Toy Fair 2017 has officially kicked off in New York City, and while it appears neither Mattel or Lego have anything Jurassic World there, a company called Skyrocket Toys has filled the void. While little is known about the product, Newsday unveiled the set in their article about the hot new 2017 Toy Fair items.
Jurassic World VRSE: A virtual reality system from Skyrocket provides a 360-degree experience that brings to life the Jurassic World adventure. The set comes with a VR headset, motion controller with a case and a free downloadable game. For ages 8 and older. $59.99, available fall 2017
UPDATE – new pictures and info (via pocket-lint.com at London Toy Fair) :
Early prototypes from London Toy Fair
“We got to try one of the VRSE virtual reality headsets on Vivid’s stand at Toy Fair but because the design was not finalised, couldn’t bring you our own pictures. However, we still thought it worth of inclusion as the headsets and, specifically, the licensed games are good quality.
There will be two in the initial range, based on Jurassic World and Batman. Each will cost £70, which gets you the headset, a themed Bluetooth controller and an app download. You use either and Android or iOS smartphone in the visor to provide the screen.
Where we think VRSE differs from most other “toy” VR devices we’ve seen in the past is in the content. We had a brief go at an early build of the Jurassic World app and there are several mini-games and experiences included – with actual gameplay and thought gone into them. It’ll be available in July so we’ll take a more in-depth look closer to the time.”
Images from New York Toy Fair
Unfortunately there are no other details at this time, but it’s intriguing to note that this isn’t just a viewing experience like the past Jurassic World VR game – this has a controller, and gives the player the ability to move around. A long while back we heard that a Jurassic World VR experience was being created to allow players to visit the open parks dinosaur exhibits, and while we have no idea if this rumor was true, perhaps it was indeed tied to this item.
Judging by the included controller, the free game experience must be simple in play mechanics, and is unlikely to be related to the ‘Jurassic World Survivor‘ game by Perfect World Entertainment. Check back often, as more details surface we will be sure to share! Skyrocket Toys is at booth 3019 at New York Toy Fair, so if you can visit them, take pictures, ask for more details, and relay them all our way!
Special thanks to Andrew Lappin on Facebook for sending this our way!
Legendary Entertainment founder, chairman and CEO Thomas Tull has resigned under pressure after selling the company to China’s Dalian Wanda Group for $3.5 billion in January of 2016. Tull served as an executive producer on 2015’s Jurassic World and his company Legendary Entertainment served as a production company on the film in association with Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.
“We are thankful to Thomas for his founding vision of Legendary as well as his commitment, leadership and partnership this past year. He will forever be part of the company’s already rich legacy and powerful DNA,” said Gao in a statement. “As we move forward, Wanda aims to transform Legendary into a next generation studio of the future with a far-reaching creative and global platform. We look forward to working with the creative team to manage our already viable film slate with more to come in the near future.”
While there was never any official announcement from Universal Pictures, many assumed Legendary Entertainment would again serve as a production company on the upcoming Jurassic World Sequel with Tull returning as an executive producer. However, after the company was sold to the Dalian Wanda Group and with Tull’s exit from the company, its pretty clear he will not be returning as executive producer on the sequel and the prospects of Legendary Entertainment returning are not guaranteed.
Thomas Tull (left) at the Jurassic World premiere in 2015
Legendary Entertainment’s relationship with Universal Pictures has been shaky as of late with the studio being upset with Tull taking more credit for the success of Jurassic World then he deserved. The Hollywood Reporter detailed the strain between the two companies in September of 2015 after Universal let the rights to the upcoming Kong: Skull Island film go to Warner Brothers.
Universal Pictures’ decision last week to let Thomas Tull’s Legendary Pictures take its Kong: Skull Island project to Warner Bros. in the midst of a five-year production and financing deal is being read as a symptom of relationship trouble between the companies.
Several sources say there has been strain, in part because Tull kicked off the deal in 2014 with a couple of clunkers that he put through Universal’s distribution system and then upset some at the studio who feel he has indulged a bad habit of wrapping himself in credit for hits that he merely helped finance. In this case, the film at issue was the biggest movie of the year to date, Jurassic World.
What do you think of Thomas Tull leaving Legendary Entertainment and what it might mean for the production company’s involvement in the Jurassic World sequel? Let us know in the comments below and on our forums.
In June 2015, a rumor had surfaced that the recently closed Cryptic Studios Seattle location was working on a secret Jurassic World video game. In November of that year, we shared screenshots and art from the game posted by artists who had worked on the project – they had thought their contract was voided as the studio closed, but soon after the publisher Perfect World went after them. We had removed the pictures as a favor to the artists, but as many of you know, the story had already went viral.
Some time went by without an update, and most assumed the project was extinct – but in June of this year we had heard the project was still alive, and being developed at another studio. Today this news has been confirmed with recent trademark applications of the games title: Jurassic World Survivor.
The trademarks were applied for on December 24th, 2016 – so it’s likely an announcement is right around the corner. Doing further digging, I discovered www.JurassicWorldSurvivor.com was purchasedby Perfect World Entertainment, the projects publisher, in October of this year. The game was initially planned for release on Steam Early Access before going wide on consoles in 2015 – and while the development has changed hands, and the project no doubt evolved, perhaps a similiar roll-out will occur.
The game itself is shrouded in mystery, though it was reported to be an open world third person survival game taking place on Isla Nublar. Similar to titles such as H1Z1, crafting and player interaction was to play a role – though it was apparently light on story. However, since its delay it is likely the scope of the title has continued to expand and evolve in the hands of its new developer (likely Cryptic Studios California). All we know is the play style and story concept are married with the title: survival. Reportedly, it takes place during or shortly after the events of the Jurassic World movie, and centers around player created characters simply trying to outlast the subsequent carnage.
Whether or not the upcoming title will have any easter eggs or tie-ins to the currently untitled Jurassic World sequel remains unclear. However, this game definitely presents an opportunity to do so, and as the upcoming IDW comic series will tie-in to the 2018 film, it’s not improbable this will as well.
Stay tuned: an official announcement of the game is surely coming soon! While it remains unconfirmed, I wouldn’t be surprised if the title is released some time in early, or mid 2017. As always, sound off in the comments below, and let us know what you want from the game!
The Hollywood Reporter today dropped a juicy news nugget confirming that Jurassic World composer Michael Giacchino will be returning to compose the score for the upcoming Jurassic World sequel due in 2018.
While Giacchino did not discuss the Jurassic World sequel during the interview, the Hollywood Reporter mentioned that the film is on his to do list along with multiple other films.
Giacchino took a break to speak with THR between Rogue One and his next geeky gigs, which include Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, War of the Planet of the Apes, the next Jurassic Park sequel and Pixar’s The Incredibles 2.
The news of Giacchino returning for the Jurassic World sequel is not a huge surprise and most fans expected this to be the case. Given that he did a remarkable job on the Jurassic World score, has developed a solid working relationship with the Jurassic World sequel writer/producer Colin Trevorrow and already has a friendship with the Jurassic World sequel director J.A. Bayona it seemed like he would definitely be back.
Michael Giacchino with J.A. Bayona in 2013
So are you excited that composer Michael Giacchino will be returning to score the Jurassic World sequel? Let us know in the comments below and on our forums.
Chronicle Collectibles continue to delight fans with highly-detailed and accurate Jurassic Park/Jurassic World products with the announcement of their latest item – the 1:9 scale Owen Grady and Blue statue, which is now available for pre-order!
The statue stands at 11″ with a width of 8″, and weighs 3 lbs. The pose was inspired by the Entertainment Weekly photo shown below, and our friends at Chronicle Collectibles worked closely with Universal Pictures and ILM to ensure the product is absolutely perfect.
The statue was first seen at the San Diego Comic Con earlier in the year, where Chronicle debuted a number of their upcoming items, and showcased an unpainted version of this statue.
Thanks to Chronicle, we have some exclusive behind the scenes photos of the statue:
As with all of Chronicle Collectible’s fantastic products, this is a limited edition run and will include individually numbered units that are assigned numerically by the time and date of the order. Owen and Blue will be available for a price of $349.99, switching to $400 after 30 days. Don’t forget, Chronicle have many payment plans so you don’t have to pay in one lump sum!
Check out the pre-order page here – and check out the other products that are still available for purchase. My personal favourite is the Compy… or the Stegosaurus… or the Breakout Rex… you know what? I don’t have a favourite. I want them all. Here’s some more behind the scenes photos:
If you’re as excited as us to see what else Chronicle Collectibles are planning for this franchise, take a listen to our interview with Paul Francis, Art Director and Co-Founder of the company. He dishes some juicy details on their upcoming products!
Have you pre-ordered any of these collectibles? Let us know in the comments section below and be sure to follow Chronicle Collectibles on Facebook and Twitter for more photos and information.
Jurassic World stars Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt were confirmed for the Jurassic World sequel when Universal made the official sequel announcement back in July of 2015. Very little information since has been revealed about the rest of the cast with the exception of auditions for a mysterious role named “Lucy” and Variety’s report of Toby Jones and Rafe Spall being in talks. But now Producer Frank Marshall hints via an interview with Cinema Blend that B.D. Wong, who played Dr. Henry Wu in Jurassic Park and Jurassic World could be returning.
When Cinema Blend asked Frank Marshall about the possibility of the character of Dr. Wu returning in the upcoming sequel, he had this to say:
“When they take off in helicopters, you know they’re probably going to come back.”
Does this mean B.D. Wong will definitely reprise his role as Dr. Wu? We will just have to wait and see but this does seem to be a strong hint from Frank Marshall that he will. Let us know what you think about Dr. Wu possibly returning in the sequel in the comments below and on our forums.
The Park is Open! Well at least in Philadelphia. Today was the grand opening of Jurassic World: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Exhibition makes its North American debut after spending nearly 7 months at the Melbourne Museum in Australia.
The Exhibition opened today, and will run through April 23, 2017. New to the Exhibition, guests can get an up close experience with Blue the Velociraptor – this Raptor suit and experience were not part of the previous opening in Australia.
“Get closer to dinosaurs than ever before in Jurassic World: The Exhibition! Based on one of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history, the Exhibition immerses audiences of all ages in scenes inspired by the beloved film. Now, the park that was only a promise comes to life…right before your eyes.
Travel to Isla Nublar as a VIP guest and explore Jurassic World. Stare in wonder at a towering Brachiosaurus; come face-to-face with a Velociraptor; and get a rare up-close look at the most vicious dinosaur of them all, Tyrannosaurus rex.
Created in close collaboration with renowned paleontologist Jack Horner, the Exhibition is infused with interactive educational elements—drawn from the real-world science of dinosaur DNA that allowed Jurassic World to come to life. Visitors of all ages can now learn all about these incredible prehistoric creatures.”
Footage from Australia stop, The Exhibition has since been updated & upgraded.
Visit The Franklin Institute’s website for more information on the event and ticket prices. Book your trip to Isla Nublar today!
Will you be going to Jurassic World: The Exhibition? Have you already visited? Let us know in the comments section below and share your photos with us on Twitter!
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, up and coming actor Glen Powell – who stars in such films as The Great Debaters, The Expendables 3 and The Dark Knight Rises – revealed that he once auditioned for a Jurassic Park movie, long before it was Jurassic World.
Worst audition: “I auditioned for a new Jurassic Park years ago, way before it was Jurassic World. And there was an improv section where I was being attacked by a Pterodactylus.”
While we don’t know when this was, it’s likely that it was around 2004, when the studio was preparing for the John Sayles script to head into production. This is speculation of course, but through various sources we know that this script reached the point of Hasbro designing the toyline, and now we can assume that it also reached the casting stages.
If you haven’t already, check out the 2004 John Sayles script for Jurassic Park 4 which is available for download here. The script opens with a little league game being attacked by Pternosaurs, which could relate to the audition scene that Glen described.
We have reached out to Glen Powell for more information!
As all living things do with time, the Jurassic World website has continued to evolve – this time adding sections for ‘Community’, ‘Films’, and perhaps most excitingly: ‘Intel’. Finally, JurassicWorld.com houses the entire Jurassic Park franchise, and not just the movie of the same name. Intel being the most feature rich addition has pages for each major character, actor, and dinosaur* (*more on this later in the article) – and some of these pages showcase awesome new images from the past.
Intriguingly, the section for the ‘Exhibition’ has been changed to ‘Events’, although it still only houses information about Jurassic World the Exhibition. This does seem to imply that other events are planned, though have yet to be announced. Another new addition is a Snapchat icon, so expect more from JurassicSnaps in the future – I know I’d like to see some fun Jurassic themed filters in conjunction! Also of note: the Jurassic Park facebook page has been folded into the Jurassic World facebook page, and the link for JP’s now defunct page has been removed. This is continued indication that the ‘Jurassic World’ branding will house the franchise moving forward for the time being.
While the website doesn’t add much new material for the connoisseurs of canon, for the first time in the film franchise, ‘BioSyn’ is mentioned by name. Readers of the books know BioSyn as the company that hired Dennis Nedry to smuggle embryos off the islands. However, the films never acknowledge or confirm that Dodgson actually represents the nefarious company in question – that is until now! Dennis Nedry’s intel page directly confirms they do exist in the film universe as well. Fingers crossed they make an appearance in Jurassic World 2!
Don’t get too excited – this is a hidden placeholder, and isn’t functioning!
If you’re like me, one of the first thing you’re probably doing is sleuthing through the website and looking for unintentional hints of what’s to come. While I didn’t find much (I’m admittedly not a pro at dissecting websites at that level), I did find something cool buried inside: a countdown timer. Now, before you freak out and think Jurassic World 2 news is inbound – the timer is placeholder and counting UP, not down. Still cool to see something is planned eventually!
I’ve got to say, the website is incredibly slick and features all the right types of pages with ample room to grow from. Whomever designed this certainly deserves some praise, and it’s great to finally see a site visually worthy of the franchise it’s attached to. However – and this is a larger however – the content on the individual pages could use a lot of work. Many of the facts are awkward, some of the bios are missing outright, and the amount of content per ‘intel’ page is severely lacking. Most potently, the dinosaur pages are riddled with errors (and many species are completely MIA).
No, Apatosaurus wasn’t in The Lost World – the sauropod seen in that movie was Mamenchisaurus (which is lacking a page) – and for some reason the Apatosaurus page shows an image of a Brachiosaurus (also missing a page). Further: Pachycephalosaurus was not featured only in Jurassic Park – it wasn’t even in Jurassic Park! But as a reader, I’m sure you already know that (if you don’t, they appear in both The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic World). Strangely, another key missing player is JP3’s Spinosaurus – though for unknown reasons the Suchomimus is listed as being in Jurassic Park 3; it wasn’t. The list could go on and on, so I’ll end it there for now (perhaps the update went live too soon?), but Universal: if you need help generating and fact checking content (or more), just give us an email!
Now that I got that out of the way, I want to close off on some more of the many positives. While the information on the intel pages need some work, let’s talk about how cool some of those featured pictures are! Although nothing unknown is outright revealed, many of the photos are completely new to the web. One cool shot is an HD picture of Udesky holding a stick – this was from a never released deleted Jurassic Park 3 scene where he fights off the Velociraptors before being killed. Check out some of our favorite images below, or hit the intel section to explore yourself!
Honestly, I cannot wait to see where this all leads. I hope the website continues to evolve, and becomes something as feature rich as Starwars.com or Halowaypoint.com. While it will take some time to get there, they’re on the right path now and I’m optimistic about the future. Hopefully the franchise begins to get an expanded universe, and the website can serve as a point of reference/encyclopedia of sorts. It will also be quite interesting to see what the ‘community’ section evolves into – personal interests aside, I know I would love to see more interaction with the fanbase and I believe it could really turn into something special.
As always, stay tuned for the latest news and be sure to sound off in the comments below!
The legendary Phil Tippett is auctioning off a number of pieces from his personal collection, which include a number of incredibly rare pieces from the production of Jurassic Park! Phil was the Dinosaur Supervisor on Jurassic Park and returned to this role recently for Jurassic World.
The auction began on PropStoreAuction.com two days ago and ends on the 21st October at 5:03pm PDT, so you only have a week to get your bids in! Among the items up for auction are original scripts from the production, a Baby Triceratops Maquette, original Key Art prints, original storyboards and much more!
I’m fairly surprised at how much is available for auction; some of these items will reveal details from the production of Jurassic Park that we never knew, and all of the items will be an asset to any fans’ collection – if you’re lucky enough to win one!
Recently some guys from Tested visited Phil’s workshop and saw some of the products that are up for auction up close! Check the video out below:
Be sure to check out the auction and full list of items available here. Phil is auctioning not only his Jurassic Park memorabilia, but items from most, if not all of the films he has worked on throughout his career!
