Walmart released a commerical during the Golden Globes this past Sunday for their new grocery pickup service, which allows customers to order groceries online and have it delivered to their car. By the end of 2019, Walmart hopes to have 2,140 online grocery pickup sites. The promotional commercial released features iconic vehicles from TV shows and movies such as the Batmobile, the Ghostbusters ambulance, Knight Rider Firebird, Dumb & Dumber “Mutt Cutts” van, Scooby Doo Mystery Machine and most importantly, the Ford Explorer from Jurassic Park.
“We not only picked famous cars from iconic movies we knew would be instantly recognizable to our customers — and launched the campaign during one of the film industry’s most popular awards shows — but we also worked with a variety of different Hollywood studios to gain access to these vehicles,” Messing explained. “This helped ensure the famous cars looked just like what our customers knew from the films, while demonstrating the ease, speed and convenience of the service and that it’s for everyone, regardless of what car you drive.”
Below, please enjoy the 90 second commerical from Walmart featuring the Jurassic Park Ford Explorer and compys!
What do you think of Walmart using the classic Jurassic Park Ford Explorer in their advertisement? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and on our forums.
“My instinct is to break the classical language of these films a bit and plunge us into a world that feels real and naturalistic. I want to go outside into environments we’ve never seen these animals in. I’m watching a lot of Planet Earth.”
The excitement for a new Jurassic Park movie is a feeling that cannot be shaken by fans, and with Fallen Kingdom still fresh in everyone’s minds, we spoke with Jurassic World 3 director Colin Trevorrow who teased his plans for the upcoming sequel!
Along with those teases we speak about the fandom and the interactivity that Twitter can provide, Colin discusses his writing partner Emily Carmichael and what brought them together as co-writers, we talk the dinosaurs of the franchise, and Colin hints at a wealth of expanded universe content to follow in the future.
Grab your soda from the vending machine and enjoy the read, this is a good one!
When you were first approached for Jurassic Park 4, did you ever think you would be here today in the position you have with Jurassic? What lessons have you learned along the way?
It’s been a ride. Something happens around 40—you’ve lived long enough to look back and identify things about yourself that you realize are embedded pretty deep. I’ve seen patterns in my own work that have helped me understand myself a bit more. All of my films tend to be about a character who gets better, someone who is approaching life in a way that doesn’t represent their best self and then changes dramatically. Darius in Safety Not Guaranteed, Claire in Jurassic World, Susan in The Book of Henry. They’re all characters who have fallen into a pattern that needs to change, and through extraordinary circumstances they find a path to the better versions of themselves. If I’ve learned one lesson, it’s that I share something with the characters and stories I’m attracted to. I want to be the best version of myself, both as a filmmaker and as a person.
How did you meet your new writing partner on the next movie, Emily Carmichael, and what do you believe she will bring to the Jurassic franchise?
I saw a short of Emily’s called “The Hunter and the Swan Discuss Their Meeting”. I just knew immediately that I loved her brain. It’s different. Like a child who went to Harvard but still plays with toys. I brought a script of hers to Steven and we offered her a job writing a script she’s going to direct. She started going to meetings and her career took off. She worked on Pacific Rim 2 with a few other writers, then wrote The Black Hole for Disney on her own. It wasn’t hard to make the case that she should join the family. Her enthusiasm has been pretty infectious. She’s also an excellent Dungeon Master, as my kids will attest.
How involved are you with designing and choosing the dinosaurs, old and new, for each film? What is that process like, and what informs your choices? By design and definition, are there certain key elements you feel set Jurassic dinosaurs apart from others?
I’ve been lucky enough to be able to choose the dinosaurs, but Derek Connolly and JA Bayona and now Emily Carmichael will have each made contributions when it’s all said and done. It’s just a bunch of kids sitting on the floor with their toys. It’s the best part of my job, but also the hardest. You have to keep some great ones in the tank. I love the Carnotaurus and the Baryonyx, but I didn’t want to just see them in the background in Jurassic World. They deserve an entrance. So we put them on the park map, but held the reveal for the second film. The next film is even more fun because the opportunities have really opened up.
You’ve said Jurassic World 3 will have the most accurate dinosaurs yet. What exactly does that mean for a Jurassic film, feathers or otherwise, and what – if any – lessons have you learned from designing dinosaurs on the past two films?
We’re not looking to alter the dinosaurs from the previous movies. Those are established characters to me—they were made with reptilian DNA bridging the gaps in the genome and they have their own identity. But now we’re headed into a world in which the ability to clone a dinosaur is no longer exclusive to Dr. Henry Wu. That leads to innovation, and new opportunities for us to introduce species that represent the full spectrum of our knowledge.
Artwork by Simon Stålenhag – not related to Jurassic World 3
Many assume Jurassic World 3 will feature dinosaurs terrorizing cities and suburbs, and fans are often referring to properties like Godzilla and Planet of the Apes. Are these connections a fair assumption, or do you plan to keep the dinosaurs in the wilder, more untamed landscapes?
I just have no idea what would motivate dinosaurs to terrorize a city. They can’t organize. Right now we’ve got lethal predators in wild areas surrounding cities all over the world. They don’t go pack hunting for humans in urban areas. The world I get excited about is the one where it’s possible that a dinosaur might run out in front of your car on a foggy backroad, or invade your campground looking for food. A world where dinosaur interaction is unlikely but possible—the same way we watch out for bears or sharks. We hunt animals, we traffic them, we herd them, we breed them, we invade their territory and pay the price, but we don’t go to war with them. If that was the case, we’d have lost that war a long time ago.
“Jurassic World 3” or “Jurassic Park 6”? Ultimately a subtitle will replace the numbers, but is there a chance the ‘Park’ branding will return?
Emily and I call it Jurassic Park 6 because it’s fun, and that’s what it is to us. This is the conclusion of a story that began 25 years ago, and I think fans will be fired up when they see how much we’re connecting it to the source material. I know Jurassic World didn’t feel like a sequel in a traditional sense—the title change probably contributed to that—but it was. And so is this.
Will the visual style of Jurassic World 3 be influenced at all by what JA Bayona and Oscar Faura brought to the table?
JA and Oscar shot a beautiful film. If I’m being honest, I’d say they shot such a beautiful film, I’m not even looking to try and match it. They achieved something so gorgeous to look at, my instinct is to break the classical language of these films a bit and plunge us into a world that feels real and naturalistic. I want to go outside into environments we’ve never seen these animals in. I’m watching a lot of Planet Earth.
Jurassic as a brand handles itself quite differently than other mega- franchises out there – from your direct interactions with the community, to the inclusion of fans to create content like Masrani Global and the Dinosaur Protection Group. How important is that to you, and how would you say it helps Jurassic excel?
Our collaboration with the fans was something I first asked for back in 2015, and Universal was really open to it. The team delivered such a great experience with Masrani Global, we gave them a new assignment on Fallen Kingdom, and they crushed that, so we’re really going to be able to expand on that relationship with the third film. It always seemed obvious to me—who knows more about this lore than the fans? Why not just give them the keys and let them drive?
Did any fan and/or critical feedback to Jurassic World help shape your approach to writing Fallen Kingdom?
It did. We definitely took a turn into the darker side of Jurassic Park with that script. The first film was such a bright, colorful pop adventure. With Fallen Kingdom, we were looking to explore the uglier side of humanity and our cruel treatment of living creatures. But I think Bayona kept us from going too far—he embraced the darker elements, but also brought his own sense of playfulness and humor to the proceedings. When we initially wrote the dinosaur auction, we were imagining a dirty, unsavory bunch of animal traffickers huddled in a basement, trading lives for money. He turned it into the sequence you see in the film, which was more like a Sotheby’s auction for the super-wealthy. I think it played much better for kids, and was the right choice when balanced against the poor treatment of the animals we were seeing, which could have become irreparably sad. That’s the benefit of working with another director—you can see different sides of the story through their eyes.
Fan service has become a huge point of debate with larger franchise films. Striking a happy balance seems to be no easy task.
The fans keep my compass pointed in the right direction. Deep fans watch movies differently than the casual viewer, the same way critics watch films differently than the general audience. None of them are wrong. So I do a lot of listening. And every year, more dinosaur fans are born. These movies need to work simultaneously for those kids, for adults who love the old films, and for a diverse global audience—including some who didn’t even have American movies available to them when the first film came out. It’s a delicate balance. I feel like I’ve made a mix of bold choices and safe ones—hopefully once my tenure is done, the fans will look back and feel like I was a careful custodian.
Can you talk about your experience with social media? You directly engage with fans on various subjects. But amongst all that can come a lot of toxic trolling. How do you filter that?
You really can’t filter it. But when you dig deep enough into any fan’s anger, you’re going to find a deep love for the franchise they’re defending. To understand that level of passion—and sometimes furor—requires the same respect and tolerance you give to those with different belief systems than your own. But belief is no excuse for aggression toward those who don’t share your beliefs. It makes me sad to see the current state of the discourse, because the ugly rhetoric we’re throwing at each other is polarizing fandom the same way our politics is dividing us. I hope we find our balance again. I think we can.
It seems you are overseeing the greater Jurassic expanded universe, both in content and canon – is that correct? Can you talk a little about what your involvement is like with that?
Yeah, I’ve been involved since 2015, in collaboration with Steven and Frank. We’ve been working closely with Universal to build out the world and make sure that kids (and adults) who want to dig deeper have someplace to go. We’re really proud of the Mattel and LEGO toys, the console and mobile games from Frontier and Ludia, the VR experience from Felix and Paul, who are just brilliant. We just finished a two-part animated LEGO special that will air on NBC this week. All our creative partners have done awesome work. There’s a lot of things I can’t really talk about, I promise there will be no shortage of new developments in the next few years. But we’re being careful not to oversaturate. Some people just want to go see a dinosaur movie every three years, and that’s fine. Others want dinosaurs all the way down. We’re here for them, too.
Why do you think Jurassic has succeeded in making dinosaur movies work – something that would normally just become another creature feature, into something that is able to thrill and captivate audiences like the Jurassic franchise has done? Do you believe bringing that magic to life gets more difficult with each movie?
I think there’s something humbling about dinosaurs. They’re evidence that we’ve only occupied the earth for a tiny sliver of time. The line that encapsulates the whole series for me is Irrfan Khan’s moment at the beginning of Jurassic World. “Dinosaurs remind us how very small we are, how new.” Humans have only existed for 200,000 years. Dinosaurs were here in one form or another for 170 MILLION years. We act like this planet belongs to us, but we just got here. That’s the story I’m here to tell, and every choice we make is connected to it.
Now that certainly is a lot to digest! While ‘dinosaurs in war’ is an idea that’s been floated around for years, was featured in John Sayles’ Jurassic Park 4 script, and was even hinted at by a main character in Jurassic World, it’s great than Colin continues to shut this idea down in exchange for a much more realistic portrayal of wild animals in the ‘human’ world.
“The world I get excited about is the one where it’s possible that a dinosaur might run out in front of your car on a foggy backroad, or invade your campground looking for food. A world where dinosaur interaction is unlikely but possible—the same way we watch out for bears or sharks.”
Me too Colin, me too. This world would allow for the suspense and thriller aspects of Jurassic Park to return, and is going to allow us to see these dinosaurs interacting with new environments. Environments that aren’t restrained by the jungles of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna, and instead feel much closer to home.
“My instinct is to break the classical language of these films a bit and plunge us into a world that feels real and naturalistic. I want to go outside into environments we’ve never seen these animals in.”
J.A. Bayona’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom ended with a number of shots showing the dinosaurs reaching cities and locations in and around California, and with the technology used to create these dinosaurs now out in the open world and potentially in the hands of large corporations that don’t have the animals best interests in mind, Jurassic World 3 could show us a much darker side to this story.
We want to say a huge thank you to Colin Trevorrow for this interview and for speaking with us! We hope you enjoyed the read and in case you missed our previous interview with the director back in 2016 you can find that here or listen to the podcast. There’s a surprise guest at the end. And that surprise guest is J.A. Bayona. Sorry to ruin the surprise. But it has been over two years since that interview, so that’s on you.
And be sure to take a listen to our brand new episode where we discuss this interview and go into detail on some of Colin’s answers:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and while Jurassic may be a Summer film series, the merchandise goes hand and hand with the snowmen and long shopping lines. Whether you’re shopping for yourself, Christmas, or otherwise, there is no short supply of dino-themed gifts out there.
We’ve accumulated a list of some of our top picks of Jurassic World merchandise, perfect for fans of all ages to make your shopping easier:
Fallen Kingdom Blu-ray & DVD
This one is a given, and odds are you already own one of its many releases. However if you’ve yet to pick a copy up, or are buying for another lucky fan, here are some of our top version choices.
Celebrate the legacy of Jurassic Park by bringing home a piece of history with this exclusive limited edition 1:1 prop replica of John Hammond’s Amber Cane, cast from an original studio prop with an expertly crafted finish. Special Jurassic Park logo plaque, hanger clip, and wall mount hardware included.
This official prop from Chronicle Collectibles is exclusively sold at Paradise Collectibles, and is limited to 1000 units. Check out this review from our friends at Jurassic Collectibles!
Who doesn’t love when LEGO combines its forces with dinosaurs, especially Jurassic Park dinosaurs? These LEGO sets are sure to provide long brick building fun for fans of all ages, and are primarily based upon moments from the latest Jurassic World. The following sets are our top picks from the line, varying in price:
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! Thrash ‘n Throw Tyrannosaurus Rex is in the style of the fan-favorite character from the original Jurassic Park. Now she’s back and better than ever with awesome action features! In addition to authentic sculpt and decoration, Thrash ‘n Throw Tyrannosaurus Rex has sound effect features like chomping and stomping, an impressive roar and a HUGE bite. Use the tail activation to open mouth and pick up other human and dinosaur action figures, and then thrash and throw them across the room! Recreate all your favorite epic dinosaur action scenes from the movie, but watch out—this Tyrannosaurus Rex is ready for a fight!
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! Mosasaurus, the colossal swimming creature, is back again and makes a bigger splash than ever in the film! This action figure is inspired by the movie and comes in a massive size that will thrill fans! Mosasaurus features authentic textured skin, realistic sculpting and articulation that makes this colossal creature come to life! Colors and decorations may vary. Are you the ultimate dinosaur expert? Download the Jurassic World Facts app to bring your Mattel Jurassic World dinosaur figures to life and learn fun facts!
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! When an Indoraptor escapes at Lockwood Estate, no man, woman, child, or animal will be safe during his hunt—especially with his night-vision capabilities! An abomination hybrid of the villainous Indominus Rex and the vicious Velociraptor, Indoraptor is the most terrifying and deadliest dinosaur ever masterminded—the latest brainchild of Dr. Wu. Inspired by the film, Grab ‘n Growl Indoraptor wreaks havoc and fear with his mere presence. His ominous features include red eyes that light up and glow, slick black scales, long arms with dagger-like claws and extra articulation that he will use to catch anyone that crosses him. And watch out for his huge terrifying SCREECH and realistic dinosaur sound effects! To activate, slide the switch located on the tail for grabbing action and lights and sounds; push the button for chomping action and lights and sounds; and move the tail around for thrashing action! Act out ferocious battle scenes with Grab ‘n Growl Indoraptor and relive all the exciting adventure and terror of the movie!
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! Roarivores dinosaur action figures are inspired by the movie and feature push button sound activation and signature attack moves iconic to their respective species. Play out movie action scenes with signature attack moves like chomping, biting and head butting. Figures also include articulated arms and legs, realistic sculpting and authentic decoration. Choose from Triceratops, Baryonyx, Metriacanthosaurus, Allosaurus, and more!
(Note, subject to availablity – MSRP is $14.99 but third party retailers may charge more)
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! These Battle Damage dinosaur action figures have a spring-loaded damage panel feature that snaps back on impact to reveal the battle wound! Kids will love battling it out again and again to see the results. Just reset the Battle Damage action figure to play out favorite action battles from the movie again and again! Choose from Battle Damage Stiggy, Battle Damage Velociraptor Blue, Battle Damage Pachycephalosaurus, Battle Damage Herrerasaurus, Battle Damage Gallimimus and more!
(Note, subject to availability – Basic dino MSRP is $9.99 but third party retailers may charge more)
The Jurassic World Legacy Collection roars into action celebrating classic moments, themes and characters from the blockbuster film franchise! These dinosaur action figures feature articulated arms and legs, realistic sculpting and authentic decoration. Each dinosaur also has an action feature unique to its character and species like chomping, jumping, flapping or spitting! Choose from ramming Pachycephalosaurus, spitting Dilophosaurus, flapping Pteranodon, leaping Velociraptor and biting young Tyrannosaurus Rex action figures.
(Note, subject to availability – Basic dino MSRP is $9.99 but third party retailers may charge more)
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! These Attack Pack dinosaurs are inspired by the movie and are known to herd, hunt and attack in packs. Each Attack Pack dinosaur figure includes five points of articulation, realistic sculpting and authentic decoration. Choose from Velociraptor Blue, Green Velociraptor, Dilophosaurus, Gallimimus and Dimorphodon. Each sold separately, subject to availability. Colors and decorations may vary. Are you the ultimate dinosaur expert? Download the Jurassic World Facts app to bring your Mattel Jurassic World dinosaur figures to life and learn fun facts!
(Note, subject to availability – Basic dino MSRP is $7.99 but third party retailers may charge more)
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! These Action Attack dinosaur figures capture the ultimate movie action with their unique action-attack features! Add realistic sculpting and authentic decoration, and these Action Attack dinosaurs come to life ready for dinosaur action! Choose from Action Attack Carnotaurus (press button to make the head strike forward and jaws chomp) and Action Attack Stegosaurus (press a spine plate to trigger the tail swipe).
(Note, subject to availability – Basic dino MSRP is $19.99 but third party retailers may charge more)
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! These action figures are inspired by characters in the film and feature realistic sculpts at 3 ¾” action scale. Each comes with an accessory or dinosaur action figure so kids play out their favorite Jurassic World moments. Choose from Owen and Baby Blue or the Mercenary and Dimorphodon. Relive all the action and adventure of the movie with these action figures!
(Note, subject to availability – Basic figure MSRP is $7.99 but third party retailers may charge more)
From jewelry, bottle openers, and collectible artwork this Jurassic Park and Jurassic World collection is perfect for fans who aren’t into toys. Take a peek, and spare no expense!
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! fan favorite character, Velociraptor Blue is ferociously cute and comes in a kid-sized Ginormous scale that is approximately 3 feet tall and over 4 feet long from nose to tail! this Ginormous Velociraptor Blue figure is made of soft plush material and features realistic eye detail, sculpted claws on her arms and feet and a big Blue streak on her body, of course! kids will love hugging and cuddling with this kid-sized Ginormous fan favorite plush figure!
Take control of operations on the legendary islands of the Muertes archipelago and experience the majesty and danger of awe-inspiring dinosaurs. Every choice you make between Entertainment, Science and Security Divisions influences your journey through an unfolding narrative and decades of Jurassic lore.
Welcome to the Dinosaur Protection Group. This olive green coffee mug from Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom features a retro inspired “Save the Dinos” design.
The Knitted Christmas Sweater Preorder is officially licensed Jurassic Park merchandise. You can be confident that it will be of the highest quality and give you that warm, fuzzy feeling that only comes from supporting the creators.
Join the Capture and Containment Unit with the new ‘Jurassic World’ Laser Tag Blasters from eKids!
The set comes with two laser tag blasters that have a range of up to 100 ft! There are three shooting mode, and each has unique sound and light effects. There’s a life meter on the top of each blaster that keeps track of the shots fired and how many times the blaster has been hit.
Chose from three different shooting modes, each has different shot power, shot speed, number of shots, and reload time. You can hit the Secret Weapon button on the side of the gun to deal a massive blow to your opponent. The game ends when a player runs out of Life Points. Simply turn the blaster off and on to reset and start a new game. One round with these blasters definitely won’t be enough. The blasters are good quality and very responsive, both when firing and getting hit.
Head over to Amazon to purchase the ‘Jurassic World’ Laser Tag Blasters 2 Player Set, which is currently priced at $48.95. If you want to have a larger laser tag party, additional units can be purchased to extend play! Age recommendation is 5 and up, and they do come with batteries.
Is this something you would buy for your kids (or for you and your friends)? Let us know in the comments!
Hold on to your butts! These dioramas created by Peter Hui showcase some of the Jurassic franchise’s most iconic and memorable moments. As you can see, the level of detail put into these pieces is overwhelming.
Peter says creating each diorama takes around about 3 to 7 months, depending on the size and the complexity of the scene. “Each diorama goes through the process of planning the layout of the diorama, searching for production photos of the set, digitally sculpting dinosaurs and characters, fabricating elements to populate the scene and building the diorama itself. It is a pretty long process indeed!”
Peter says his fascination with creating dioramas such as these stems from an early age. “When I was young, I had a fascination of toy window displays because in that little space, they create an entirely new world and I’d stare at them, soaking in the sense of adventure and danger. These toy window displays inspired me because they have somehow been able to capture the emotion and translate them visually. When I create each diorama, I hope to capture the emotion we had when we first saw the film, the sense of danger, suspense or even wonder. However, when we watch the film, we are in a constrained to the confines of the movie frame, but with the diorama, I am allowed to view the same scene from various angles which allows me to appreciate the scene even more.”
It is easy to understand what Peter means. Not only do see every angle when you craft something as intricate as what Peter has made, but you also get insight into the mind of the director when they set up their original shot in the movie. Every little detail is there for a reason and making dioramas like Peter’s showcase those details phenomenally.
One of the most intricate pieces he has made is the classic Jurassic World scene of Owen with his velociraptor pack. Peter said, “That diorama was the first time when I had 3D sculpted and printed all the dinosaurs and characters. It wasn’t some existing figurine which I modified, it was done entirely by me. What made so special to me was that suddenly, I realised that I could create any scene I wanted to. The sense of creative freedom to relive the emotions I felt when I first watch the Jurassic films.”
Peter plans on creating more scenes like these, but first has to decide what scene he wants to do next. Be on the lookup for the Baryonyx scene from Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom or the raptor feeding scene from Jurassic Park. He hopes to display his pieces in a museum or for a Jurassic event in the future. See behind the scenes photos and some of his other work at the link below.
Calling all Jurassic fans! Mattel and Jurassic World need your help to win the Toy Association’s “Toy of the Year” award in several categories.
First up is Action Figure of the Year. This nomination includes all of the dinosaurs, humans, and vehicles sold under the Mattel/Jurassic World brand.
The nomination description reads: “The Mattel Jurassic World action figure line brings the blockbuster Jurassic World franchise to life with human and dinosaur action figures, vehicles and accessories – all to scale size – that allow kids and adults to recreate their favorite movie moments and fully build out their own Jurassic World.”
Competition for this category includes DJ Bumblebee by Hasbro, Pokémon 4.5″ Battle Feature Figures by Wicked Cool Toys, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figure Assortment by Playmates Toys, Stikbot Monsters by Zing, Treasure X by Moose Toys, and WWE Sound Slammers Figures by Mattel.
The next category Jurassic is up for is “License of the Year”. This is a broader category stemming from Universal and reaching out to all of the merchandise that shares a Jurassic World license.
The nomination description reads “Jurassic World ™: Fallen Kingdom, which is a part of the Jurassic World Franchise, is a license owned by Universal. In addition to a theatrical release, the property features an extensive cross-category assortment, ranging from toys in the construction category to hard and soft goods.”
Other competitors in this category include Hatchimals by Spin Master, Hot Wheels by Mattel, L.O.L. Surprise! by MGA Entertainment, Marvel Black Panther by The Walt Disney Company, Peppa Pig by Entertainment One, and PJ Masks by Entertainment One.
Finally, Jurassic World is also nominated in the “Playset of the Year” category with LEGO® Jurassic World™ Indoraptor Rampage at Lockwood Estate by LEGO Systems, Inc.
The descriptions says, “Play out an epic dinosaur battle and help Owen, Claire and Blue rescue Maisie from the hybrid dinosaur inside the 3-level building, featuring configurable walls, a museum, laboratory, office, bedroom, removable windows, collapsing roof function and a large buildable triceratops skull. Includes 6 minifigures and 2 dinosaur figures.”
Competition includes Disney•Pixar Cars Super Track Mack Playset by Mattel, Farm To Table Play Kitchen With EZ Kraft Assembly™ by KidKraft, Hidden Temple with T-Rex by PLAYMOBIL, L.O.L. Surprise! House by MGA Entertainment, LEGO® Creator Expert Roller Coaster by LEGO, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 43” Epic Sewer Lair Playset by Playmates Toys.
The Toy of the Year awards are hosted by The Toy Association, Inc. Voting closes on January 6, 2019 so make sure to get your votes in by then! Are they any Jurassic World toys you think should have made the list? Do you have any of these in your own collection? Get out and vote for Jurassic World for Toy of the Year!
Prepare to return to Isla Nublar, before the Indominus Rex broke free throwing the park into chaos, and before Mount Sibo erupted, forcing the dinosaurs to face extinction once again. Universal Brand Development in conjunction with The LEGO Group have announced ‘LEGO Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit’ an all new animated 2-part special which serves as a prequel to the 2015 film!
Have you ever wondered how Claire Dearing met Owen Grady, where the Carnotaurus came from, wanted to know more about the eccentric park owner Simon Masrani, and been eager to know just what else InGen had cooked up in those labs?
Check out the trailer below, and read on for all the exciting details!
NBC has partnered with Universal Brand Development and The LEGO Group for the upcoming debut of a two-part animated special:“LEGO®Jurassic World:The Secret Exhibit.” The all-new animated special–inspired by the blockbuster Jurassic World franchise –will air on Nov.29 at 8p.m. ET/PT on NBC.The story takes place before the adventures of Jurassic World in 2015.
With the grand opening of Jurassic World’s new super-secret dinosaur exhibit just days away, only one thing is missing – the dinosaurs! In order to get the job done, Simon Masrani enlists his newly-hired assistant, Claire Dearing, to ensure the new attraction opens on time…or else. Unfortunately, Owen Grady, the animal behaviorist Claire hired to deliver the dinosaurs, is late. Things aren’t looking too good for Claire…or for Owen, who just wants to deliver the dinosaurs, collect his paycheck and get off the island.
But the mission to deliver the dinosaurs turns out to be far more difficult than anyone could have imagined. From a runaway Gyrosphere, hang gliding with a Pteranodon (how did they get out of the Aviary?!), to a high-speed game of chicken with a T-Rex, Owen will earn his paycheck and then some. And Claire may just get promoted to Assistant Manager of Park Operations. Along the way, we get the first inklings of why Owen and Claire drive each other crazy, but despite their differences, they succeed and make a great team. Oh, and Owen meets Blue for the first time as he discovers he has a way with dinosaurs he never knew about!
The two-part special will be available to stream the morning after the NBC broadcast, Nov. 30, across multiple platforms, including the NBC app and NBC.com, where it can be viewed without a login, as well as on Hulu and On Demand. It will also be available for download from major digital retailers.
The DVD, with exclusive bonus content, drops Jan. 15, 2019.
While this animated special may twist some of the canonical accuracies for stylistic hi-jinks and fun, it’s great to hear mention of Isla Sorna, and have an explanation for new species spotted in Fallen Kingdom such as the Carnotaurus and Stygimoloch. Intriguingly, many of the key dinosaurs and characters seen in this special have accompanying LEGO sets – save for the Baryonyx. With rumors abroad of new sets hitting in 2019, it seems quite possible that species will make its brick debut soon!
The cute 2-part journey is sure to provide fun for all ages, all while offering adventure building laughs and thrills. For those in the UK, it will air on iTV the 6th of December.
Be sure to stay tuned over the course of this month, where we will debut exciting ways you can celebrate the release of this new animated LEGO Jurassic Park story, including product giveaways. As always, sound off in the comments below and let us know what you’re most excited to see in ‘The Secret Exhibit’, and what other types of expanded universe content you would like to see in the future!
Following an tease earlier in the week while revealing what new features will be brought to the game with the 1.5 update, Frontier Developments has revealed the first piece of paid content since the release of Jurassic World: Evolution.
From the Press Release:
Hello there,
This is Dr. Henry Wu speaking. I know you’ve been working hard across the islands to design and breed the most awe-inspiring and, sometimes, fear-inducing creatures. You’ve had success, I can tell, and I like your methods. So I’m here to ask for your assistance. I’ve got a very, very special project for you, should you choose to join me in my efforts. Think about it, but do know: the reward we will reap is… compelling, to say the least.
I look forward to hearing from you.
-HW
“Secrets of Dr. Wu” will expand upon the base story of Jurassic World: Evolution, giving players insight into the shady dealings of the morally ambiguous geneticist. Not only will this see Jurassic series actor B.D. Wong reprise the role with all-new voice lines (as showcased by the trailer), but will include a plethora of new in-game content for players to sink their teeth into.
NEW FEATURES
Five new dinosaur species will be added to the ever-growing roster. First up are the giant hadrosaur Olorotitan and the nimble therapod Troodon, complete with a “poison bite attack” (Jurassic Park: The Game, anyone?).
In addition to these, there are three brand-new hybrid dinosaurs: Stegoceratops (cut from 2015’s Jurassic World, fans will recognise this one from the Hasbro toy released alongside the film), and Ankylodocus plus Spinoraptor which were both introduced in the LUDIA Jurassic World games.
Two of the five deaths will also see map expansions – new regions of Isla Muerta and Isla Tacaño will be opened up to the player to expand their hybrid testing areas.
Aside from the new narrative and missions, there will be a slew of new genetic modifications available to further tinker with your dinosaurs, including comfort genes, allowing the player to up dinosaur tolerance to conditions beyond their expected limits.
Most exciting of these is the Indominus Rex camouflage gene, finally bringing this iconic and long-requested ability to the Indominus’ in-game counterpart. Once bred with this gene activated, the Indominus Rex will be able to camouflage while hunting, idle, panicking or while in dense forests. You’ll want to keep an eye on her enclosure!
In addition to all this, there will be some new building upgrades, such as the additional incubation speed increase, the speed increase for the transport team, plus an advanced storm defense station to provide better protection against rough weather conditions.
UPDATE 1.5
Aside from the paid DLC, the free 1.5 update will be bringing many long-requested features into the base game.
First among these are modifications to existing dinosaur behaviours. The dinosaur with the highest prestige within a group will be appointed as the group leader, which other dinosaurs of the same species will now follow while drinking, eating and fleeing, keeping groups of dinosaurs together. Leadership contests will see the title be awarded to the victor, keeping your dinosaur populations dynamic and ever-changing. This now also means dinosaurs can be herded by staff vehicles.
Dinosaurs will also now sleep while comfortable and idle, not just while sick, and under the new group leader system, will nap as a group.
A full day/night cycle will be added to all game modes, introducing more dynamic and variable lighting conditions to the islands. This will be instantly available from the gameplay setting menu in the Isla Nublar Sandbox and Challenge modes, and will be unlocked for the Career islands after achieving 5 stars on each island.
The introduction of higher capacity feeders (in addition to regular feeders) will also remedy the frustration of constantly having to send out your ranger teams on resupply runs. And all-new contracts will see players sell dinosaurs with particular gene modifications and influence specific dinosaurs’ infamy ratings to skyrocket.
“Secrets of Dr. Wu” will be available for all systems on the 20th of November 2018, releasing alongside the free 1.5 update. Costing £12.99/$14.99/€14.99, the DLC will be available to download on Steam, and the Playstation and Xbox Stores, depending which platform you play on (base game required).
Frontier Developments will be holding a launch lifestream on the 20th November at 3PM UTC on www.twitch.tv/frontierdevelopments for those who may want to see some of the features in play before they buy.
Between the free update and paid DLC, it seems that Frontier are addressing many player’s complaints and are committed to improving general quality of life for Jurassic World: Evolution. But what are your thoughts on the revealed upcoming content? What are you most excited for, and what would you like to see in future updates and DLC drops – say a classic Jurassic Park visual overhaul?
Sound off in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned for the latest news!
One of the biggest films of 2018, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is finally being released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on November 5th. In anticipation of the home release, Fallen Kingdom director J.A. Bayona and writer/executive producer Colin Trevorrow spoke with The Hollywood News about the middle film in the franchise’s second trilogy and even talked about their roles on the next film tentatively being referred to as “Jurassic World 3”.
It was announced earlier this year that Colin Trevorrow, who directed and wrote the fourth installment of the franchise and the first film of the second trilogy, Jurassic World, would be returning to the director’s chair for Jurassic World 3. The next installment in the franchise is set to hit theaters on June 11, 2021.
Trevorrow has been very involved with the creation of this new trilogy, and is the director on the next film, but what about Bayona’s possible role in the future of the franchise? Will he have any creative say or have an official role with Jurassic World 3? According to Bayona, it doesn’t sound like he will be involved, at least not in an official capacity. But he does leave the door open for a possible return to the franchise if there is another film. Jurassic Park 7 anyone?
J.A. Bayona – “Not really. I think it is great that Colin, who started it all, finishes the story. I would love to come back some day to the Jurassic universe but I think it is time for Colin to finish what he started.”
Though that doesn’t mean Bayona will not be consulted for the next film as Trevorrow goes on to acknowledge that he is now part of the “Jurassic” family.
Colin Trevorrow – “I am directing it but believe me I will be calling JA regularly to consult because he is part of our family now. When Steven Spielberg agreed that I wasn’t going to do the second one, he asked me if I would do the third and I promised that I would. I asked him to trust me that this choice was going to pay off and he did. He was a fan of Bayona as well. And I feel very good right now because I think that the choice did pay off. JA has directed a fantastic film. But it hasn’t changed my mind that we need to bring a strong new voice into each one of these films and for the third one I am bringing in a different writer, Emily Carmichael, who is working with me. I think doing that is something that keeps things fresh.”
Both Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom were box office monsters having grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide combined. It is a safe bet that Universal Pictures is pretty confident that Jurassic World 3 will continue that track and be another highly successful film for them. Trevorrow and newcomer Emily Carmichael are currently hard at work writing the script and targeting a shoot start date of early 2020.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and on our forums.
Since Mattel made their debut with the Jurassic license earlier this year, they have spared no expense bringing quality items to stores, and most importantly, fans and collectors. While the Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom tie-in line is wrapping up this Fall, the toys are not going extinct – in fact, they’re just getting started.
Take a first look at just some of the upcoming 2019 ‘Dino Rivals’ toys from Mattel, all only from the upcoming “Spring” wave (some of which are hitting shelves as early as THIS year!):
Attack Pack Assortment
Get ready to continue the thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World: Dino Rivals! these attack pack dinosaurs are inspired by the movie and are known to herd, hunt and attack in packs. Each attack pack dinosaur figure includes five points of articulation, realistic sculpting and authentic decoration. Choose from Velociraptor, Dracorex, Rhamphorhynchus, and many more!. Each sold separately, subject to availability. Colors and decorations may vary.
Savage Strike Assortment
Be a part of the Jurassic World adventure with the ultimate in dinosaur rivalry and battle action! These smaller-size dinosaur action figures capture the ultimate movie action with their Savage Strike™ attack moves iconic to their respective species. Play out movie action scenes with Savage Strike™ attack moves like biting, head ramming, wing flapping and more. Just press a designated area on the dinosaur action figure to make it move (each dinosaur activation varies). Figures also include articulated arms and legs, realistic sculpting and authentic decoration. Get ready to battle it out—Savage Strike™ style—with these fierce action figures! Each sold separately, subject to availability. Each dinosaur comes with a cool Dino Rivals™ collector card detailing the dinosaur’s key battle stats and attributes. For more dinosaur fun, download the Jurassic World Facts app (Android and iOS) to scan and watch each dinosaur come to life, learn attack facts, compare stats and more!
Battle Damage Assortment
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! These Battle Damage dinosaur action figures have a spring-loaded damage panel feature that snaps back on impact to reveal the battle wound! Kids will love battling it out again and again to see the results. Just reset the Battle Damage action figure to play out favorite action battles from the movie again and again! Choose from Battle Damage Plesiosaurus, Battle Damage Pteranodon and many more. Each sold separately, subject to availability. Colors and decorations may vary.
Tracker ATV Set
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World: Dino Rivals!Hit the road to adventure with this Jurassic World-inspired ATV vehicle with cool features! Front of the ATV transforms into a capture claw that you can use as you drive around to capture dinosaurs. Set comes with ATV vehicle, Owen figure, knife and gauntlet accessories, Dracorex dinosaur and card with dinosaur facts for complete storytelling play!
Mega Dual Attack Assortment
Experience Jurassic World dinosaur battle play in a whole new way! Jurassic World Mega Dual Attack dinosaur action figures come in a larger size and have dual-button activation for fierce battle action! Push the two buttons on each dinosaur to activate different battle features, such as tail strikes, head strikes and massive chomps! You can also press both buttons at the same time for dual-striking action! These dinosaur action figures have movie-inspired sculpting, an articulated head and tail, authentic color and realistic texture. Recreate all the epic Jurassic World battle-action scenes with these Mega Dual Attack dinosaur action figures! Choose from Stegosaurus, Suchomimus, Amargasaurus action figures and more (each sold separately, subject to availability). Each dinosaur comes with a cool Dino Rivals™ collector card detailing its key battle stats and attributes.
Bite ‘N Fight Tyrannosaurus Rex
Experience Jurassic World dinosaur battle play in a whole new way! This larger-scale Bite ‘N Fight Tyrannosaurus Rex has articulation and dual-button activation for fierce battle action! Push the back button on the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the tail strikes; press the front button and its head lunges forward with biting action and turns approximately 90 degrees. The harder you press the front button, the stronger the bite force becomes! You can also press both buttons at the same time for dual tail and head-striking action! This fan-favorite character has movie-inspired sculpting, an articulated head and tail, authentic color and realistic texture. Recreate all the epic Jurassic World battle-action scenes with this Bite ‘N Fight Tyrannosaurus Rex—but watch out—this Tyrannosaurus Rex has a huge BITE and swinging tail STRIKE! Comes with a cool Dino Rivals™ collector card detailing the dinosaur’s key battle stats and attributes.
Colossal Rex (re-release)
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! Based on the iconic Tyrannosaurus Rex from Jurassic World, Super Colossal Tyrannosaurus Rex is approximately three feet long with realistic detail and decoration. Large figure features articulated arms and legs, and extra-wide jaws that can open and close. Super Colossal Tyrannosaurus Rex can swallow up to 20 mini action figure dinosaurs whole (sold separately)! To release the dinosaurs, open the door on the belly.
This is just a small sampling of the items that will soon be available in stores – the entire 2019 Dino Rivals line boasts 16 entirely new species joining many new versions of previous dinosaurs. Exclusive assortments likes Battle Damage (Walmart) and Legacy Collection (Target) are continuing to expand, and should provide many fun surprises in the future.
Some of the upcoming toys not pictured here, but revealed at San Diego Comic Con 2018 are the Colossal Brachiosaurus, Mega Dual Attack Amargasaurus, and Franklin Webb human action figure. Be sure to keep your eyes open, as more pictures of the Dino Rivals toys are likely around the corner!
What are your thoughts on the revealed items, and what else do you hope the new line of toys bring? Sound off in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned for the latest news!
