Hold on to your butts, the Jurassic Park gates are coming to Mattel Creations! As we tweeted earlier today, Mattel have begun to tease a first look at the first crowdfunded Jurassic Park item to join Mattel Creations online platform, and it’s a big one.
Isla Nublar’s doorway to death has made its way to the toy universe before – Kenner’s 1993 Jurassic Park Command Compound playset included some of Jurassic Park’s iconic fencing, along with the dauntingly large gates to complete the set.
The gates did get a reissue by Hasbro in 2001 (for some reason), but haven’t been reimagined by Mattel since their acquisition of the license… until now.
The ‘Jurassic’ franchise is definitely on a bit of a hiatus after ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’. The story that began in 1993 closed with the sixth film, and while there are opportunities to continue in a new direction, many believe the actual choices for an engaging narrative are limited.
The BioSyn “Sanctuary”, as shown in the final moments of ‘Dominion’, is really the only bit of lore left to tie the franchise forward unless something new is concocted (much like the “Lockwood” material in ‘Fallen Kingdom’). Depending on who you ask, Isla Sorna could be the setting for future stories – but what is left to mine from there at this point in the series? Otherwise, we just have a future with random dinosaur attacks in our world (which honestly has a limited shelf life in terms of having an actual story).
‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ made over a billion dollars last year, a feat only shared by a handful of films. No matter what your take is on the last entry, the box office is proof that there is still an audience for this series. Universal Pictures will undoubtedly move forward with a new story at some point. However, what if instead they went backward?
Jurassic Outpost has been given exclusive new details on the proposed John Hammond prequel that was teased two years ago. An independent pitch that features a gallery of concept art showcasing Hammond’s years leading up to the creation of ‘Jurassic Park’! Included are several new images, which you can view below:
In many ways, this looks like a version of the story told by Richard Attenborough (the actor who famously portrayed John Hammond) in the DreamWorks Interactive game ‘Trespasser’ through a collection of memoirs written by Austin Grossman.
However, that game’s story has been questioned by fans as meshing canon from the films and the novels in ways that don’t quite line up (although we personally enjoy it regardless). This new pitch appears to adhere more closely to the films. For a taste, we were given this page from the script, depicting a moment from the well-known “flea circus” story.
So far, this concept sounds great and looks like it could have potential. Given how most people didn’t like the direction ‘Dominion’ went, the chances of a prequel happening (or even a remake of sorts) are definitely not out of the question. Do you think Universal Pictures would be interested? Would you be interested? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!
The celebrations for Jurassic June continue with an all-new episode of Beyond The Gates! In the latest episode, Chris unveils a giant newcomer to Mattel’s Hammond Collection: the 1993 Brachiosaurus, as seen on Isla Nublar!
Joining Chris to dive deep into the development and design of this Jurassic Park collectible is none other than Mattel’s Gregory Murphy, alongside the legendary Academy Award winner Dennis Muren, who took the time to speak with us about his work on the Brachiosaurus scene.
Check out the exciting unveiling and behind the scenes look at Jurassic Park below:
This season of Beyond The Gates has been filled with items to celebrate Jurassic Park’s 30th Anniversary, with no signs of slowing down!
The Hammond Collection Brachiosaurus from Jurassic Park is now available to pre-order exclusively (in the US!) at Target.com! Don’t miss your chance to bring home this towering titan.
There are some exciting unveilings still to come – stay tuned for more!
Thirty years ago, ‘Jurassic Park’ roared its way into movie theaters. The film’s impressive special effects and incredible premise have wowed audiences for decades, cementing it as a true classic.
One vital member of the film’s creative team was Caroline Quinn, the art department coordinator. While her career would later evolve as a set designer on projects like ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’, ‘Halloween Kills’, and Zack Snyder’s ‘Rebel Moon’; ‘Jurassic Park’ was where everything began. Join Jurassic Time as they discuss her role as an art department coordinator, and the adventure she went on to help bring ‘Jurassic Park’ to life!
Featuring never-before-seen photos and concept work from the film, as Caroline Quinn tells her behind-the-scenes stories! The perfect way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of ‘Jurassic Park’!
They explore her time assisting the film’s art department by assembling storyboard displays, models, and embarking on epic research assignments! Caroline even portrayed Lex Murphy in a “Raptors In The Kitchen” test video created by Stan Winston & Dennis Murren! Hear how she contributed to a famous joke in the film, helped create the memorable slideshow in the Visitor Center’s lunch room, and much more!
After thirty years, the film remains an incredible experience, thanks to the team of creative geniuses that brought to life an adventure 65 million years in the making…
It’s amazing how even after three decades we can learn new behind-the-scenes stories of ‘Jurassic Park’! What were some new details from this interview that you enjoyed the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and as always stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!
‘The major refurbishment of Jurassic Park the Ride, which begins on Monday, September 4, 2023, is expected to take until early 2025. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.’
This follows the ride being closed from June 6th to June 21st also of this year, most likely for normal yearly refurbishment and maintenance.
There is also no word as to if this is a refurbishment of the existing ride or if it means the ride will be getting the Universal Hollywood treatment and transforming into Jurassic World The Ride.
Currently, Universal Studios Orlando and Japan are the only Universal parks to still have the classic Jurassic Park The Ride/River Adventure ride. Universal Singapore has its own unique Jurassic ride called Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure that has a circular raft vehicle rather than the long multi-rowed raft (making it close to Islands of Adventure’s Popey and Bluto’s Bilge-rat Barges or Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Kali River Rapids.) Universal Beijing has the award-winningJurassic World Adventure Ride (a dark ride in the vein of Amazing Adventures of Spider-man at Islands of Adventure,) as well as Jurassic Flyers. As previously stated, Universal Hollywood revamped Jurassic Park The Ride to Jurassic World The Ride, which opened in 2019. Sporting some new visuals, animatronics, and story, the updated ride has been well received, with many applauding the spectacular new animatronics and moments. Universal Orlando still has its original Jurassic Park River Adventure ride and opted for a brand new Jurassic World ride (instead of changing River Adventure) with VelociCoaster, which has been awarded Best Rollercoaster two years in a row. If Universal Japan is changing their Jurassic Park ride to Jurassic World though, we can theorize (“theorize, mind you”) that it’s most likely only a matter of time before Orlando sees its classic Jurassic ride go through a similar refurbishment.
While closed, guests to Universal Japan can still visit the Jurassic Park area to experience The Flying Dinosaur, a steel flying coaster where guests soar through the air like pterosaurs (which, should be stated, are not dinosaurs,) and experience various dinosaur “meet and greets” throughout the land.
Universal Parks News Video of Jurassic Park The Ride at Universal Studios Japan
Today Hasbro revealed the Transformers Collaborative Jurassic Park x Transformers Dilophocon and Autobot JP12 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Jurassic Park! These figures are inspired by the iconic Dilophosaurus and Jeep Wrangler Sahara from the original film. This new mash-up pack is available for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse and Amazon.
Transformers Collaborative Jurassic Park x Transformers Dilophocon and Autobot JP12
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $74.99 / Available: Fall 2023)
The worlds of Transformers robots and Jurassic Park collide once again with the Jurassic Park x Transformers Dilophocon and Autobot JP12 mash-up pack! The iconic Dilophosaurus and Jeep Wrangler Sahara from the Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s blockbuster Jurassic Parkmovie are now Transformers robots. Each figure converts from robot mode to movie-inspired alt mode (convert Dilophocon in 20 steps; Autobot JP12 in 23 steps) and features screen-accurate deco and details. This 2-pack comes with movie-inspired accessories including a shaving cream canister, embryo containment unit, rain hat, venom blast effect, and 2 blaster accessories.
Transformers robots have always been — More Than Meets the Eye — but now, through the Transformers Collaborative, fans can experience these larger-than-life characters as they team-up, mash-up, and meet up with other characters, teams, and people who share this same special quality. Available for preorder on Hasbro Pulse and Amazon.
What do you think of Jurassic Park x Transformers? Will you be pre-ordering? Let us know in the comments and follow Jurassic Outpost for more!
‘Jurassic Park: The Ride’ at Universal Studios Hollywood may have closed forever to make way for ‘Jurassic World’… but something has survived, thanks to Jurassic Time! Experience the queue videos from the extinct original attraction in this edited & remastered production, preserving the entire fantastic pre-show! Click the title card below to watch it!
Starring Richard Attenborough reprising his role as John Hammond! Also featuring dinosaur expert “Dino” Don Lessem! This presentation uses a variety of the highest quality sources possible to recreate the original Hollywood attraction’s single-screen queue videos. Most of the footage presented in this video is sourced from a new Universal Studios Japan recording of the queue’s main screen by “USJ Informer L.C.A.STUDIOS” to present the best quality ever seen outside of the attraction!
It was then edited to match the original English audio and sequencing by using a Hollywood on-location recording from 2018 (with some elements from years prior). This audio is imperfect, with a lot of background noise at times from other video screens in the queue, but it is the best we could get under the circumstances. Some footage is still sourced from this recording, most notably the spinning “logos”, and other sources. Due to the sources available, there will be some inaccuracies & other editorial choices made to best recreate the experience.
In addition, two versions of the “boarding audio” bookend the presentation. Much of the music during the various spinning “logos” has been re-created to closely match the way they were originally edited for the videos to provide a better-quality experience. Some music remains unknown and uses the source audio.
A fun note: Steven Spielberg gets a brief cameo during John Hammond’s segment! They spared no expense!
In the queue, a set of three screens were joined together at each station, often having additional unique footage on the other screens (sometimes even interacting with each other). To see that version (including its unique alternate takes of certain moments), see the “MULTI-SCREEN Queue Videos” compilation.
‘Jurassic Park: The Ride’ was in development during the creation of the film itself. You will notice in several segments that sets, props, vehicles, and even animatronics are used from the film. The Visitor Center, for example, was used right before the set got struck down. For more about the creation of the original attraction, see Jurassic Time’s interview with its creator & other videos, including a storyboard recreation of the ride’s initial ideas!
Did you ever get to ride the original Hollywood attraction before it closed? What were some of your memories, and do you prefer it to other incarnations? Share your thoughts below, and as always stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!
Today marks the first day of Jurassic June, and Universal Pictures have dropped a celebratory video featuring the original cast of 1993’s Jurassic Park. Check it out below!
Thirty years ago, the world experienced the original Jurassic Park, “the beginning of something that changed movies.” Sam Neill (Dr. Alan Grant), Laura Dern (Dr. Ellie Sattler), and Jeff Goldblum (Dr. Ian Malcolm) return in an exclusive clip to reflect on their experiences and express their gratitude to the fandom for keeping the captivating wonders of Jurassic Park alive. After all, “there’s something about dinosaurs which captures the proper imagination like nothing else.”
How are you celebrating? Join the discussion down below!
This morning Universal Orlando opened their Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary Tribute Store to excited guests at their resort! Located in the Hollywood section of the park, the store acts as a sort of museum dedicated to the production, release, and impact of one of the most influential films in all of film history. Featuring several rooms crammed with rare production archives and props, exclusive merchandise, and unique foods, it is going to be a must stop-shop for the summer months at the resort for guests.
The latest tribute store is the newest Jurassic offering of the Orlando destination. In the last few years there has been the opening of Jurassic World VelociCoaster (which was awarded Best Roller Coaster two years in a row,) a Jurassic World Tribute Store (which ran the summer months of 2021 in the previous Tribute Store location in the New York section of the park,) and the Great Movie Escape which features a Jurassic World themed escape room experience.
While most of the additions to the park have been centered around the Jurassic World brand, the new tribute store transports us back to the 90’s and centers entirely around the film that started it all- Jurassic Park. Acting as a sort of museum that harkens back to the vibes of the “Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park” traveling exhibit, the store is divided into several different rooms that takes guests on a journey through the production of the film all the way through to its release and impact.
Before entering the store, the guests come face to face with the infamous sick Triceratops lying on its side, which is absolutely breathtaking (and I fully admit to tearing up upon seeing it up close.) Just before entering the store you’re surrounded by scaffolding, stage lights, and banners sporting the Jurassic Park logo and the classic sunset imagery. Many noted last week, when signage started going up, that the signage sported a “Making of Jurassic Park,” rather than just Jurassic Park. This tribute store being more of a shine to the overall production of the filmsets it in contrast to the 2021 JW Tribute Store which had more of an “in-universe” feel, and I’m sure it also offered a bit of a creative change for all of the incredibly talented Team Members of Art and Design, fabrication, carpentry, and painters who are involved on the project.
The first room has a focus on the “Pre-Production” (and a bit of “Post-Prod”) of Jurassic Park. It is filled to the brim with concept art of the dinosaurs and characters, film props, maquettes, and footage. It also has sections where they showcase and explain how Go-Motion was going to be the way they brought the dinosaurs to life in the film and how, as we all know now, it was abandoned in favor of computer-generated dinosaurs which revolutionized the film industry forever.
Moving on to the second room, we are now in the “Production” stage of the film. There are several photo-ops where guests can stop and put themselves into key moments of the film. Guests can either get down and hide behind kitchen counters from a stalking Velociraptor, try to appease an agitated Dilophosaurus, or quake in terror while sitting on a toilet in the middle of a rainstorm beneath Rexy herself. There are also lots of production documents and images as well for guests to gaze at and read as they make their way through, including a part that discusses Hurricane Iniki. Just before heading into the next room, guests can come face to face with another Velociraptor in the shed while they can attempt to return power to the island!
Rounding a corner, the guests are able to pass through the legendary Jurassic Park main gates and snag some unique and delicious treats before heading into the final room which illuminates the legacy and impact of the film upon its release. This, personally, had to be one of my favorite rooms in the whole store as it was just like walking into a sanctuary of classic Jurassic Park memorabilia. In display cabinets sits many different Kenner Jurassic toys, posters, magazines, buttons, bookbags, and loads more of vintage Jurassic Park merchandise. For fans of this franchise, whether you were able to experience the Jurassic craze in the 90’s or only wished you were able to, you can relive it here. If the first three-quarters of the store were the “Making of Jurassic Park” documentary come to life, this room perfectly embodies the “Dinosaur Dream Team” Marketing Video, tying the whole experience together.
The Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary Tribute Store proves to be an amazingly well executed, and immersive experience that is filled with fun easter eggs and beautiful set pieces sure to awe everyone who steps through the entrance. As soon as you enter it’s impossible not to feel the love put into this experience by everyone involved, and for fans it will be even harder not to be overwhelmed by it. The exclusive merchandise and collectables lining the walls harkens back to the feeling of shopping in the 90’s and seeing endless shelves and racks dedicated to Jurassic, and a lot of the new offerings are sure to be “must haves” for many. Some of the merch can be found throughout the entire resort at different stores (like Jurassic Outfitters and the Dino Store in the Jurassic Park section at Islands of Adventure,) the store sports of a wider variety of the 30th Anniversary merch as well as the special snacks.
The limited time JP30 Tribute Store is now open at Universal Orlando, during park hours. While there is no word on exactly how long the store will be there, in the past the “summer” tribute store typically runs until the first few weeks of August, at which time it will be closed and construction on the Halloween Horror Nights tribute store will begin. The store is just one of the few ways the Orlando resort is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film. Guests can also get exclusive food, treats, and drinks at the Thunder Falls Terrace Restaurant at Islands of Adventure (again, no official word on how long the offerings will last,) and June 9th, 10th, and 11th the Cinemark at City Walk will have screenings of Jurassic Park (tickets are not up yet, but keep checking Cinemark/Fandango,) along with possibly some other potential surprises along the way!
If you’re hoping for a fun Jurassic themed getaway this Summer, then you may be in luck! Just announced in the May episode of Beyond the Gates, Mattel is hosting a new sweepstakes that could send you and three others on a theme park vacation to either Universal Studios Hollywood or Universal Orlando Resort!
There are a number of other prizes to be won alongside this trip, so be sure to check out the details below!
Mattel wants to send you and three others on a Universal theme park vacation in Hollywood or Orlando!
Enter Mattel’s Jurassic Park Sweepstakes for a chance to win an experience that brings you face-to-face with thrilling dinosaurs and rides! The Grand Prize Winner could win a vacation at their choice of either Universal Studios Hollywood or Universal Orlando Resort, a Jurassic Park Prize Pack, and a $100 Target gift card from Mattel! The vacation includes a trip for 4 including round trip airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation between airport and hotel, and theme park admission.
5 additional winners will receive the Jurassic prize pack and a $100 Target gift card.
With so much to see and do at either park there really isn’t a better way to celebrate Jurassic Park’s 30th Anniversary! So what are you waiting for? Visit the sweepstakes website for your chance to win!
