Battle at Big Rock is here, and since it’s come out I’ve had it on repeat trying to pour over every detail. To help truly appreciate the visuals, I frame-by-framed the Jurassic World short film, and grabbed the best screenshots I could of the brand new dinosaur designs. Admittedly, YouTube compression is atrocious, and this has led to sub-quality images – but until an official ProRes or 4K release is made available, this will have to do.
Haven’t watched ‘Battle at Big Rock’ yet? Well what are you waiting for!
‘Big Rock’ was written by Emily Carmichael and directed by Colin Trevorrow, with Larry Fong as the cinematographer. The short follows an all new cast consisting of André Holland (Moonlight), Natalie Martinez (Under the Dome), Melody Hurd (Fatherhood) and Pierson Salvador. Music is by Jurassic newcomer Amie Doherty.
Set in the Californian wilderness, a family of four encounter more than they bargained for as dinosaurs turn their fun into a situation of survival. Check out the HD images below, where the brand new adult Allosaurus made its debut, plus the female, male, and baby Nasutoceratops designs were unveiled.
Want more now? The new ‘Battle at Big Rock’ dinosaurs have toys from Mattel available now!
Now that ‘Big Rock’ is here, what are your thoughts on the short film, the dinosaur designs, and what it means for Jurassic Park going forward? Sound off in the comments below and of course, keep your eyes on Jurassic Outpost for all the latest news!
It’s finally here – Jurassic World now has an expanded universe. ‘Battle at Big Rock’, and all new Jurassic World short film set one year after the events of Fallen Kingdom, just made its debut on FX. Set in the Californian wilderness, a family of four encounter more than they bargained for as dinosaurs turn their fun into a situation of survival.
‘Battle at Big Rock’ features the never before seen Nasutoceratops (and baby), and introduces the adult Allosaurus (with an animatronic from Legacy Effects), which was previously seen in Fallen Kingdom as a juvenile. ‘Big Rock’ was written by Emily Carmichael and directed by Colin Trevorrow, with Larry Fong as the cinematographer. The short follows an all new cast consisting of André Holland (Moonlight), Natalie Martinez (Under the Dome), Melody Hurd (Fatherhood) and Pierson Salvador. Music is by Jurassic newcomer Amie Doherty.
Watch the short film below!
Warning – detailed spoilers for Battle at Big Rock below:
Battle at Big Rock opens with an ominous newscast reporting on numerous dinosaur sightings in the Californian countryside, before opening on a family camping in a public campground. Shortly after being introduced to our characters, some Nasutoceratops wonder into the campsite inflicting fear and distaste, sparking remarks along the lines of “Oh no, it’s one of them” “What is itdoing all the way up here?”. We realize dinosaurs sightings are a thing people know about, are not happy about, but do not fully expect. We also learn there was a recent incident that turned ugly, though it apparently involved carnivores unlike the herbivores in the campsite, as the families daughter confidently states.
But then, not all is as it seems, and a hungry Allosaurus hunting the Nasutoceratops family reveals itself. Carnage ensues. At some point in the fight, a second Nasutoceratops charges in – the father, a buck – sexual dimorphism is apparent in the species, as not only is he larger, with longer horns, but his colors appear slightly different. While Jurassic World features male and female dinosaurs, this the first time since Jurassic Park 3 that sexual dimorphism has been made apparent on screen.
When the short film makes its end, the family shaken but alive, and eerie Jurassic music kicks in. The credits paint a serious picture – dinosaurs are part of our world, and home footage of various dinosaur encounters plays, such as a scenario where Compy’s are attacking a little girl. This is perhaps the clearest look at what Jurassic World 3 will be yet. We’re now living in a new era of wonder and thrills, where dinosaurs and humankind must learn to coexist…
Stay tuned for HD pictures from Battle at Big Rock!
Want more now? The new ‘Battle at Big Rock’ dinosaurs have toys from Mattel available now!
Now that ‘Big Rock’ is here, what are your thoughts on the short film, the dinosaur designs, and what it means for Jurassic Park going forward? Sound off in the comments below and of course, keep your eyes on Jurassic Outpost for all the latest news!
Look, it’s probably the worst kept secret that Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum will be returning to tango with dinosaurs in Jurassic World 3. All the same, we can’t really be sure until it’s official.
In the clip above you can see Sam Neill sitting down with IMDB at Toronto 2019, being asked if he might return for Jurassic World 3. Unsurprisingly, he gives a non-answer. But his look says it all – not to mention last time he was asked directly, he had a less optimistic answer, suggesting he believed Grant to be dead.
Judging from the above, Neill no longer believes Dr. Grant to be long dead and forgotten. We certainly hope that isn’t the case.
Jurassic World 3 begins filming early next year, and is being written by Colin Trevorrow and Emily Carmichael. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will return, and BD Wong and Isabella Sermon are also expected to reprise their roles. No word on who will be handling the practical dinosaur animatronics, though given Neal Scanlan’s departure we’re hopeful for Legacy Effects to finally be given the chance to shine with Jurassic Park just as Stan Winston Studios once did.
Are you excited for what seems to be the return of the classic Jurassic characters? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
February has come to be an exciting time for Jurassic World fans – with New York Toy Fair usually leading to the reveal of a plethora of Jurassic merchandise which fans of the franchise will have the opportunity to sink their teeth into over the coming year. This year’s Toy Fair brought more with it than usual, however, with Mattel’s sales reps giving us a tantalization tease in the form of a secret which they weren’t meant to let slip on the show floor. According to them, fans of their toyline could look forward to both a Nasutoceratops and a brand-new Allosaurus joining their line, modeled on an upcoming live action short film which was set to debut before Universal’s ‘Hobbs and Shaw’ – the next instalment in their popular Fast and Furious franchise.
During May, two brand-new dual attack figures from Mattel hit store shelves, featuring new branding which called out this short in the form of a small graphics stating that these characters were ‘As seen in Battle at Big Rock’. But, more than two weeks after the release of Hobbs & Shaw, this highly anticipated short film is still nowhere to be seen.
The absence didn’t come as a massive surprise to Outpost. It was already heard that there had been a little bit of trouble over the experimental films budget, which had reportedly exceeded the ten-million-dollar threshold. With such a high-cost for what was to be a smaller story, it appears the studio decided late in the game that they had wanted a more traditional content delivery method. This is most likely a step to try and turn a profit on the project, given the large cost which ended up being attached to it.
However, all this silence and behind the scenes uncertainty has led to a growth of pessimism within the online community. Rather than build excitement and anticipation, many Jurassic fans are now worried whether this project will ever see the light of day.
Check out the new Takara Tomy Nasutoceratops and Allosaurus toys, coming later this year!
— Jurassic Outpost (@JurassicOutpost) May 31, 2019
Despite several toys with ‘Battle at Big Rock’ branding already being available for several months now, Universal Pictures have still yet to acknowledge that this short film even exists. This radio silence from the studio has, understandably, got many members of the fan base worried about the direction this project may take. You may remember that, recently, we debuted some storyboards from a scrapped Jurassic Park: The Lost World animated show, which never saw the light of day. It is safe to say that cancelled projects like this, combined with a track record of production troubles for the Jurassic franchise have led to many fans becoming used to exciting new projects suddenly disappearing from the Universal release calendar. Even more troubling than this is the fact that Walmart (who have had a solid track-record with carrying Mattel products) have now decided to drop the ‘Dual Attack’ line altogether – suggesting that this may be a move to remove the Allosaurus and Nasutoceratops from shelves altogether. It strikes us as bizarre that, even before the project’s release, Universal seem to be taking steps to kill the tie-in synergy which they pushed for the short.
Whether Big Rock was intended to debut as a secret project or not, it is safe to say that Jurassic fans now know this project exists. Continuing to maintain a degree of secrecy when products from the short are already available seems to be a gross misjudgement of the community, and one which we hoped is rectified sooner rather than later. We’re hopeful that the powers that be will hear the concerns of the fanbase, and will let us know that this Battle is far from over. There are still many more adventures to explore in a Jurassic World.
We’ve passed the halfway point of 2019, and are creeping ever nearer to the release of Jurassic World 3 in June of 2021, and while news about the production is quiet publicly, behind the scenes it continues to ramp up. Today, we’ve been able to confirm Kevin Jenkins has joined the Jurassic family, taking the role of the third Jurassic World films production designer (as previously reported by ‘Discussing Film’).
This won’t be Kevin’s first foray with the prehistoric, as he got his start in the VFX industry with BBC’s ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’. Kevin went on to work on numerous projects in various art department roles, such as ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’, ‘The Golden Compass’, ‘War Horse’, ‘World War Z’, and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. From there, Kevin went on to work on ‘Star Wars The Force Awakens’ (Art Director), ‘Rogue One’ (Conceptual Designer), and ‘The Last Jedi’ (Lucasfilm Design Supervisor).
Kevin recently made his debut as a Production Designer on ‘Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker’, where he worked alongside the Oscar winning Rick Carter (Forest Gump, Cast Away, Munich, Avatar). This connection to Rick Carter perhaps is no coincidence, as Rick Carter served as the production designer on Jurassic Park and The Lost World, as well as briefly designing for Jurassic World before departing for Star Wars The Force Awakens. Jurassic World 3 will mark Kevin Jenkins second time serving as a production designer, and quite possibly his first time tackling the role alone, though his industry experience with art and VFX will surely assist in excelling with the role.
The Jurassic films have a small group of talented production designers that Kevin Jenkins now joins: the aforementioned Rick Carter, Ed Verreaux (Jurassic Park 3, Jurassic World), and Andy Nicholson (Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom). Many of you may be particularly familiar with Andy Nicholson’s work, as he shares numerous behind the scenes looks at his work on Fallen Kingdom via Instagram (be sure to stay tuned, as we have an in-depth interview with him coming soon). What new elements Kevin will introduce remain to be seen, though his experience on films like Star Wars will certainly provide great world building lore within the iconic visuals to be crafted for the upcoming film.
This is the first major news regarding Jurassic World 3’s production team following Neal Scanlan revealing he would be returning (however, we have since learned Neal has departed the project to pursue another opportunity, leaving the position of an animatronics team wide open). While Scanlan may no longer be working on Jurassic World 3, we do have a few new names who are working on the project (though not for animatronics). Seth Engstrom, Benjamin Last, and Andrew Wallin have all joined the team as concept artists, while David Vickery returns as the VFX Supervisor and Ann Podlozny is the projects VFX Producer.
The crew of talented artists will only grow from here as the film continues development. Jurassic World 3 is aiming to kick into full pre-production gear this Fall, with filming beginning at the UK’s Pinewood Studios early next year!
Jurassic World 3 is being written by director Colin Trevorrow alongside newcomer Emily Carmichael. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, BD Wong, and Jeff Goldblum are confirmed to be returning, with Sam Neill and Laura Dern expected to also join the project and reprise their iconic Jurassic Park roles.
Let us know what you want to see from Kevin Jenkins and the art team on Jurassic World 3, and be sure to stay tuned for more news!
Many of us assumed this would be the case but it appears the dinosaurs are not going extinct in Jurassic World 3. Speaking to Variety during the Jurassic World ride grand opening, Jurassic World and Jurassic World 3 writer/director Colin Trevorrow was asked about the future of the Jurassic franchise after the sixth film.
While he words his way around the question if Jurassic World 3 will be the end of the saga, he gives credence to the very real possibility of future films:
“I’m kind of a one movie at a time kind of guy, so my eyes are on this one. And it’s a celebration of everything that has existed in the franchise up until now.”
It was long believed that Universal Pictures only had the rights for six total films during the lead up to Jurassic Park 4, but after ‘World’s’ gigantic success it’s logical they approached the Crichton Estate for a new deal. Jurassic World continues to expand into new territory, with theme park representation, an animated series ‘Camp Cretaceous’, and even a live action spin-off titled ‘Battle at Big Rock’. The franchise is Universal’s equivalent to Star Wars and it makes sense they would wish to continue expanding the stories and films into the future.
We’ve heard buzz about films after Jurassic World 3 for some time now, with some rumours even suggesting the third film would become a two-parter due to its “epic scale”. Jurassic World 3 is slated to begin filming early next year, with a release date of June 2021, although you won’t have to wait that long to see the story continue. ‘Battle at Big Rock’, the live action short film which filmed in Ireland this January, was to debut in front of Hobbs and Shaw. Sadly we’ve since heard that ‘Big Rock’ will not make it front of the latest ‘Fast and the Furious’ film and has been delayed to an unknown date.
Though unsubstantiated, we’ve even heard ‘Big Rock’ is being eyed as a proof-of-concept pitch and unofficial pilot for Jurassic making an eventual TV series debut. Whatever happens we hope the spin-off is officially announced soon.
If the Jurassic Park franchise sees more films after Jurassic World 3, what do you want to see?
It’s all too clear Jurassic World 3 isn’t the end and we’re happy to hear it. With that in mind, be sure to let us know what you want after Jurassic World 3 in the Twitter poll above and in the comment section!
The dinosaurs of Jurassic World continue to run loose in San Diego, taking over Comic Con, and roaring to life in fantastic new ways. Mattel hosted a Jurassic themed panel today titled “How a Dinosaur was Made”, focusing on the behind the scenes design process before turning the spotlight onto the future toys. Wasting no time, they revealed the theme and title of next years assortment: Primal Attack!
They key art is bold and colorful, with a toxic haziness that screams beautiful but deadly. In true Jurassic fashion, it seems to revolve around the park on Isla Nublar, with fencing not yet destroyed, hinting at the open park era. We’re not sure what this means for potential line lore, but we’re excited by it all the same.
Jurassic World Primal Attack’s play theme is about bringing the dinosaurs to life in their most raw authenticity, giving them fluid and realistic movements, attacks, and roars. This was showcased with their new electronic roaring Carnotaurus, which features a thrashing and biting attack, with a full range of body motion. Check it out in action!
Here’s a short clip of the new Primal Attack Carnotaurus from @Mattel in action! This new line is expected to launch in 2020. pic.twitter.com/1meurR1kAu
— Jurassic Outpost @ SDCC! (@JurassicOutpost) July 19, 2019
They then moved on to reveal and tease many new dinosaur species, promising a total of 17 entirely new species, with many more brand new toys. In this first image, you can see the three new species they revealed: Edmontosaurus, Alioramus, and Cryolophosaurus(left to right) surrounded by many more dinosaur silhouettes. Within those silhouettes we see what looks to be Sinoceratops, Teratophoneus, Manjungasaurus or Rugops, Sarchosuchus, Callovosaurus, Irritator or Ichthyovenator, Postosuchus, Scutosaurus, what may be a Carcharodontosaurus, and a few more species too hidden to make proper guesses on (could that be a Moschops bottom right?).
They then revealed another image with even more silhouettes, many of which are returning species, though some may be new sculpts. We notice a few obvious species like Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Tapejara, Dimemorphodon, Minmi, Baryonyx, Styracosaurus, a handful of raptors, and quite a few others, most of which are obscured by one another. Check out the picture below and see what you can spot!
While many of these species are designed just as toys, Mattel did confirm that quite a few will be based upon the upcoming Netflix animated series Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, and even went as far as showing the previously revealed trailer during the panel. We’re not sure what species are from the new series, but we’re quite excited at the prospect of some brand new canon designs being introduced to the lineup. Outside of the dinosaurs, you may notice a lack of human figures, which Mattel sadly has confirmed that there are no news humans planned for 2020 at this time (outside of potential Amber Collection expansions).
As for other reveals, Mattel gave away a few new toys not yet in stores at the end of the panel: the Battle Damage Spinosaurus, and the Ultimate Battle Damage Baryonyx Breakout set! Check out the pictures below – we’re particularly big fans of the Barynoyx set!
While that’s it for new toy reveals, the panel itself kicked off with the making of process for some of the existing toys, as the designers took turns explaining the process. The design portion is a must watch, and we will be sure to highlight it once we have the panel available online, which will also provide more insight into the upcoming Primal Attack toys as Mattel explains the reveals seen in the images!
Personally, I think many of the new species revealed and hinted at are incredibly exciting, and feels like Jurassic Park at its most raw, with many exotic and primal lesser known species taking the stage. The upcoming paint jobs feel more alive, natural, and complex than the past ranges, while remaining exciting and eye grabbing. The only species I’m currently not feeling is the Cryolophosaurus, which is a long necked and agile animal, where as the toy feels stumpier with a less distinguishable shape – however, as it’s only concept art, I’m sure the final design will see some evolution and refinement. I can’t wait to see more, and I’m particularly ecstatic about the endless potential Camp Cretaceous crossovers will offer.
Let’s just all keep our fingers crossed Mattel decides to introduce some new human characters and vehicles into the core line in 2020, as they’re an essential part of what makes Jurassic toys truly come to life.
Are you excited by the new reveals, what species do you think are pictured, and what are you looking forward to the most? Sound off in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for all the latest news!
Preview night roared into action yesterday at the San Diego Convention Center for San Diego Comic Con 2019, and with it many new Jurassic World reveals occurred! Perhaps most notably is the official unveiling of Mattel’s 6 inch scale Jurassic World collectors series – the Amber Collection:
To bring the Amber Collection line to life, Mattel has partnered up with GameStop as the exclusive retailer for the exciting lineup. With GameStop comes a great but simple opportunity for collectors – the ability to pre-order the items, guaranteeing you the toy upon its release date. GameStop is no stranger to pre-orders, and offers this for all their upcoming products such as videogames and consoles, which meant they were a perfect fit for high demand collectors items such as these!
The initial wave of items in the Amber Collection are a Dr. Ian Malcolm figure from Jurassic Park, and a Jurassic Park female Velociraptor – and they are available for pre-order now! Dr Malcolm is available here, the Velociraptor is available here, and a online exclusive bundle pack is available here! We strongly reccomend you pre-order ASAP (whether online or at your local GameStop store), as with any exclusive item and collectors lineup, the availability will be more limited than the other toys with the potential of selling out.
The pictures show just how detailed each of these items are, and gives a great look at their amber themed display stands. Malcolm and the female classic Velociraptor are expected to ship this October, so be sure to pre-order now. No word yet on when Owen and Blue will be available, nor what the packaging will look like, but we expect those reveals to happen soon!
We’re on the floor at San Diego Comic Con, so stay tuned for more coverage and pictures on our website and social media channels. We had the chance to talk to GameStops James Parker about the Jurassic World Amber Collection, so keep your eyes peeled on our site for the full interview soon!
What are your thoughts on the Jurassic World Amber Collection, and what other dinosaurs and humans would you like to see? As always, let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for all the latest news!
It’s official – the Jurassic World ride at Universal Studios Hollywood has opened its gates! While the park has been letting guests ride the new attraction recently as part of technical rehearsals, it was not formally open. However, Universal surprised everyone today with the official announcement!
Universal City, CA, July 12, 2019 – It’s official: Universal Studios Hollywood’s mega attraction “Jurassic World—The Ride” opens and It Just Got Real.
Inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s JURASSIC WORLD blockbuster films, this spectacular new thrill ride features the film’s stars, Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and BD Wong, who reprise their roles as Owen Grady, Claire Dearing and Dr. Henry Wu, and soars to new heights with the addition of iconic dinosaurs from the movie, including the colossal Indominus rex and the magnificent aquatic Mosasaurus.
“Jurassic World—The Ride” captures the essence of the blockbuster movies and comes to life in collaboration with the award-winning and inspired minds at Universal Creative, the Academy Award®-winning special-effects visionaries at Industrial Light & Magic, a division of Lucasfilm, Ltd., Universal Pictures and acclaimed filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow and Frank Marshall.
The elaborately themed all-new “Raptor Encounter” where Blue, the beloved Velociraptor from the JURASSIC WORLD movies, engages with guests in daring face-to-face encounters, along with the addition of two new dinosaurs – a Baby Raptor with her Raptor Handler and a life-size Triceratops who greet guests outside the “Jurassic World—The Ride” entrance, further enhance the entire experience. Plus, a new interactive “Dino Play” area is designed to inspire children of all ages to explore and excavate giant dinosaur fossils.
Costa Rican-inspired cuisine and flavorful Tiki cocktails served at Jurassic Café and all-new tropical Isla Nu-bar add to the dynamic guest experience while an array of souvenir collectible, limited edition and one-of-a-kind dimensional dinosaur sculptures from the Jurassic Outfitters store invite guests to savor a piece of this exciting thrill ride even after they have gone home.
With so much to see and do at Universal Studios Hollywood, the California Neighbor Pass invites guests to experience 175 days of fun for $149 when purchased online. Visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com for more details. Blackout dates and restrictions apply.
Numerous POV videos are available online from the new Jurassic World ride, so if you’re eager to experience it online prior to visiting the parks, just check out YouTube – or stay tuned, as we’re visiting the park later this month and will provide our own coverage! The ride itself opens with a innovative screen based Mosasaurus encounter, which is adaptive to time of day and weather according to Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow. However, in the videos online, the time of day effect has yet to be seen, so perhaps todays opening will mark its debut. Likewise, the Indominus Rex in videos online is reportedly not at 100% animation, and will likely be even more interactive soon!
Be sure to stay tuned for our full review of the Jurassic World makeover coming later this month after we visit! Will you be visiting the park, or have you already rode the ride? Sound off in the comments below and let us know what you think!
Since the release of the Mattel Jurassic World lineup in 2018, dinosaurs have truly ruled the toy shelves, calling attention from fans and collectors alike. Last year during San Diego Comic Con 2018, Mattel promised a new format for the Jurassic World line: a 6 inch collectors series. Since that reveal, which included Owen Grady, Malcolm, and Velociraptor Blue, it’s been radio silence – however, prior to SDCC 2019 we finally have new pictures and details!
Releasing under the title of the ‘Jurassic World Amber Collection’, this line is aimed at collectors and is sculpted in a 6 inch scale (the core line is a smaller 3 3/4 inch scale). The range will launch with 2 figures based upon the original Jurassic Park: Dr Ian Malcolm, and a classic female Velociraptor. Read their descriptions below for all the details!
Dr Ian Malcolm
Relive the exciting big-screen action with the Jurassic World Amber Collection! This collection spans the film franchise and features highly collectible and extremely posable action figures with authentic decoration and deluxe detail. The Dr. Ian Malcolm action figure is inspired by the original Jurassic Park film and captures not only his wit and sarcasm, but his deep respect for the power of nature. Action figure is approximately 6.5-inches and includes a stand for display, an extra pair of hands for enhanced play action plus flare and water cup accessories. Take home the excitement of Jurassic Park with this exciting Dr. Ian Malcolm action figure! Collect other action figures in the Amber Collection! Each figure sold separately, subject to availability. Colors and decorations may vary. For ages 4 and up.
Velociraptor (female)
Relive the exciting big-screen action with the Jurassic World Amber Collection! This collection spans the film franchise and features highly collectible and extremely posable action figures with authentic decoration and deluxe detail. The Velociraptor dinosaur action figure is inspired by the original Jurassic Park film and captures not only her aggression but her intelligence traits as well. Action figure is approximately 6.5-inches and includes a stand for display. Take home the excitement of Jurassic Park with this exciting Velociraptor dinosaur action figure! Collect other action figures in the Amber Collection! Each figure sold separately, subject to availability. Colors and decorations may vary. For ages 4 and up.
The Velociraptor and Malcolm both have seen quite a few revisions and improvements since their 2018 reveals. Most obviously, the Velociraptor is no longer based upon Jurassic World’s Blue, while Malcolm himself looks more proportionate, and less ‘Jeff Swoleblum’ as some had dubbed him. Take a look at their prior reveals below to compare:
At this point there is no word on availability or pricing, though the current buzz is these items will be retailer exclusive. With San Diego Comic Con 2019 opening its doors in less than 10 days, we wouldn’t be surprise to see and learn more soon – though it remains unconfirmed that the toys will be on display at the show. Further, while Owen is currently not available with the latest batch of information, we suspect he will make it to store shelves at some point (although we would welcome a Jurassic Park focus, with Grant and Sattler first).
Be sure to stay tuned, as more images and information are sure to roar online soon! Until then, sound off in the comments below and let us know what you think of the Amber Collection toys!
