in the press release, representatives from NBCU shared:

“And if that wasn’t big enough, we’re going colossal and partnering with Universal Films to leverage our blockbuster movie franchise Jurassic World.  These Olympians are about to face a challenge they never saw coming in a world they never imagined, more details are coming this Friday on the TODAY show.”

This is exciting news as it seems the marketing campaign for Jurassic World: Dominion is hatching tomorrow! To set expectations: this is not the trailer, but the beginning of a marketing campaign that could culminate with it. In a recent media event, NBCUniversal promised an even larger pay off for the Dominion marketing during the Super Bowl on February 13th:

“We will capitalize on the Halley’s Comet (visible from the Earth only once every 75 years) of media moments, because there is simply nothing bigger than having the two biggest media events together at NBC Sports: the Super Bowl and the Olympics on the same day and on the same network,” Jenny Storms, CMO, entertainment and sports, NBCUniversal, said during the presentation.”

Be sure and tune in to the TODAY Show tomorrow morning – January 21st, Jurassic fans — and hold on to your butts, because there is lots more to come! Stay tuned.

‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ Game ‘Primal Ops’ Releases on IOS!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

The Jurassic World: Dominion game ‘Primal Ops’ has just been released in a limited fashion for iOS! The game features real-time Jurassic World action-combat gameplay, strategic dinosaur companions, challenging missions, dinosaur rescues, and a “create your own” play style with epic power-ups hidden in each mission. Read our previous coverage of this game here.

Watch the first gameplay trailer below:

‘Primal Ops’ contains some fun gameplay options and missions, which are detailed in the App Store description:

The action-adventure mobile game of the Jurassic World universe.

Jurassic World Primal Ops is a thrilling top-down action-adventure game where only you can save the dinosaurs from another extinction. As an elite battle-trained dinosaur handler, your mission is to travel across North America, rescuing dinosaurs from malicious mercenaries, formidable poachers, and sinister scientists.

Luckily, you’re not alone. The dinosaurs you rescue from your Dinosaur Collection are companions capable of turning the tide in any battle. Each dinosaur added to your roster can be called on to fight by your side, using their unique abilities to powerful effect. Build lasting bonds with your favorite dinosaurs and overcome any challenge standing in your way.

A PRIMAL WORLD

Life as we know it has changed. Dinosaurs freely roam the Earth once again. Expand on the story of Jurassic World with a thrilling new narrative adventure featuring an expansive cast of allies, foes, and a huge primal world to discover.

SEARCH & RESCUE

Dinosaurs are no longer extinct, but many stand determined to keep them endangered. It’s up to you to infiltrate enemy camps, gain intel, and rescue wild, captured, or wounded dinosaurs from three villainous factions.

BUILD YOUR DINOSAUR COLLECTION

Every rescued dinosaur will be added to your Dinosaur Collection and made available as an ally. There are dozens of dinosaurs to collect, each with unique abilities to aid you on your mission.

BATTLE TOGETHER

Nothing levels a playing field like a T.rex. From trampling Triceratops to supply-dropping Pteranodons, use the unique abilities of your dinosaur companions to overcome challenges in combat, with each one bringing a new dynamic to the battlefield.

EXPLORE & UPGRADE

Explore North America seeking out dinosaur eggs, DNA strands, and the many secrets hidden throughout its landscapes. Use these collectibles to level up and strengthen your dinosaur companions, furthering your bond and unlocking new abilities. Jurassic World Primal Ops is available in English.

Official Licensed Product. Jurassic World Primal Ops © 2022 Universal City Studios LLC and Amblin Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Game developed by Behaviour Interactive Inc.

While this mobile game is currently a soft release, only available in a few countries, and interestingly without an official announcement or website, it’s exciting that it’s making its way into the world.

What do you think about this game, and will you be playing? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest news!

Colin Trevorrow Shares New ‘JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION’ Parasaurolophus Image!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

After an image of Owen and a parasaurolophus in the Sierra Nevadas was revealed earlier this week, Jurassic World: Dominion director Colin Trevorrow took to social media to reveal another new image of the species from his time shooting the film.

“What species is this?”

This parasaur seems to be in the same snowy environment as the image with Owen. Interestingly, both the Owen image and this new image feature re-designs in relation to past parasaurs in the Jurassic franchise. In response to a little speculation and confusion about the species, Trevorrow clarified:

“The pompadour! Elvis!”

As far as the re-design is concerned, it could find its explanation in these dinosaurs being made by a company other than InGen (BioSyn, perhaps?). Trevorrow laid some of the groundwork for this type of plot explanation in an interview with Jurassic Outpost shortly after Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom‘s release, which you can read here. While the image from earlier this week is CG, this latest parasaurolophus is a maquette used for visual reference during production on Dominion – and we have to say, it is beautiful.

What do you think about this parasaurolophus image and its implications for Jurassic World: Dominion? Comment below with your thoughts and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest news!

New ‘JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION’ Image And Details Revealed!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Entertainment Weekly has revealed a new image and some interesting plot information in the Jurassic World: Dominion exclusive from its 2022 Preview, on newsstands this Friday.

The featured image finds Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady “rounding up parasaurs in the Sierra Nevadas,” according to director Colin Trevorrow. This parasaur sports a completely new design, different from any past entry in the Jurassic franchise. Trevorrow continued:

“He’s not too far from where the dinosaurs got out in the last film. The parasaurs are in danger of being poached. There’s a lot of shady types out there who want to get their hands on dinosaurs, so he’s working to protect them.”

Trevorrow went on to elaborate on a couple of plot elements from Dominion, saying:

“They [the dinosaurs] have been multiplying and living amongst us and clashing with us … Dominion is set all over the world, through many different environments: wilderness, urban, desert, snow. It’s exciting to see these creatures navigate environments that they weren’t built to survive in. They grew up in a theme park and now they’re here!”

According to the article, Dominion takes place four years after 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – enough time for dinosaurs to have found a way to spread around the globe. Owen and Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire are still attempting to save the dinosaurs when the film starts. When asked where exactly Claire is, Trevorrow responded:

“I don’t want to say just yet … But she’s at a point where she’s questioning her methods, and whether she can stay safe and fulfill the responsibility that she has to the other people in her life that care about her.”

Equally intriguing is what Trevorrow had to say about Campbell Scott’s Lewis Dodgson:

“He is the main villain throughout both of [Crichton’s] novels, and I think what Campbell’s done with the character is just amazing. I can’t wait for people to see it.”

That’s a strong hint that Dodgson will play a big role in Dominion.

The new image and story details revealed in this Entertainment Weekly exclusive are very exciting. You can read their full article here.

Check out our full video breakdown of the new image and Dominion information below:

This film is looking fantastic from what we’ve seen so far. What do you think about this new still and plot information? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for all the latest news!

FUNKO Announces New JURASSIC WORLD: THE LEGACY OF ISLA NUBLAR Board Game!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Funko Games‘ acclaimed design studio Prospero Hall has announced a new board game: Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar, slated for release in 2022!

The game was first teased back in September, and Polygon shared the exclusive reveal today.

View the full First Look at Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar video below:

From Funko Games‘ full press release:

Prospero Hall Reveals Details of Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar Legacy Tabletop Game

With more than 24 hours of thrilling customizable adventures, Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar will be coming to Kickstarter in March 2022.

“Life finds a way,” and so does the passionate team at Prospero Hall, the acclaimed development studio of Funko Games, who has created a legacy game based on a blockbuster entertainment franchise — Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar, which will be launching on Kickstarter on March 22, 2022. First Look Known for its inventive game mechanics and gorgeous design, Prospero Hall delivers more than 24 hours of customizable, unique gameplay that transforms into an endlessly re-playable board game upon completion of the final adventure.

The game concept, based on the Jurassic World franchise from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, was announced this September at Gen Con. The game takes you through storylines found in all five films in the Jurassic World franchise – from the creation of “Jurassic Park,” through the fall of the “Jurassic World” theme park! Over the course of 12 thrilling adventures, you will transform Isla Nublar into an astonishing paradise, build your own vision of the theme park, and breed new dinosaurs.  Each adventure takes about two hours to complete – delivering more than 24 hours of rich, immersive game play experiences.

Players can team up and play as familiar characters such as Dr. John Hammond, Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler, Claire Dearing, Owen Grady, and more fan favorites and all new characters while developing the park and unlocking new dinosaurs. Each decision made during play will uniquely and permanently affect the course of the game, resulting in dramatically different outcomes.

“We always aim to create games we want to play around stories and characters we love most,” said Deirdre Cross, Vice President of Prospero Hall.  “This project has been in development for years, which has allowed us to experiment and innovate.  We believe we are redefining the legacy game genre in a way that will surprise and delight tabletop and Jurassic World fans.”

 Gameplay begins with detailed miniatures of four dinosaurs: Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor, Brachiosaurus, and Triceratops. As players research and expand the park, they will unlock more dinosaurs from the mystery boxes while keeping park employees and visitors safe.  The players’ experience will culminate in an endlessly replayable game shaped by their own unique park.

Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar will be coming to Kickstarter on March 22, 2022 for $120, distributed by Funko Games.  Weighing a whopping 7 pounds, Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublarhas a unique 1950s art style inspired by the comic books and media that influenced the creation of the beloved franchise. 

Those interested in learning more about the game are encouraged to follow the Kickstarter page at funkogames.com/JWLKickstarter for updates and to be notified on launch day.

About Prospero Hall:

Prospero Hall is a collaborative game design studio in Seattle, Washington. Each of our projects starts with a vision – the kind of game we want to make, the vibe, the look and feel, the reason for it to exist. Today, all games developed by Prospero Hall are published by Funko Games and deliver inventive game mechanics and engaging stories for shared experiences that bring fans and families back to the table again and again.

About the JURASSIC WORLD Franchise:

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 $5 billion film series delivers a larger-than-life destination for exploration, discovery, and epic adventure. Dinosaurs live again and they live in Jurassic World. Jurassic World: Dominion debuts in theaters June 2022.

Funko Games will also be sharing an exclusive first look at Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar at PAX Unplugged 2021:

You can view a few gorgeous images of the game and gameplay below:

We are sold on this game on the fantastic artwork and font choices alone. You can view and support its Kickstarter here.

What do you think? Are you excited for the release of this new game? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for all Jurassic news!

Images courtesy of Prospero Hall and Funko Games.

Artist William Stout Shares ‘Escape From Jurassic Park’ Animated Series Insights at SDCC 2021 Special Edition Panel!

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

William Stout, whose book The Dinosaurs: A Fantastic New View of a Lost Era inspired Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, presented a “Spotlight on William Stout” panel at San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition this weekend, and we were fortunate enough to attend. During the presentation he shared some very fun insights into his work on the ‘Escape From Jurassic Park’ animated series as well as stories from his career in the art and film industries – most interestingly those from his time in the world of Jurassic Park.

William Stout’s career spans more than 50 years, and his love for dinosaurs spans even longer. He wrote and illustrated his book The Dinosaurs: A Fantastic New View of a Lost Era in order to incorporate and share new discoveries about dinosaurs’ lives and behavior.

One of his first major film credits was Conan The Barbarian, and he first met Kathleen Kennedy (producer/executive producer of the first three Jurassic Park films) in the production office of that film. Through Kennedy and other connections in the industry, his name was in conversations surrounding the production of Jurassic Park in the early 1990s. Stout was among those considered by Steven Spielberg to be the production designer for the film. Though he was very interested and thought he could’ve been perfect for the job, Spielberg later chose Rick Carter (who did an incredible job). When asked about this, Stout said:

“There are a couple of sayings in Hollywood: ‘The more perfect you are for a job, the less likely it is that you’ll get it’ and also ‘The more you want a job, the less likely it is that you’ll get it.’ I really wanted the job. It was the only job I ever really pursued employment on. Others just came to me. I also think they were worried based on my prior knowledge of dinosaurs that I might suggest something that Spielberg didn’t want, which I never would have done. I was extremely interested in the job and pursued it very hard, harder than any other job in my career. And sometimes the jobs you pursue that hard are the ones you end up not getting.”

Stout certainly would have had a very unique take on the production of Jurassic Park. He remains a huge fan despite it all.

When asked about his time working on ‘Escape From Jurassic Park’, Stout said:

“Working on the Jurassic Park animated series was so fantastic for me. It was heavily inspired by European and German comic book series – not only the humans but the dinosaurs as well. It was meant for primetime, and for adults and family members. It was not gonna be a kiddie show, and they were gonna use a lot of CG animation to do the vehicles and things. We shot a trailer for it that was just incredible. But about the time they decided they would show it to Steven Spielberg (because they needed his final blessing on the project), he had been so inundated with Jurassic Park merchandising and marketing that he was sick of it. He didn’t even look at the trailer, he just said ‘Nah, I don’t even wanna do it.'”

The unfortunate cancellation of the series is truly a shame. It sounds incredible every time it comes up in conversation, and it seems Stout really loved working on it. The image above, according to Stout, was “inspired by zookeepers feeding Condors at the San Diego Zoo.” You can view some of his concept artwork for ‘Escape From Jurassic Park’ in the gallery below. Read our exclusive coverage of the full season one plot of ‘Escape From Jurassic Park’ here.

What do you think about these new insights and stories from William Stout? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned for more Jurassic coverage from San Diego Comic-Con!

Images and concept art courtesy of William Stout. Visit his website to see his incredible Jurassic works and more!