Hawaiian media shares footage of dinosaurs on Jurassic World 2 set; “big news” coming soon!

Today’s news is twofold, as the Jurassic World Sequel continues filming in Hawaii. First up, comes the numerous images from the Jurassic World 2 sets at the He’eia Kea Pier, some including practical dinosaurs! As we do with any image not released by the production, I want to give a fair ‘potential spoilers’ warning – though it’s worth noting the media was permitted by the production to take and share these images.

First up we have a Triceratops inside of a transport cage, via Mahealani Richardson on Instagram:

I just saw a dinosaur in a cage! It's a triceratops. #jurassicworld2

A post shared by Mahealani Richardson (@maheatv) on

Dinosaurs in transport cages? Interesting! Perhaps this has something to do with the “save the dinosaurs” plot lines that were previously hinted at?

We had first seen this Triceratops via another user on Instagram a few days prior, which we’ve embeded below. As you can see from the image, this is not an animatronic dinosaur, but rather a low detail foam model, used as a stand in. The dinosaur will eventually be replaced with CGI in post production, and likely serves as something for the actors to naturally work with, and lighting reference.

Next up, we have a few images of a Stegosaurus stand-in (again, we do not believe it to be a animatronic, but rather a prop that will be replaced with a CGI recreation). This image comes via Mackenzie Stasko of KITV, and was first brought to our attention by Reel News Hawaii:

Reel News Hawaii also shared this image that included both the Triceratops and Stegosaurus together in the same shot:

While the Triceratops seems smaller than its Jurassic Park counterpart, that Stegosaurs looks HUGE! You can catch a preview of tonight’s newscasts, which have more footage below via Mahealani Richardson once again:

Check back soon – if the newscast airs and includes new footage, we will be sure to post!

The second bit of news, and perhaps the most exciting comes via producer Frank Marshall who took to Twitter to promise “big” Jurassic World 2 news soon – as Thursday the 22nd marks the ‘1-year until release’ date (in the US), our money is on it dropping then. Some have suggested this means set images via Entertainment Weekly, mirroring the news release schedule from Jurassic World in 2014, while others have their money on a title and logo.

If we’re really lucky, perhaps we will get a mix of both?

Not that we had any question, but Frank also confirmed that we will once again return to Isla Nublar, the fictional island seen in Jurassic Park and Jurassic World (Isla Sorna, the second island with dinosaurs on it, appeared in The Lost World and Jurassic Park 3). We’re thrilled to go back to the home of the two parks, and hope we can once again return to iconic locations such as the visitors center, alongside all new locales.

While the big news hasn’t been confirmed as dropping tomorrow, we do recommend you keep your eyes on our site and on social media. Until then, sound off in the comments below, and let us know what you want from the upcoming news and if you’re happy with the returning dinosaurs!

Source: Reel News Hawaii, Mahealani Richardson, Mackenzie Stasko, Frank Marshall

We’ve got the scoop on the future Jurassic World toys from Mattel! (spoiler free) #JurassicJune

The year is 1993 – Kenner releases the Jurassic Park toy line which shaped many of our childhoods. From there on, Kenner (and eventually Hasbro when they entirely overtook Kenner and their products) made Jurassic Park toy lines. Whether it was a spin-off like ‘Chaos Effect’, ‘Jurassic Park: Dinosaurs’ or ‘Camo-X-Treme’ or a film line, the franchise was handled by the same company.

Most recently, Hasbro released the ‘Jurassic World’ toy line in 2015 – and to be blunt, the toys were not good. Velociraptors were missing their sickle claws, toys were poorly sculpted, poorly and cheaply painted, prone to breaking, and riddled with gaping screw holes. Not to mention, there was no sense of size consistency in the line, and it did not feature traditional human action figures. Fans were bummed.

Apparently, so was Universal Pictures – while Hasbro began to improve the quality with much better paint application on 2016’s ‘Dino Hybrid’ line, they lost the license that summer to Mattel. This is now uncharted territory – and truth be told, when I first heard the news I wasn’t excited. Mattel has no current lineups that prove they could do the classic Jurassic style of lineup (which is quite similar to current Star Wars offerings from Hasbro), and Hasbro had just put out some of the best Jurassic Park toys ever a few years back (see: Jurassic Park 2009/2011).

Art by James Flames, click for full

Let me just jump to the point: I was wrong to doubt Mattel. While the final quality of the toys remains to be seen, the lineup style is what fans have wanted and true to the legacy of Jurassic Park.

Recently, Mattel held a showcase for vendors, licencors, and more where they showed off their in-development and upcoming lines. As you can imagine, Jurassic World was there – and from what we have heard, it was easily the biggest highlight of any Mattel offering. We’re going to avoid going into too deep into specifics, as certain items will spoil future surprises, including things about the new film.

However, this is the lay of the land for the upcoming Jurassic World toys from Mattel (the images used below are from past Jurassic Park offerings, and used for demonstrative purposes only):

3 3/4″ Human Action Figures ($10)

Yes, human action figures are back – they will be roughly 3 3/4″ tall, and in scale with past Hasbro offerings. They will follow the Kenner styling of including a small or hatchling dinosaur, and some gear/weapons. However, from our understanding the gear skews more towards collectors than play factor (as in Dr. Ian Malcolm includes a film accurate flare – not a net launcher) – and the toys have articulation that will surely please.

Basic Dinosaur Figures ($10)

The bread and butter of the line – the dinosaurs are back! Roughly 6″ long, these are comparable to the basic non-electronic dinosaurs of the Kenner toy lines (or the Bash & Bites from Jurassic World). Much like classic Kenner, these dinosaurs are not dressed with permanent mortal wounds, and have simple articulation tied to a basic action feature. One of my favorite bits of news: size of the dinosaurs are considered when choosing what type of toy to make. There will be no miniature adult Tyrannosaurs – it will focus on smaller species like Velociraptor, and Gallimimus.

ROARIVORES (Electronic Dinosaur Figures) ($15)

Slightly larger than the basic dinosaur figures, these toys focus on electronic roars tied to a biting mechanism. They again do not have open wounds, and while they are not posed as neutrally as classic Kenner toys, they are less awkard than the Jurassic Park 3 offerings. Again, the size of the dinosaurs were considered when developing these toys – so at this time, there are no electronic Velociraptors, but rather species of a larger size will be focused on.

SUPER STRIKE DINOS  (Deluxe Dinosaur Figures) ($20)

Slightly larger than the electronic figures, these hearken back to the classic non electronic Kenner dinosaurs of the medium size. An example that was described to use was a Stegosaurus with a tail swinging action that was very Kenner in looks. However, it was apparently closer in size to the JP 2013 Dino Showdows Pachyrhinosaurs.

Large Dinosaur Figures (prices vary)

Yes, they have a Tyrannosaurus Rex (two in fact!) and we have heard both steal the show. We’re going to avoid describing them anymore, as they’re worth waiting for the official reveal to be surprised! But it’s worth noting that there are more than Tyrannosaurs in the large scale, and some figures use a “Real feel” latex/rubber, have action features, and electronic roars.

Vehicles (prices vary)

Not much to say other than they’re film accurate, look awesome, and are scaled to the human figures. Everything in this line is sized correctly, much like the classic Kenner toys. The classic Jurassic Park Jeep has a few details super fans are sure to LOVE!

Matchbox (prices vary)

Gone are the fictional vehicles – they’re being replaced with small film accurate vehicles from all five films! Some include small dinosaurs, and the entire lineup was described as similar to the Micro Machines (but bigger) sold alongside The Lost World. This includes some very cool playsets based upon movie moments!

Games (prices vary)

There will be games – including something tied to pivotal plot elements of Jurassic World 2!

Various ‘smart’/electronic toys (prices vary)

Drones, remote control vehicles, and more! While a lot of these won’t be cheap, they do offer great modern play functionality.

Some key notes: Mattel’s first Jurassic World lineup will be called something similar to ‘Jurassic World: The Classic Collection’. This lineup is scheduled to hit stores late this year or early next year, and is mainly based upon the first Jurassic Park. While they boast film accuracy for all their items, it does seem to also borrow from Kenner by featuring dinosaurs never seen in the films.

Sometime early spring (mid April) in 2018 the Jurassic World 2 toys will begin to arrive in stores. Much like the classic Jurassic line, it boasts film accuracy and a multitude of figures and offerings. From there, the line should continue to populate shelves with new waves featuring figures from the latest sequel, or past films. There are apparently quite a few more classes/skus of toys from Mattel than those listed above, so there are plenty of surprises in store!

It’s worth noting that some of the basic dinosaur figures were described as slightly exaggerated looking, with proportions and poses that were more cartoony than realistic. Our hope is that between now and release, those items will be refined and perfected to better match their film counterparts (and proper realistic anatomical poses). Otherwise, we’re thrilled by what the line is slated to offer, and cannot wait to see photo’s from it – there are quite a few more surprises Mattel has up their sleeves, so stay tuned!

As always, sound off in the comments and let us know what dinosaurs, characters, and vehicles you want toys for. Happy #JurassicJune, everyone!

Footage emerges of Jurassic World 2 filming in England! (Potential Spoilers)

Jurassic World 2 has been filming in England since February 23rd, 2017 with most of the action taking place at the legendary Pinewood Studios. However, images have occasionally emerged from more public locations such as Slough, Hawley Commons, and Hartland Park, all of which are being used by the production. However, until now, the actual filming has remained unseen.

This evening some local fans witnessed cameras rolling on the upcoming Jurassic Park sequel, and while the footage is nondescript, we still would like to give a healthy spoiler warning.

Hours ago, the upcoming Jurassic World sequel brought the dinosaurs to the former Pyestock jet engine test site, now known as Hartland Park. While we know they have built a rather large set there, the specifics of the location remain unknown – however, tonight’s action took to the skies, and could be seen from the nearby roadway.

Check out the short video below, where a Helicopter rig is held up high as fake rain pours down, and flashes of light imitate lightning from a roaring thunderstorm!

While it’s understandably tough to see until the artificial lighting flashes, there appears to be a crew inside the helicopter with a rope ladder hanging below. On said rope ladder in an individual in a yellow rain jacket, not dissimilar to those worn in Jurassic Park – whether that person is climbing up or down is unclear, but either way it seems to be a very cool tense scene! Rain is an element that has come into play in every Jurassic film except for World, so we’re all thrilled to have it back.  For a better look at the scene, take a look at this image still below!

We don’t know what’s happening in the scene, but we’re willing to bet on one thing: it includes dinosaurs! As an aside, while we’re all thrilled to see footage from the fifth Jurassic Park film, we do want to remind local fans to respect laws, property lines, and security – not to mention think twice if you happen to see something really juicy.

We try our best to self filter the content that is put on this site, and avoid sharing the real spoilers, but this obviously walks a fine line. We do not want to spoil the story and experience that the filmmakers want to share, but also report on the bigger news as it occurs. As for not trespassing, not only is it illegal, it’s for your safety as well as the cast and crews – a live set can be a dangerous place, especially with heavy filming machinery.

Now that we got that PSA out of the way, are you excited to see rain in Jurassic World 2, and what do you think is happening in the scene above? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for the all the latest of everything Jurassic!

Source: @sickkgirl_ 

It Seems Jurassic World 2 Sets Are Currently Being Constructed in Minley, Surrey (UK)

In just two weeks time cameras will start rolling at Pinewood Studios for Jurassic World 2. Actors are beginning to show up in London to start principle photography on the sequel, with newcomers James Cromwell and Ted Levine having just been announced.

Minley Manor

We recently heard a rumor that added another filming location (Harrow, London) to the list, and now we have received some substantial information that puts the area of Minley, Surrey in the spotlight. The location is roughly an hour’s drive from Pinewood Studios, and permits for filming and set building have been awarded to the production.

We first received an email with some information on sets being constructed on “Army Training grounds” in Minley, leading us to this location, which has been used previously for films such as The Avengers, Stardust, and Die Another Day. While we’ve learned Jurassic World 2 won’t be filming at the Manor itself, after receiving more information and corroborating filming/construction permits we were able to determine that the film will be utilizing the surrounding area of Hawley Common, and the former Pyestock Jet Engine test site.

Hawley Common will be used for “primary set build, filming and support areas, including parking and unit base.” Filming at Hawley Common is set to begin on Tuesday 18th April and will wrap on Tuesday 2nd May, with construction and deconstruction taking place before and after. The breakdown for set build and sequences is as follows (refer to above picture for reference):

  • Location 1 (lower location): Set construction at the western end of the hardstanding, consisting of rear elevation of a house. Scripted action to involve an approach from the east by vehicles and cast on foot. Cast subsequently flee in response to a dramatic event. Scene to be modified by VFX in post production. [may use atmospheric smoke machines]
  • Location 2 (upper location): Set construction at south east end of location, comprising elements of the front elevation of a house. Dressing in front of set (including vegetation props) to create grand approach to imagined structure. Vehicles are seen arriving at the location. Scene to be modified with VFX in post production. [may use atmospheric smoke machines]

They will also be filming only at night nearby at the former Pyestock Jet Engine test site (Hartland Park, Bramshot Lane, Farnborough), which consists of one large set, a basecamp, and a helicopter landing zone. The breakdown is as follows (refer to picture above for reference)

  • This set build space contains 4-5 set structures, the tallest being 11 meters high. These structures will primarily be used as backdrop for filming activity. Helicopter landing zone is attached adjacent to structures. Scene involves use of a Bell Huey Helicopter and wind machines.

From the information we have discovered, both sites will be used for extensive set building, heavy vehicle use, heavy lighting use, and green screen usage. The Hartland Park locale is fairly open, though we imagine the sets will be locked from easy view via security measure. The site at Hawley Common is an MoD Army Training Area attached to the Royal Engineers Gibraltar Barracks, and the surrounding area contains numerous hiking/bike trails open to the public. Anyone walking those paths may be able to see some filming activity, which is always cool!

Pyestock filming location

While it is unclear exactly what they will be filming here – especially considering we know absolutely nothing about the plot (and I do hope it stays that way!) – we have been informed that there will be extensive vehicle movements during the different phases of filming. Peak levels “include 150-200 cars, shuttle busses and 20-25 lorries.” Locals eager to catch a glimpse of the production should look out for vehicles from Pinewood Studios, or signs referring to a production called ‘Ancient Futures’!

What do we take from this information? Nothing, really. Set building on large, open sites is not uncommon and is often cheaper than using the sound stages at nearby studios. Due to Star Wars using a large number of the Pinewood stages, it’s unclear how much access Jurassic World 2 actually has at the site, which would lead to them utilizing nearby land. Jurassic World built the Main Street set in the parking lot of the abandoned Six Flags in New Orleans, and used plate shots of Hawaii to replace the background (see below).

     

In somewhat related news, Jurassic World Spain uncovered a photo that actress Daniella Pineda posted – and then swiftly deleted – which possibly hints at the new title for the sequel. Her thumb covers the word after “Jurassic” in the gift card, although it’s likely the word was either World or Five. I guess that means Jurassic Thumb is confirmed.

Stay tuned for more news and information and be sure to follow us on Twitter!

Source: hart.gov.uk

New website domains may hint at the premise of Jurassic World 2!

It’s now 2017, and the still untitled Jurassic World sequel begins filming this year. In fact, it begins filming in just one month at the end of February! While nothing official has been revealed about the plot yet, some tantalizing details have been hinted at by director J.A. Bayona, and writer/producer Colin Trevorrow. By piecing together what they have said, and coupling it with newly uncovered domains purchased by Universal Pictures we may finally know the Jurassic World 2 premise.

The two new domains purchased are certainly tied to the Jurassic World sequel, and are both key to deciphering the plot, but not on their own – we must first decode their meaning from hints about the story which the production team have given prior.

(Warning: while this article is pure speculation based upon interviews and domains, mild spoilers may exist)

We know Jurassic World 2 will be a darker/scarier, more serious film than its predecessor and more akin to the first Jurassic Park tackling more complex themes. While that sounds awesome, it doesn’t tell us much about the plot. Thankfully, more specific hints were given:

So, now the real kicker – the domains Universal Pictures purchased December 15th, 2016 : IslaNublarRescueMission.com and AllCreaturesHaveRights.com (and .org). The former is likely a website planned to be directly related to the film, while the latter may be something viral (like MasraniGlobal.com).

New Universal Pictures domains tied to Jurassic World 2

First things first, we are returning to Isla Nublar (the home of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World) – and the story will presumably revolve around a rescue mission. Our first thought was that we have already seen a rescue story twice, once with The Lost World (Sarah Harding), and twice with Jurassic Park 3 (Eric Kirby) – but then we began thinking about the other domain, which hearkens back to the plot points shared above. Could the rescue mission not be to save human life, but rather dinosaur life – which certainly mankind is responsible for creating?

It stands to reason that after the Jurassic World incident, not only has the park closed, but the fate of the island may be in question. We have no doubt that that world will be a little less fond of having an island full of escaped, breeding dinosaurs – the threat of them becoming free in less isolated ecosystems is nothing short of hazardous. Invasive species of the non extinct variety already threaten the delicate balance of the food-chain in the real world: letting these creatures loose could have longstanding effects, creating the very chaotic butterfly effect Ian Malcolm predicted in 1993. So, again, after the Jurassic World incident it would not surprise us if the governments of the world are humoring their destruction for the ‘greater good’.

Bary and Blue – Jurassic World (2015)

Thus sparks the debate: would a mass euthanization be ethical? Do these extinct animals have rights, or are they simply dangerous corporate property? As this debate likely rages on (and for good reason, we’d be pro-dinosaur, but it’s foolish not to consider the danger they present to the natural ecosystem) certain more empathetic parties will wish to take action, to protect the animals. Those who had a hand in their creation (such as Claire Dearing) have all the more motivation to get their hands dirty in protecting them – and of course Owen Grady would have more reasons than most to protect their livelihood, due to his relationship with Blue the Velociraptor.

We feel confident in saying Jurassic World 2 features a rescue mission on Isla Nublar to protect the dinosaurs (due to the domains), but the real question is from what (and is that the full story)? It’s certainly plausible that government entities wish to firebomb the island, much like the end of the first novel – but the more we thought about that, the less it made sense. Where could they bring the dinosaurs to live which both escapes those who sought to destroy them, while not needlessly presenting a risk to mainland ecosystems? We know Masrani Global owns Isla Sorna as well, but again, if Nublar was to be destroyed by outside forces, why not the other island? Now enters the third piece of the puzzle.

Concept Art – Jurassic World (2015) – Seth Engstrom

In late November, one of our team members Ryan saw an update to JurassicWorld.com – it featured an image of a Volcano, with the word ‘EPOCH’ in bold text over-top of it. When he clicked the link, it brought him to a non-existent page, and upon clicking back the image was gone. Our theory is that Universal was toying around with a Jurassic World 2 title and premise reveal, and that Epoch is part of the larger title (The Next Epoch: Jurassic World, perhaps?) and accidentally published too soon. So, humoring this, using a Volcano in the imagery was likely significant – we know one exists on Isla Nublar (Mount Sibo) – could the force that threatens the existence of these animals be an imminent eruption?

Jurassic World film materials showcasing a Volcano

Jurassic World originally involved lots of artwork with Volcanoes, and even one of the toys showcased this concept. The Volcano is featured on the park brochure, website, and in-universe map (seen as Owen preps to use the Velociraptors with InGen). Colin Trevorrow has previously stated that the Jurassic World films were envisioned as a trilogy, and it’s likely the inclusion of this volcano was carefully planned to enable the sequel.

With all the above information, here is our best guess at a synopsis:

As an imminent volcanic eruption (or government sanctioned firebombing) threatens the fate of Isla Nublar and the dinosaurs on it, a fierce debate erupts in favor of their destruction. Despite arguments against this, Claire Dearing and Owen Grady feel a certain responsibility to launch a rescue mission to try to relocate the animals somewhere safe.

Now of course, we have no idea how Dr. Wu and InGen factor into this story concept – nor do we have any real clue if we’re on the right track or not -but time will tell! As much that remains unknown, the domains purchased certainly paint an interesting picture about the future of the franchise. Jurassic World 2 begins filming in London this February 27th, and stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, BD Wong, Justice Smith, Toby Jones, and Rafe Spall – surely news is around the corner so stay tuned.

What do you think of our latest theory? Do you agree, or do you think IslaNublarRescueMission.com and AllCreaturesHaveRights.com point to a different story line? Sound off in the comments below, and let us know!

Is the cancelled Jurassic World video game back in development?

Is the ‘cancelled’ Jurassic World video game back in development? We’ve heard yes. Before we dive into that bit, lets recap what we know about the game:

Developed with Unreal Engine 4, Cryptic Studios Seattle was planning to release the game as a digital download title on Steam, Xbox Live, and Playstation Network. It was described as a high budget, open world third person shooter action/adventure game. Allegedly, the title had MMO-like elements not unlike those seen in H1Z1.

Set on Isla Nublar, the player controlled Chris Pratt’s character, Owen. Several dinosaurs from the series were going to be in it, including: Gallimimus, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, Spinosaurus, Pteranodon, Ankylosaurus and Baryonyx. It’s unclear exactly how the game played and what its general plot focus would have been, but it was likely more mission/quest based with little focus on a story.

jurassicparkarcade(A screenshot from the Telltale Jurassic Park game)

Flash forward to now: about a month back we were emailed by an individual who wished to remain anonymous, and was claiming that the game was back in development. To the best of our ability, we validated the authenticity of the persons claim through a small series of communications with them. Here’s what they had to say:

“It was back in development at a different studio by the time those artists shared their work from it, but they were unaware. They assumed that their contracts were void and NDA’s fulfilled as the initial development studio had closed, and went and shared the work. Once your site picked up on the story it spread like wildfire, and the publisher Perfect World cracked down HARD on them because it was still very much alive. The issue wasn’t that people knew the game existed, but rather so many key assets leaked. Plus the cancellation news coupled with the imagery immersed the project and IP holders with with negative attention, rather than positive.”

At this time, we’re unsure if and how the games assets, story and scope have changed. Considering it was close to being released on Steam Early Access last June, it seems likely the game has evolved into something larger and more comprehensive. While we’re unsure when the game will be formally announced, e3 starts June 14th which is as good of guess as any!

As with any news like this, we do recommend you take it with a healthy sense of understanding, and a grain of salt. We have done our best to validate it, however behind the scenes many gears are always turning, and things can often change. While the game has resumed development, that doesn’t guarantee it won’t be cancelled again – however, that does seem incredibly unlikely.