Author: Derrick Davis

Creator of JURASSIC TIME, the John Hammond Memoir and other features. Author of the upcoming novel INVERTIVERSE.

‘Jurassic Park 3’ Soundtrack By Don Davis Gets A New 2-CD Release!

Posted on by Derrick Davis

La-La Land Records has been hitting a homerun with ‘Jurassic Park’ fans over the years. In 2016, they released a double CD set of expanded and remastered soundtracks for the classic John Williams scores ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park,’ with both getting sperate releases (and even more material) in 2022 & 2023 respectively. This year, they have a new soundtrack release for the franchise’s third film, ‘Jurassic Park 3,’ composed by Don Davis! But what sets it apart from previous releases, and is it a definitive presentation of the score? Let’s take a walk in the park and find out!

In 2001, the soundtrack was released on CD in the form of a 54-minute album via Decca records. Composer Don Davis (‘The Matrix Trilogy’) assembled this 1-CD release himself, combining some cues together to form certain tracks, and arranging it all in his own personal sequence. Unlike the John Williams scores for the prior films, this one is nearly wall-to-wall action (just like the film). While it runs through every scene, it also expertly weaves themes established by Williams in very fun and clever ways. Also included on the album was the 1999 Randy Newman song “Big Hat, No Cattle,” which puzzled fans since it is only briefly heard in the film during an early bar scene in the background. While this album featured a decent amount of the score (about 50 minutes of Davis’s material), it did leave off several noteworthy cues that were heard in the film. Some of these were favorites of those who had seen the film, such as the climactic showdown with the Spinosaurus, expecting to find them on the album but ending up disappointed.

Interesting to note is that this album was an “Enhanced CD.” If put into a computer’s CD or DVD ROM drive, it would open a program with access to special features, including: the film’s trailer, a dinosaur size chart, photos, website access, a text conversation with Don Davis, and a trailer for the unreleased PlayStation game ‘Jurassic Park: Survival.’ (It should be noted that the new 2024 soundtrack release does NOT include any of this content.) While this 2001 CD Album is now out of print, it can at least be bought for relatively cheap prices in the secondary market and is also easily available for digital purchase.

It’s been theorized that because the album’s CD needed extra space for the enhanced content (along with the Randy Newman song), it forced Don Davis to make his arrangement of the cues shorter than perhaps he wanted. This explains why the score’s runtime on the album is about 20 minutes shorter than the albums were for ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park.’ In fact, it could have otherwise included even more additional music, given the format’s size limits of about 80 minutes.

Curiously, about a year after the album was released, an “Academy Promo” CD was sent out for Oscar consideration that found its way online (perhaps by Dennis Nedry?). This longer, unofficial version of the soundtrack contained several additional tracks not included on the commercial Decca release, including many extended film versions of existing tracks. (However, it did not include the Randy Newman song nor any of the “Enhanced CD” content.) Some of the additional highlights include music for when the raptor eggs are discovered in the jungle, the Spinosaurus chasing the group toward the aviary’s entrance, and the film’s entire climax tracks (albeit with a fuller mix and additional orchestrations). Since this wasn’t an official release that one could find in stores, these unique tracks were shared with many fans through internet piracy. Over the past two decades, this was unfortunately the only way for anyone to hear the extended version of the soundtrack apart from watching the film itself.

Now, La-La Land Records presents a brand-new 2024 expanded release. This edition includes both the original soundtrack album, the additional tracks from the Academy promo, & more!

La-La Land Records, Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Decca Records present JURASSIC PARK III, a limited edition 2-CD remastered and expanded presentation of acclaimed composer Don Davis’ (THE MATRIX, THE MATRIX RELOADED, BOUND) original motion picture score to the blockbuster second sequel in the legendary JURASSIC PARK franchise, starring Sam Neill, William H. Macy and Tea Leoni, and directed by Joe Johnston. Expertly interpolating, and building on, maestro John Williams’ iconic JURASSIC themes, composer Davis propels the film’s excitement even further with his own powerhouse, original orchestral material. Expanded and sounding better than ever, JURASSIC PARK III shines brilliantly – it’s robust, thematic high-octane film scoring that finally gets to shine in full within this deluxe release. Produced by Mike Matessino and Neil S. Bulk, newly edited by Bulk and mixed and mastered by Matessino from the original 24 bit film mixes, this 2-CD presentation showcases the original 2001 soundtrack release remastered on Disc 1, with the expanded film score spread across both discs, concluding with additional tracks on Disc 2. The exclusive, in-depth liner notes are by John Takis, including new comments from the composer, while the sharp art design is by Jim Titus, continuing the eye-catching style he employed for our JURASSIC PARK and THE LOST WORLD re-issues. This is a limited edition of 3000 Units.

The presentation of this edition of the score is the opposite of how their 2022 ‘Jurassic Park’ release was done: the original album is on the first CD, followed by the first section of the expanded score, with the rest of it and some additional alternates on the second CD. The release was presented this way due to space limitations on the CD format and their own personal preferences. The original album was included due to unique edits & takes that several of the tracks had and, of course, the Randy Newman song. For those already familiar with the original album, or want to skip to the expanded presentation, you’ll want to begin with track 17 on CD 1.

Right away, we hear something new: the film version of ‘Isla Sorna Sailing Situation.’ The only real addition to this cue is a sustained note near the beginning (as the film’s title cards are appearing on screen, and the water ripples). Other film versions as heard on the Academy promo are present, such as ‘Bone Man Ben,’ ‘Raptor Repartee,’ and ‘Cooper’s Last Stand.’ But what will be exciting for fans of the score are a few other film versions heard for the first time, such as ‘Dinosaur Man,’ ‘The Dinosaur Fly-By,’ and most notably ‘The Raptor Room’ (which includes an alternate segment and a longer moment with the choir). Additional alternates include an alternate opening to ‘Clash Of Extinction’ (a cue not heard in the film in any form), an alternate ending for ‘Raptor In The Cabin,’ and an alternate ending for ‘River Reminiscence.’ A major highlight, presented in extended form, is ‘The Hat Returns / End Credits,’ which showcases the full version of the end credits for the first time (longer, and arranged differently, than what is heard in the film).

However, despite having all of the Academy promo tracks (making those bootlegs of it finally obsolete), and a few other film versions of cues; there are still several missing, without any explanation. Most notably not on this release are film versions (or, what could be vastly different ‘film mixes’ that remove some of the brass and other instruments from their original compositions) of ‘Frenzy Fuselage,’ ‘River Rampage,’ and ‘Paul Makes A Leap.’ What’s interesting is that some of these tracks do have supposed “extended” versions on this release, but when hearing them there are no discernable differences. Listening closely, there are only either very minor performance differences or a sustained note with a longer fadeout at the end. The cues ‘Party Crasher,’ ‘Brachiosaurs On The Bank,’ and ‘Pteranodon Habitat’ have different openings or endings entirely in the film as well, and are also not present here. ‘Pteranodon Habitat’ has a timpani-heavy ending in the film, and while it is not certain if this piece was even composed by Don Davis, it would have been nice to have gleamed some explanation. Unfortunately, the liner notes (while detailed on the film’s history and the making of the score) don’t give us any intel on this topic.

Do these omissions taint the release of this soundtrack? That may depend on how much you were hoping to have those versions of the tracks. Neither me nor Bernard A. Kyer (who provided some details mentioned in this review) were asked to participate in this release like we did for ‘Jurassic Park’ in 2022 and ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ in 2023, so we can’t explain the absence of these film versions. There is a chance that the elements used in the film could not be found, or some strange rights issues, but without any information given we can only speculate. In my personal opinion, I do prefer the fuller orchestrated versions of these tracks that are included rather than what can be heard in the film.

Omissions aside, this is still the best release the ‘Jurassic Park 3’ soundtrack has ever had. The clever cover artwork that matches the prior two releases is fantastic, the sound quality is great, we finally have an official release of the Academy promo’s tracks, and it provides several film versions of cues people have wanted to hear outside of the film ever since it came out. With the original album also included at the beginning, there really is no need to own the previous release unless you want to hang onto the “Enhanced CD” content (if it even works on your computer anymore).

Listen to some sound clips of the new release below, then be sure to order your copy from La-La Land Records today!

TRACK LISTING (with select sound clips):

DISC 1
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ALBUM (54:28)
1 Isla Sorna Sailing Situation 4:21
2 The Dinosaur Fly-By 2:13
3 Cooper’s Last Stand 1:59
4 The Raptor Room 2:35
5 Raptor Repartee 3:04
6 Tree People 2:00
7 Pteranodon Habitat 3:01
8 Tiny Pecking Pteranodons 3:34
9 Billy Oblivion 2:49
10 Brachiosaurus
On The Bank 2:05
11 Nash Calling 3:36
12 Bone Man Ben 7:18
13 Frenzy Fuselage 3:58
14 Clash Of Extinction 1:39
15 The Hat Returns / End Credits 5:07
16 Big Hat, No Cattle 4:24
Performed by Randy Newman

SCORE PRESENTATION (85:07)
17 Isla Sorna Sailing Situation (Film Version) 4:26
18 Dinosaur Man 1:43
19 Udesky, Nash And Cooper 2:29
20 The Raptor Bone 1:18
21 Raptor In The Cabin 1:52
22 The Dinosaur Fly-By (Film Version) 2:28
23 Cooper’s Last Stand (Extended Version) 2:52
24 Frenzy Fuselage (Extended Version) 4:08
25 Clash Of Extinction 1:40
DISC 1 TOTAL TIME: 77:40

DISC 2
SCORE PRESENTATION CONT’D
1 Kirby Paint And Tile Plus 4:07
2 Bone Man Ben (Film Version) 3:39
3 Raptor Eggs 2:54
4 The Raptor Room (Film Version) 2:44
5 Raptor Repartee (Film Version) 3:28
6 Eric To The Rescue 1:52
7 Tree People (Film Version) 2:02
8 Nash Calling 3:36
9 Party Crasher 3:16
10 Pteranodon Habitat 3:01
11 Tiny Pecking Pteranodons (Film Version) 3:24
12 Billy Oblivion (Film Version) 2:54
13 Brachiosaurus On The Bank 2:05
14 Reaching For Glory 2:32
15 River Rampage 2:13
16 Paul Makes The Leap 2:59
17 River Reminiscence 1:07
18 Raptor Harassment 3:41
19 The Hat Returns / End Credits (Extended Version) 10:02

ADDITIONAL MUSIC (13:14)
20 Dinosaur Man (Alternate) 1:43
21 Raptor In The Cabin (Alternate) 1:52
22 Cooper’s Last Stand (Alternate) 2:38
23 Clash Of Extinction (Alternate Opening) 1:46
24 River Rampage (Alternate Ending) 2:11
25 River Reminiscence (Alternate Ending) 1:08
26 Dinosaur Man (With Choir) 1:44
DISC 2 TOTAL TIME: 75:18
TOTAL 2-DISC TIME: 2:32:58

Still available from La-La Land Records are their 2-CD remastered/expanded reissues of ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park!’ Don’t miss your chance to own the ultimate versions of those scores as well!

Note: Additional images of physical product provided by Matthieu Munoz.

Are you going to get this new release of the ‘Jurassic Park 3’ soundtrack? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and as always stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!

‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ Celebrates 25th Anniversary With New Soundtrack Release!

Posted on by Derrick Davis

BBC’s 1999 TV mini-series ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ is one of my favorite dinosaur media productions that has ever been made. It became “the most-watched factual science programme on British TV of the 20th century,” spawning an entire genre of dinosaur documentaries where we truly felt like we were part of their world. I remember watching its broadcast on the Discovery Channel and being absolutely blown away. Despite its outdated science, the original ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ remains the pinnacle of how to tell these stories in a way that is completely alluring, realistic, and genuinely moving. It’s a cinematic classic that is personally unrivaled, although next year a new series with the same name will be released.

To celebrate the original program’s 25th anniversary, composer Ben Bartlett is reissuing his majestic and memorable score on digital platforms! Performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, this score was the winner of the BAFTA for “Best Original Television Music” in 2000, and its legacy has been lovingly endured by its fans ever since.

Composer Ben Bartlett says:

“I am super excited to be re-releasing my music for Walking With Dinosaurs after 25 years, and to revisit my musical roots in orchestral music. Listening to these tracks again I am struck with how fresh they sound. I feel I am coming full circle after living a quarter of a century in TV and Film music production, and liberating a musical spirit from its amber mould.”

“Over the years I have received heartwarming messages from both aspiring composers and paleontologists. Some now mature scientists have expressed gratitude for the music for the iconic show Walking With Dinosaurs, as during their childhood it tapped into emotions beyond the reach of pure science, and driving a passion for paleontology. I am incredibly touched that over the years Composers have frequently got in touch to connect about how the music led them to pursue careers in music for picture, and the score has been used at music colleges around the world.”

The score is available on various digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, & Qobuz (high resolution audio).

This new soundtrack release appears to be remastered and is a tad louder than before. In terms of music that was previously unreleased, there are really only two tracks.

The opening track “Walking With Dinosaurs” omits the Kenneth Branagh dialogue that played over the original CD version from 1999 (he was the narrator on the original program) in favor of simply the music. While some may miss that edit, I personally am happy to finally have this piece of music without it. Interestingly, the opening brass statement (and perhaps the rest) sounds like a different performance as well.

The second track with unreleased music comes near the 2:50 mark of the aptly renamed “Torosaurs Lock Horns Plus,” providing about a minute of new material.

A few tracks from the score actually appear to have slightly less music compared to the original CD release, but in minor ways that may not be detected by most in the form of micro-edits. The biggest example of this is “Cruel Sea,” which is over 40 seconds shorter than its CD counterpart. It seems to mostly remove some of the track’s repetition in parts, but it is curious such an edit was made for a digital release when length is not relevant. I can only assume this was done by Ben Bartlett for his own personal preferences, but completists may want to hang onto their CDs to retain the minor omissions. Because of this, and other music from the show that is still missing from this release, I hesitate to refer to this as a “complete” release myself.

After the “End Credits” track, there are three additional tracks from the ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ special ‘The Ballad Of Big Al’ (aka ‘Allosaurus’). These were previously on the CD album for the ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ sequel production from 2001, ‘Walking With Beasts.’ It’s more appropriate to now have them included on this release, featuring some of the most rousing action music of the entire saga in “Battle Of The Salt Plains.”

The ‘Walking With Beasts’ soundtrack also has a new digital release of its equally fantastic score. It includes several never-before-heard tracks from the program, performed by the BBC Singers, and is available at the same Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, & Qobuz (high resolution audio) links.

While the ‘Beasts’ soundtrack release is also not “complete,” it does feature about 18 minutes of previously unreleased music; covering episodes of the program that weren’t represented before. This will be a godsend for fans, since the original soundtrack CD album was apparently fast-tracked for release before the final two episodes were even scored. This is something Ben Bartlett has wanted to rectify ever since, making this new release an important milestone.

For fans of ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ who have never heard the ‘Beasts’ score, it features much more percussive elements throughout and a darker overall tone (ala ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’). Several tracks also feature very effective choir, usually in the form of chants, that give it a striking identity not present in the previous score. Definitely worth a listen, especially in this extended release.

Previously, AI artwork was used for both digital album covers but was quickly changed to instead feature the composer among museum displays. A forthcoming vinyl release of both scores will apparently feature original paleo artwork for their covers. No ETA on those releases just yet, or if the digital versions will have their album artwork updated to match. Sadly, CD collectors, like me, appear to be omitted from all releases (the format isn’t dead yet!).

Despite the mentioned issues of both score releases, it is still great to have them widely available again for everyone to hear. I think every ‘Jurassic Park’ fan should give them a listen (and perhaps throw Bartlett’s name in the ring to score ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth?’). Hopefully Blu-Ray releases of the original programs themselves will also be on the way to celebrate the anniversary!

Do you remember the original ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ mini-series from 1999 and its sequels/spinoffs (including ‘Prehistoric Park‘ starring Nigel Marvin)? Reminisce in the comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!

NOTE: This article was updated on 10/22/2024 to reflect album cover updates & more information on the ‘Walking With Beasts’ soundtrack.

A Fun & Thrilling New Novel ‘Mara Brown: White Death’ Takes Readers Into Its Own Jurassic World!

Posted on by Derrick Davis

It’s a long road we have to drive on before we reach the release day of ‘Jurassic World 4.’ While filming has begun, there are mostly just rumors floating around. Anyone else a little tired of those? Perhaps during this time we should check out other dinosaur-related content. Well, I’ve got a new novel for you that may pique your interest: ‘Mara Brown: White Death!’

Synopsis: Just off of the Florida’s Atlantic coast lies Egret Island; the one place on earth where humans and dinosaurs live side-by-side. However, when something not entirely human nor dinosaur begins stalking the island by night, Mara Brown is the only one able to stand up and fight back. Becoming the vigilante known as the White Death, Mara sets out to defend her home and determine the origins of these mysterious new predators.

It features original vibrant artwork that was wonderfully illustrated by Arturo Garcia!

Author Billy Reed is “[…] a lifelong fan of dinosaurs, video games, and movies. He has a passion for mental health awareness and believes that everyone should spend their time doing the things that make them feel happy and fulfilled. His literary works serve as a love letter to the media he grew up with such as the creature feature movies and the action-heavy cartoons of the 90s and 2000s.”

Billy spoke exclusively to Jurassic Outpost about his passionate inspiration and process for creating his novel:

[I was inspired by] my lifelong love of dinosaurs and paleo media in general. I really wanted to write a story with dinosaurs unlike anything that had been done before. In 2018 when ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ came out, I really started thinking of stories where people and dinosaurs coexist. I found that concept really fascinating. Like what if a Parasaurolophus was no different from a deer crossing the road. Over the next year, I kept coming up with new story elements for this setting. I started adding elements from other media I grew up with like a wise-cracking protagonist with an indomitable spirit, a shady mega corporation, and other ideas for unique monsters that the dinosaurs of this world could interact with.

My FIRST draft of the story was made in 2019 and never saw the light of day. It was drastically different from what the story eventually became. It was a lot more of a mystery type story than the sci-fi action story I would eventually make. Then in 2020 when the pandemic hit, I decided to revamp it and make it into a novel trilogy. This idea lasted until around mid-2022. At that point I wrote two novels that I put out on Amazon but was kind of burnt out on that setting. I also felt like I had improved a lot as a writer and had a lot of things about the story I wanted to change. The last thing I did for that continuity was a comic that was beautifully illustrated by Emily Stepp. You can find that one on my Instagram in its entirety.

In 2022 I decided I would entirely redo the story and make it just one book this time. This would be the definitive version of the story and I decided in advance I would give myself as much time to work on it as I needed. And after two consecutive years of work, we have the novel you can find on Amazon today!

The publishing process [wasn’t] too hard since I opted for Amazon’s self-publishing. It’s a free to use service that Amazon offers which is very user friendly and easy to figure out. I genuinely love that they provide anyone with a platform to get their stories out there.

‘Mara Brown: White Death’ is now available in paperback and eBook/Kindle formats through Amazon! It sounds like a fun and intriguing story in a dinosaur world that many fans of the ‘Jurassic Park’ franchise can feel right at home in, especially during this time before ‘Jurassic World 4’ arrives.

Do you plan to check out ‘Mara Brown: White Death?’ Are there other dinosaur-related novels you are reading in anticipation of more official ‘Jurassic Park’ content? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest.

Prop Collector Discovers Shot From A Deleted Moment In Jurassic Park

Posted on by Derrick Davis

Today, a piece of film history has been unearthed. ‘Jurassic Park’ may be over 30 years old, but we are still discovering pieces of its past.

Mark Bushey, a prop collector who specializes in horror film artifacts, came across an amazing find from eBay.

“[It is an] S-Test — Publicity Stills for Jurassic Park, dated March 02, 1993. Unlike 35mm trailers, this is not a trailer and there is no audio track anywhere on the film and the images appear horizontal, rather than vertical like traditional trailers.”

While on the surface this strange find looks like it is merely stills from the film that we have all seen before, there is one image that stands out from the rest. I will say in advance to please NOT share the following images without giving credit to Mark Bushey. He has given us permission to use them for this article. And just to clarify, he does not have the scene itself, only the still image via the reel amongst the other still images:

The still image is from a scene/shot that was cut from ‘Jurassic Park,’ a fun moment during the arrival of the park’s guests on the island. Grant mistakes a Brachiosaurus leg for a tree trunk, which then suddenly moves. Following that we get the full reveal of the majestic animal, as shown in the final film. This brief moment was storyboarded and depicted in David Koepp’s script, but it was unknown if it was shot or had completed ILM VFX. Now, we now know both were true.

In my opinion, I can actually see why this shot was cut. While ILM’s Brachiosaurus looks amazing for its time, the dinosaur’s leg doesn’t quite match the trees as well as it was depicted in John Bell‘s storyboards (as seen above, thanks to Astrid Vega). It is possible that Spielberg later cut this moment since it’s not as effective as originally envisioned, but something he wouldn’t have known for sure until the final shot was realized.

Rick Carter’s Jurassic Park depicts an early version of the sequence with the storyboards and an older script.

Given that these stills were dated March of 1993, months before its June release, there is a wonder if a slightly longer cut of the film did exist at one point that included these completed moments. For years, some fans have touted seeing a longer cut (specifically in the UK by people like Jamie Arnold) during the beginning of its theatrical run. Stills of other cut scenes have been found over the years, but so far the only footage we have ever seen of one is in the film’s trailer: Ellie Sattler grabbing a leaf on their way to the Brachiosaurus. But this new Brachiosaur leg image is the first time we have seen a deleted moment that had completed VFX.

While Mark is ecstatic with his incredibly rare find, he is willing to consider parting with it for the right price. If interested, contact him through his Facebook page.

(Special thanks to Jiří Alpharaptor Schön for pointing out this amazing find!)

Will we ever see an extended cut of ‘Jurassic Park?’ Will other stills of deleted scenes, or footage, find their way online in the meantime? What do you think of this newly-discovered Brachiosaur leg shot? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest news about the past and future!

Malta Is Back For ‘Jurassic World 4,’ But Not In The Way You Think

Posted on by Derrick Davis

Do you remember the last time you saw a dinosaur? Well, for Jurassic fans, it was officially back in 2022 when ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ roared into theaters. In 2025, we’ll all get our next chance to see our beloved dinosaurs from the franchise (and likely new ones) making their way to theater screens once again. However, the film still hasn’t even been shot yet! Strong rumors and scoops point to (Jurassic) June being the start of filming for the Gareth Edwards-helmed project. Sky Studios and Thailand are confirmed locations for ‘Jurassic World 4’ (unofficial title), as well as Malta. In a new article today from Times of Malta, the country has expanded upon just how it will likely be used in the latest Jurassic film.

“The production has booked almost all facilities at the Malta Film Studios in Kalkara this summer and is set to shoot bet­ween July and September, multiple film industry sources told Times of Malta. The world-renowned franchise will only film part of its latest movie in Malta and there are no shoots scheduled on location.”

What’s interesting about this reveal is that while ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ filmed on-location in Malta for its entertaining middle portion of the film (which included exteriors for the ‘dinosaur black market’ and the famous, or infamous, chase scene between Chris Pratt and a pack of Atrociraptors), it never used any of its studios or facilities. The reveal of the new entry in the series not including any “on location” shoots is also quite revealing, as this possibly nixes any theory of returning to Malta’s locations from ‘Dominion.’ This also puzzles us further as to whether the new film really is a sequel, a prequel, or something in-between. In that case, why shoot at Malta’s facilities at all when they already are shooting in facilities at Sky Studios?

“The Malta Film Studios offers, among other facilities, two infinite-horizon water tanks that film productions generally use for large-scale sound effects and underwater shooting.”

Well, the article reveals the possible answer for that, too. “Water tanks.” Big ones. The filmmakers must have known of them from when they filmed ‘Dominion’ and remembered for this film. Does this spell a return for the popular Mosasaur, as featured in the ‘Jurassic World’ trilogy? It is also possible we are getting an entirely new prehistoric sea reptile, such as a Plesiosaur. Or there could just be an intense sequence in the water without any dinosaur or prehistoric creature at all (but that would certainly be a missed opportunity). We’ll just have to wait and see.

There is still so much we don’t know about the new film from director Gareth Edwards and screenwriter David Koepp! It still hasn’t even been officially confirmed that star Scarlett Johanson is truly in the film (although the safety of that rumor is pretty much guaranteed at this point). What we do know is that all of us are excited to find out on July 2nd, 2025!

Are you intrigued by this news? Do you still think we’ll see any of the Malta locations from ‘Dominion?’ Will the mosasaur make a return? Leave your comments below and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!

Time Travel To A ‘Bygone’ Era In A New Short Dinosaur Film!

Posted on by Derrick Davis

The Jurassic fan community is thriving as we all wait on the new Gareth Edwards film for the franchise. More people are creating original content than ever, either based on the Jurassic films or featuring dinosaur-related stories. Earlier this week we had the fan film by Muzzammil Shaik, and later in June there will be a new season of the fan-made audio drama ‘Tales From A Jurassic World.’ Today, we have a new dinosaur-related film from Cretaceous Cast called ‘Bygone‘! [Note: This film includes strong language for mature audiences only.]

Synopsis:

Materials have run out. Corporations go back in time to areas of rock swept away in the present to mine. They believe this will stop paradoxes, but the ecosystem of Morrison Formation Colorado appears to be dying.

The sands of time are better left undisturbed.

Loosely inspired by concepts from Ray Bradbury’s classic ‘A Sound Of Thunder,’ the short fan film ‘Bygone’ is a fantastic sci-fi excursion with a fun premise. Written & directed by Spenser Mehew and beautifully shot by Clay Bowen, capturing the interiors with warm diffusion and the landscapes with glistening beauty… then inky-black suspense.

The big question on your mind probably is: do we see any dinosaurs in this dinosaur film? There’s a couple… including one with a unique quality that I won’t spoil!

Watch the film now for yourself, and then listen to Decennial’s wonderful original music score on its own! Also, check out Cretaceous Cast’s ‘Jurassic Park’ fan film from a few years ago, ‘Jurassic Park: 1999!’

What did you think of ‘Bygone’? Have you been enjoying this surge of fan creations? Are you going to make something yourself? Share your comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!

See Jurassic Park’s Original T-Rex In A Video Uncovering Tim Lawrence’s Files!

Posted on by Derrick Davis

Jurassic Time unveils a very special short documentary: ‘Jurassic Park’s Original T-Rex: The Tim Lawrence Files.’ Discover an unknown history behind the most famous dinosaur ever featured on film. Tim Lawrence was the first to design the Tyrannosaurus Rex for the classic movie. He worked on special creature effects for films like ‘Ghostbusters 2,’ ‘Harry and the Hendersons,’ & ‘Gremlins 2.’ Tim was a man of many talents, and great aspirations, until he sadly passed away in 2019.

During his career, Tim Lawrence was one of the first people employed for Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of the Michael Crichton novel: ‘Jurassic Park.’ At this time, he helped create the very first incarnation of the film’s T-Rex. Despite this milestone, after the film went on hiatus during Spielberg’s production of ‘Hook,’ Tim was replaced by Stan Winston for unknown reasons. But the story of Tim Lawrence’s time on ‘Jurassic Park’ is still one that should be remembered. It’s an important piece of the film’s history; one that has never been told in any book or program.

Pre-production image featuring Tim Lawrence, in the grey ‘Les Misérables’ shirt, near Steven Spielberg among others.

Years before his death, Tim listed several auctions of his ‘Jurassic Park’ items on eBay. He provided several pictures and context for all of them, and most have never been seen before. Using these sources, and a few others, I (Derrick Davis) compiled them into a story that are all Tim’s words; with short connective phrases to string them together. Voice actor J. Malone respectively recorded them. While this section of the presentation isn’t Tim’s voice, they are his stories. May he live on in memory…

Mark Hallett designs and notes for the T-Rex.

The video includes an array of rare and never-before-seen images from the production of ‘Jurassic Park,’ including concept art by Mark Hallett, designs by Bob Gurr, and images of Tim’s models, and scans of photographs. As J. tells Tim’s story, it is accompanied with music by Bernard A. Kyer from the game ‘Jurassic Explorer.’

Bob Gurr T-Rex animatronic design.

Some may balk at the design being more fantasy-like in approach, but this was what Spielberg asked for. It is clear, through Tim’s words, that Spielberg wanted a more character-oriented approach to the dinosaur than accuracy. Opinions obviously changed over time, and perhaps that is why he was replaced by Stan Winston later on. Still, one wonders why Tim wasn’t simply given another chance at it? We’ll probably never know. ‘Jurassic Park’ had an extensive pre-production phase compared to many films, especially unique in that it began before the book was even published. Early scripts by Crichton himself were dated months before it was on store shelves!

Additional designs by Tim, nicknamed “Curious” & “Furious.”

Tim Lawrence was a talent that will not be forgotten, and I wanted his story about his time on ‘Jurassic Park’ to finally be out there for everyone to appreciate. He was an important piece of this classic film’s history that needed to finally get a spotlight. I hope it was all done in a tasteful manner for everyone. It was an emotional experience working on this. Hopefully that all shows through in the presentation.

What do you think of Tim’s T-Rex design, despite it being more of a movie monster? Do you wish it had at least been used in another film, like an adaptation of Conan Doyle’s ‘Lost World’ or a ‘King Kong’-type story? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest (and the past)!

UPDATE: Download Tim’s original files here.

Nick Robinsion, “Zach” From ‘Jurassic World,’ Wishes To Return To The Franchise

Posted on by Derrick Davis

It’s been nearly a decade since the events of 2015’s ‘Jurassic World;’ after the Indominus Rex escaped its pen, causing a chain reaction of carnage on Isla Nublar. Zach Mitchell, played by Nick Robinson, survived the massacre. But where has he been since the dinosaurs reclaimed their “dominion?”

Well, Nick is entertaining this idea!

CoveredGeekly had an exclusive conversation with Nick, asking if he would come back to the franchise in the upcoming film. Nick says:

“I’d love to [return], but I don’t know. ‘Zach’ I think is probably still in therapy from the trauma of the first movie. But […] I’d love for that character to come back. It’d be really fun.”

While it is nice to know he is willing to return, it is all up to the script and the filmmakers if he really will. This is not a confirmation by any means. Still, it is nice to entertain what happened to Zach after the first ‘Jurassic World’ film. Was he forever traumatized by the event? Did he stop giving his brother a hard time? Did his parents divorce, or did they stay together [for SOME reason]? Has he stopped staring at girls, thinking something will actually happen? Did he finally respect his girlfriend? Maybe his experience at Nublar inspired him to hunt dinosaurs out of revenge for what happened to him and Gray?

Nick Robinson has been busy since ‘Jurassic World,’ on shows like ‘Melissa & Joey,’ but most notably as Simon in the film ‘Love, Simon’ as well as the spinoff series ‘Love, Victor.’ However, it should be mentioned that he did reprise his role as Zach for the ‘Lego: Jurassic World’ video game!

What do you think happened to Zach after ‘Jurassic World,’ and would you like to see it happen in a film? Share your comments below, and as always stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!

‘Jurassic Park: The Official Script Book’ From Insight Editions Is Loaded With Annotations & Concept Art!

Posted on by Derrick Davis

The ‘Jurassic’ film franchise has received several fantastic behind-the-scenes books over the years. The original ‘Making Of’ books from the 1990s for ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ are regarded as some of the best ever made. In 2021, Insight Editions produced ‘Jurassic Park: The Ultimate Visual History,’ featuring stories and never-before-seen imagery from the original trilogy, including ‘Jurassic Park 3’ for the first time. Their fantastic chronicle was followed by ‘Jurassic World: The Ultimate Visual History,’ wonderfully detailing the making of all three ‘Jurassic World’ films.

All these books discussed the various scripts that were written: a vital part in creating a strong skeleton to support the body of each film. It’s a process that can take a lot of time, and a lot of drafts, to get just right. Their creation is more interesting and complicated than people may realize, making a whole book dedicated to the subject something ‘Jurassic’ fans have wanted for some time. Each of the six films in the franchise (so far) undoubtedly has fascinating stories behind their screenplays. However, the original film, adapted from the bestselling novel by Michael Crichton, had perhaps the biggest challenges.

Thanks once again to Insight Editions, a documented history of this process, with the final screenplay by David Koepp, is finally told in ‘Jurassic Park: The Official Script Book.’

Jurassic Park gave moviegoers an unforgettable thrill ride. Now, on the film’s 30th anniversary, fans can experience Jurassic Park in an all-new way with this deluxe, annotated edition of Michael Crichton and David Koepp’s script. This script book is annotated by franchise expert James Mottram (Jurassic Park: The Ultimate Visual History, Jurassic World: The Ultimate Visual History), offering commentary and insight into the behind-the-scenes story of the film. Fully illustrated with film stills, concept art, and other key visuals, this is a must-have collectible for Jurassic Park fans and a fitting tribute to a landmark film.

There is a lot more to this book than simply David Koepp’s script. To discover what’s beyond the cover, join me on a grand adventure at Isla Nublar via the video below (or an abridged version)! For an even more detailed look, continue reading this article!

WHAT’S INSIDE?

               DAVID KOEPP’S 12-11-1992 FINAL CONTINUITY DRAFT

The book features the 12-11-1992 draft by David Koepp, known as the final “Continuity Script.” What sets it apart from a more polished final draft are some beefier descriptions and the inclusion of some alternate dialogue for sequences that director Steven Spielberg would have to choose from. This gives the reader an additional “alternate universe” for certain scenes. The script also includes some moments that were filmed but cut, such as the reveal of why the Triceratops was only sick “every six weeks” and not all the time.

The only part of the script not included are the “Appendices.” These were two pages at the end of the script that had John Hammond’s dialogue heard during the lunch scene as a slide show played behind the characters. Most copies of the script didn’t include these pages, so their absence isn’t exactly inaccurate to what the majority of cast and crew members had. Thankfully, they do at least get mentioned in one of the book’s many annotations, featuring a summary of what they consisted of.

               INTRODUCTION & ANNOTATIONS BY JAMES MOTTRAM

The author of both Insight Editions ‘Jurassic’ Visual History books returns to provide additional content alongside the script. A lengthy introduction details the overall history of the film’s screenplays, before unveiling Koepp’s draft itself. Nearly every spread features an annotated section on the side, containing information that ranges from details exclusively revealed by David Koepp himself, comparisons to earlier drafts, alternate ideas from the previous screenwriters, and other behind-the-scenes intel. The added material James Mottram provides is written in a clear and engaging way that greatly stirs the excitement of the reader as they delve into the film’s script. One of the many exclusive quotes from Koepp explains why his original draft did not include Ian Malcolm; the mathematician who constantly is at odds with what ‘Jurassic Park’ is trying to accomplish.

“Honestly, it was because it was too hard,” he admits. “If you read the book, he talks a lot. He talks about math a lot, and he talks and abstracts a lot. And I just couldn’t figure out how to make it visual. I couldn’t figure out how to. And I thought about all sorts of things.”

               INSIGHT ABOUT THE PREVIOUS SCREENWRITERS AND THEIR DRAFTS

As mentioned, the annotations not only cover Koepp and his various drafts but also the screenwriters who tackled the film before him. Michael Crichton was the first to adapt his own novel into a screenplay, producing a pair of completed drafts. One detail James conjures is how a Crichton draft opened with a scene that would later front Spielberg’s film adaptation of ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park.’

In his revised draft, Crichton opened with a variation on the novel’s second major sequence, where a young vacationer, Tina, is attacked on a deserted Costa Rican beach by a Compy. He also includes another early scene from the novel, set at New York’s Tropical Disease Lab, in which one Dr. Richard Stone and his technician Alice examine Tina’s sketch of the Compy, with Stone reaching the conclusion it’s a lizard.

This book is the first official publication to reveal that Rick Carter, the production designer of ‘Jurassic Park,’ also created his own unique “working document” draft. He wrote and assembled it during the production’s downtime when Steven Spielberg left to film ‘Hook.’ Jurassic Time created an epic “illustrated audio drama” version of his take on the film, which includes a unique item most fans would certainly love: a Spitter umbrella that squirts water from its “mouth.” Rick details the inclusion of this gag, among many other new notes.

“The idea of an umbrella squirting water is pretty ridiculously funny,” says Carter. “You have this thing designed to keep the water out. It’s actually squirting water!” The concept of a branded novelty umbrella came up during brainstorming sessions, adds Carter, when he and others on the team began to consider, “How would the dinosaur experience be commercialized in that park, and that Visitor Center?”

James also had an exclusive conversation with Malia Scotch Marmo, the penultimate screenwriter brought on board. While she only penned a single draft as well, her ideas were still an important part of the screenwriting process until Spielberg ultimately chose another direction. Scotch Marmo even contributed to a vital casting recommendation that became a reality!

Described in the book as “twenty-four and darkly tanned,” with her blonde hair tied back, Dr. Ellie Sattler proved to be a difficult role to cast. “Steven sent me clips of young actresses to play Ellie,” recalls Scotch Marmo. “The clips showcased the actresses in previous film roles. I noticed they were all ingénues. They had youth and a certain naïveté and freshness. I kept thinking they were missing the mark. Ellie is a scientist. Perhaps because my father was an astrophysicist, I couldn’t buy the actors he was showing me as realistic in any way . . . in a science fiction movie like Jurassic Park believability was essential. Steven is very open to push back, and he asked, ‘Who would you like?’” The writer made a case for Laura Dern, who coincidentally had impressed Spielberg in the 1985 film Smooth Talk.

               LOADS OF CONCEPT ARTWORK, STORYBOARDS, & OTHER IMAGES

While both ‘Jurassic’ Visual History books were filled with production artwork and other images from the entire franchise, this book is only focused on the first film. Despite the included script being essentially the film that made it to the screen, the pages are filled with seemingly endless concept art, storyboards, and blueprints that cover many iterations. These materials transport the reader into the film’s art department during the creative process that helped shape the story just as much as the scripts did. This includes early designs by John Bell for lead characters before the actors were cast, never-before-seen storyboards of the famous Main Road attack sequence by David Lowery, a pair of slides from the lunch room scene by Caroline Quinn, and numerous artwork showcasing the omitted river and helicopter attack sequences. Peppered throughout are wonderful stills and other photographs from the film itself. Overall, much of the amazing artwork is not present in the other Insight Editions volumes, or any book.

Countless artists worked on the film, for a much longer period than most get these days. All the concept artwork is credited to each artist; however, the storyboards were tricky to identify given several artists often worked on just a single sequence. The final page of the book credits those artists who were able to be identified, but the entire art department should be forever applauded for their immense contributions to this film.

It wouldn’t be an honest article without referring to the “dinosaur in the room”: the front cover of this book. The artwork used was not made during the production of the film, but a recent selection of “key art” provided by Universal. To put it nicely, it’s definitely not the cover I would have chosen. It doesn’t appear inside the book itself, although a small selection of other recent artwork to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary is present. They are, thankfully, quite a bit more appealing.

               FAN CONSULTATION

To be completely transparent, I (Derrick Davis) consulted on this book! I’ve been a massive fan of ‘Jurassic Park’ ever since I saw it at my local drive-in when I was 6 years old (which featured a sign that looks suspiciously familiar to those who have seen the extended cut of ‘Jurassic World: Dominion.’). I went on to create Jurassic Time, producing various programs and conducting interviews with people who worked on the films. I’ve also written many articles for Jurassic Outpost since 2021. I was also a consultant for Criterion’s release of Karel Zeman’s classic prehistoric film ‘Journey To The Beginning Of Time’ and the re-release of the ‘Jurassic Park’ soundtrack from La-La Land Records.

However, being asked by James Mottram to join him in the production of this book was a dream come true. I have always been entranced by the many scripts of ‘Jurassic Park,’ as well as the thousands of artwork that was created before cameras ever rolled. After I read the original ‘Making Of Jurassic Park’ book, I was obsessed with peeking further behind the curtain to see the creative process of how it was all done. Over the years, I collected hard to find documents and artwork that would have otherwise been lost in time. Several of these materials, along with my own insights, enhanced this book’s content. To be associated with a book like this, for my favorite film, is something I will be eternally thankful for.

Another fan is given special mention for helping with this book: Astrid Vega (pictured with me, above, in 2018). She once ran The Jurassic Park Collection, until she sadly passed away in 2019. Astrid was a collector of many production materials that she shared with fans for years, and thanks to her, some of those are now showcased in this book.

               DIGITAL E-BOOK EDITION ALSO AVAILABLE

While the physical hardcover edition is my preferred way to possess this unique book, there is also a digital e-book version available separately. This is a departure from both “Visual History” books, since those featured additional inserts that were referenced in the text that couldn’t be adapted in this format. Some may prefer a digital version for the cheaper price point and to avoid high shipping costs in certain areas of the world. E-books are also handy for quicker research, with the ability to find text in seconds. The way I see it, having a digital edition also available ensures all ‘Jurassic Park’ fans have a fair chance to seek a copy of this book!

THE PERFECT WAY TO CONCLUDE THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY!

This year’s 30th anniversary of ‘Jurassic Park’ is coming to an end, and what better way to celebrate it than by experiencing every word of the film in this fully illustrated form? Yeah, I know, I may be a little biased in this endorsement. However, I hope this detailed article on what the book consists of, with some exclusive first-look images, will entice you to seek a hardcover or digital copy today! This is the kind of book I have always wanted for ‘Jurassic Park!’ James Mottram, and the staff of Insight Editions, have gone out of their way to make this new entry in their series “spared no expense.” Perhaps someday the other films in the series will get script books of their own? There are definitely more stories to uncover, and artwork that deserves to be unearthed, before becoming extinct.

For an even deeper look at how this book was created, check out an engaging conversation with annotator & author James Mottram and consultant Derrick Davis.

Do you plan on checking out the first script book ever for a ‘Jurassic Park’ film? Would you like to see Insight Editions tackle ‘The Lost World’ next? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay informed with Jurassic Outpost for the latest!

Production Designer Rick Carter Celebrates The 30th Anniversary Of ‘Jurassic Park’ With A New Art Exhibit & Prints!

Posted on by Derrick Davis

The 30th anniversary of ‘Jurassic Park’ is nearing extinction. While there was sadly no major fan event akin to Universal Studios Hollywood’s 25th anniversary celebration, there were at least smaller opportunities throughout the year; such as theatrical screenings and an elaborate tribute store in Orlando. However, for those near Los Angeles, California, there is one final event to commemorate the third decade of ‘Jurassic.’

Production designer Rick Carter’s new art exhibition in Los Angeles, “Trip Outs & In”, is a showcase of his recent original paintings, cinematic collages, and A.I. inspired collages. It includes Rick’s “cinema room,” featuring artworks that reflect his production design process and film memorabilia from ‘Jurassic Park’ in honor of the film’s 30th anniversary! This special exhibit was created by Rick’s son, Jim Carter, through his Artist Agency Legacy West Media. Sponsored by The Container Yard, Excel Image Group, Sierra Nevada, The Lapis Press, & Jurassic Outpost!

Rick Carter’s production design process has been instrumental in bringing classic films to life for decades, such as ‘Forrest Gump’, ‘Back To The Future 2’, & ‘Avatar.’ They all get a spotlight in the “cinema room”, but Rick’s ‘Jurassic’ art features unique collages he created during ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’. For the first film, he cobbled together ideas for the now-iconic Visitor Center, and for the sequel he depicted dinosaurs on and off Isla Sorna.

During this time, prints of some of these collages from the ‘Jurassic’ films are on sale at Rick Carter’s Art site! These limited edition prints are numbered and signed by Rick himself, making for a unique and special addition to any fan’s collection!

The exhibit also features original art by Rick that is not related to any film, including portraits of faces that come to his mind. This collection of art, with prints also available, details Rick’s personal connection to faces of the world.

Rick Carter’s “Yellow Woman.”

“As an artist I have attempted over the years […] to express the spirit of the many people who now travel within me as I continue my journey [around the world]. […] Many of the people I now paint or draw have come from my imagination. I don’t know who will emerge when I begin. But I do know where most of them come from. They are derived mostly from the people I encountered while traveling. Over time, some of them have become embedded and then embellished like pearls into almost real characters within my soul. They resonate as a group inside of me – creating a dialogue amongst my inner collection of people.”

This exhibit will run from December 2nd to December 11th, but the prints will remain online until they are sold out. Don’t miss out on your chance to see or own official prints of production artwork from ‘Jurassic Park!’ It’s amazing that even after thirty years there is still much to see and talk about regarding the original films from the franchise. Rick’s art is a capsule of special moments in time where his creativity gave birth to what we all know and love today. But his vision goes beyond the films he worked on, and this exhibit is an amazing tribute to his inspirational talent, and an amazing human being.

Rick Carter with a Stan Winston animatronic T-Rex during the production of ‘Jurassic Park.’

For a look at how Rick Carter also adapted the script of ‘Jurassic Park’ during the film’s production, watch Jurassic Time’s ‘Rick Carter’s Jurassic Park,’ an illustrated audio drama! Also check out the newly-released ‘Jurassic Park: The Official Script Book‘ that contains new quotes from Rick with a concept sketch he made for the Visitor Center’s rotunda!

Rick Carter’s sketch artwork featured on the page to the right.

(Exhibit photos by James Meledandri.)

Will you be able to visit Rick Carter’s exhibit? Interested in his art prints? Did you know collages like Rick’s are instrumental in the design process of films like ‘Jurassic Park?’ Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!