Jurassic Park may be extinct at Universal Studios Hollywood, but its DNA lives on in Jurassic World. While Steven Spielberg’s film may not be the namesake of the new experiences, he was very much involved and supportive of the evolution of the park.
Watch the fantastic behind the scenes video below where numerous Jurassic World creatives weigh in on bringing the dinosaurs to life!
Recently, I visited the park for the grand opening celebration of the ride – I’ve struggled getting my “review” and videos online, in part due to my busy schedule, but also due to the fact that I’m not sure what I think of it all. When it’s good, it’s great, but overall the new Jurassic World experience feels lackluster and rushed, not living up to its source material, nor justifying it replacing a classic which has so much attention to detail put in.
But that’s not to say the new Jurassic World experience isn’t fun – it’s a blast, especially with the dinosaur meet and greets, which are pure magic. If you go with friends or family, you’re going to have a good time – but you will also likely expect a little more from it all around (especially when compared to stellar and robust experiences like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter).
I’m off message here – I need to save this all for my roundup of my time at the park. Until then, watch the video above, check out some of the great pictures, and form your own opinion – and certainly don’t hold back from visiting the park due to my uneven thoughts!
Have you visited the new Jurassic World section at Universal Studios Hollywood, and if so, what are your thoughts? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
This November, Universal Studios Hollywood invites you to a Jurassic World themed run within the park and studio back-lot with an exciting two day event! Running Universal is a chance for fans of all ages to explore the parks and Jurassic World like never before, and is not to be missed – read on for the press release, and be sure to use our exclusive discount codeJPOUTPOST when signing up!
On the heels of the successful launch of its new mega attraction, “Jurassic World—The Ride,” Universal Studios Hollywood kicks off its next Running Universal program with the JURASSIC WORLD Run. The two-day event begins on Saturday, November 16 with a 5K, along with the all-new 1K Kids’ Raptor Run, and continues on Sunday, November 17 with the first-ever 10K run.
To experience the ultimate “runner’s high,” participants can register with the Play All Day package, which invites JURASSIC WORLD fans to run it, then ride it.
On your mark, get set, go: the JURASSIC WORLD Run takes fitness buffs, runners and walkers alike (of all fitness levels) on 5K and all-new 10K run, both geared towards guests ages 5-years and older, while the all-new Kids’ 1K Raptor Run targets those between the ages of 4-years and 12-years.
All participants will receive a collectable Finisher medal; those who complete the 5K and 10K runs will receive an exclusive Challenge medal. The JURASSIC WORLD Run will conclude at the Universal CityWalk finish line and feature a lively celebration at the 5 Towers Stage.
As part of the event, participants will venture through areas of the new thrill ride, including the iconic JURASSIC WORLD arches. As guests wind their way through the historic movie set backlot, they will also have the unique opportunity to enjoy a series of fun photo ops set up along the way, including JURASSIC film props, and one with Blue, the beloved Velociraptor from the JURASSIC WORLD movies.
The JURASSIC WORLD 5K Run begins at 6 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, followed by the Kids’ 1K Raptor Run at 7:30 a.m. The program begins at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 17.
Registration is now open will fill up quickly as space is limited. Click here to register and to learn more about the Standard, VIP and Play All Day packages available.
We’ll be there, and we hope you’ll join as well – and Universal Studios Hollywood was kind enough to offer an exclusive discount code for Jurassic Outpost readers! Using code JPOUTPOST offers 10% off all registration, minus the Kids’ Raptor Run and Team Member or Pass Member Pricing – so don’t miss out!
The expanse of ticket options for the 5k are as follows (and the other race options scale accordingly):
So what are you waiting for? Grab your tickets now before it’s too late – and let your friends know about our code so they can save 10% as well!
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!
The Licensing Expo today released their August 2019 issue and inside it was unveiled that LEGO Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar will be airing on Nickelodeon in the U.S. Previously no network or viewing platform was announced.
No exact release date has been announced yet for the the new 13 episode mini-series, but it will be a follow up to the LEGO Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit special that aired on NBC in 2018.
Set in 2012, three years before the events of the Jurassic World movie, LEGO Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar picks up where the story left off from LEGO Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit. Newly hired animal behaviorist Owen Grady and Assistant Manager of Park Operations Claire Dearing team up on Isla Nublar to deal with everything hectic life around the Jurassic World park throws their way. And “everything” includes runaway dinosaurs, ongoing construction to expand the park, tourists everywhere unpredictable tropical weather, and an impulsive boss! Plus, a mysterious saboteur with surprising ties to the park’s past is on a quest to find a legendary treasure and destroy Jurassic World forever! What could possibly go wrong? Everything.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and on our forums.
Announced at Toy Fair earlier this year, the brand new LEGO Jurassic World sets are hitting store shelves and websites in the US now! These sets are based upon the upcoming TV mini-series “Legend of Isla Nublar”, and explore Jurassic World while it was open and operational.
They’ve been spotted in stores at Walmart, and are currently available online at Amazon and Entertainment Earth – read on for the set descriptions and links to their pages to purchase online!
Dilophosaurus on The Loose (#75934)
Thrilling adventures await children when they construct Owen Grady’s drone and fly to save Hudson Harper from an escaped dinosaur in LEGO Jurassic World 75934 Dilophosaurus on the Loose. The LEGO toy drone features 4 spinning rotors and a net shooter function to aim at the Dilophosaurus figure. This collectible building toy for kids also includes 3 minifigures, plus a market stall in the shape of a dinosaur’s head with lots of accessory elements to inspire creative play.
Drama awaits children as they help Owen Grady and Claire Dearing pursue bad guys through the jungle in LEGO Jurassic World 75935 Baryonyx Face-Off: The Treasure Hunt. Featuring an offroader with space for 2 minifigures and an attachment point for a trailer which has a buildable rooftop antenna and a detailed interior, plus a buildable jungle scene that has a hidden treasure chest with a revealfunction, this LEGO set makes a great holiday gift for kids. It also includes a posable Baryonyx dinosaur figure and 4 minifigures with cool weapons and accessories to inspire imaginative play.
Youngsters will love creating exciting dinosaur action adventures with this LEGO Jurassic World 75937 Triceratops Rampage building toy. The colorful LEGO dinosaur playset includes an Egg Spinner ride with 3 dinosaur-egg seats for minifigures and spinning function, plus a gate and waiting area for the ride. There is also a posable Jurassic World Triceratops dinosaur toy figure, collapsible fence and a minifigure buggy to play out a dinosaur escape and pursuit. This building toy for kids includes 4 minifigures to inspire creative role-play.
Action-packed dinosaur adventures are guaranteed as youngsters play out a LEGO Jurassic World 75938 T. rex vs Dino-Mech Battle and seek hidden treasure in the Isla Nublar volcano. The buildable T. rex toy dinosaur figure and bad guy Danny Nedermeyer’s Dino-Mech are both posable and have snapping jaws, while the buildable volcanic rock has an opening function to reveal a hidden treasure chest. This Jurassic World building toy also includes 4 minifigures, 4 baby velociraptor toy figures and a boat with 2 stud shooters and a tranquilizer gun to inspire kids to role-play Jurassic World scenes and create their own stories.
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!
It’s day 2 of San Diego Comic Con, and with that comes more Jurassic news and announcements! While toys often get the largest focus at events like this, they’re not the only stars of the show, and today Mondo and Restoration Games reinforced that by announcing that Jurassic Park will be joining their “Unmatched” 2-player tabletop skirmish game!
Unmatched pits hero characters, represented by small figurines each with their own unique deck of hero cards, against one another on a small tabletop map. This is a 2-player game, featuring fun head-to-head skirmish gameplay that can be as brief as 20 minutes, but last longer depending on the scenario! Check out the press release below, which promises many more Jurassic Park themed expansion beyond the pictured InGen vs Raptots set.
Mondo Games and Restoration Games have announced the next license to appear in their head-to-head skirmish game system Unmatched. Fans of Jurassic Park will be thrilled to learn that the pair of two-player sets and a solo-hero pack are on the way, leading with Unmatched: InGen vs. Raptors in late 2019.
Sattler vs. T rex and Dr. Alan Grant’s solo expansion will expand the line in 2020, allowing players to pit even more of their favorite heroes in combat against iconic dinosaurs from the 1993 film. As with all Unmatched sets, the power to mix and match heroes and maps to create a customized play experience is not only possible but encouraged.
Marketing Manager at Mondo Games Jayme Boucher explains, “Today’s gamers have options. Not only do we have thousands of titles to choose from, but we have choices that are impeccably designed. Modern games provide quality experiences that blur the lines of art and entertainment. To that end, our goal wasn’t simply to make ‘a Jurassic Park game’. Our goal was to make a Jurassic Park game unlike any other available. Teaming up with Restoration Games has allowed us to do that, and we’re incredibly proud of how it turned out.”
Each character deck has been engineered to represent the personality and characteristics of its on-screen counterpart, and no two heroes (or dinosaurs) battle the same way. Additionally, the unique maps featured on the game boards allow players to designate specific terrain to either replicate scenes from the film or direct their own.
“We teamed up with Mondo Games to bring exciting characters and settings to the battlefield in Unmatched, and they came through in epic fashion with Jurassic Park.” Explains Restoration Games President Justin D. Jacobson. “It is a thrill to get to work with one of the world’s premier licenses. Bringing these truly unique fighters into Unmatched — from massive dinosaurs to brilliant scientists — really shows the system’s strength, with each deck capturing their combat style. It only took 65 million years, but the Jurassic Park skirmish game you’ve been waiting for is finally here!”
All three Jurassic Park sets continue to push the boundaries of art in modern games by featuring illustrations from Oliver Barrett, who also worked on Unmatched: Battle of Legends, Vol 1., Robin Hood vs. Bigfoot, and Bruce Lee. All three are all debuting at Gen Con this year. These Jurassic Unmatched releases will replace the previously announced Jurassic Park: The Chaos Gene game which is no longer in development.
Take a closer look at the game with our pictures straight from Mondo’s booth at SDCC:
Sadly, this does confirm the previously announced and showcased ‘Chaos Gene’ game from Mondo has been cancelled. We had a chance to check it out at Jurassic Park’s 25th anniversary celebration, and it did look quite interesting. However, Unmatched is a fantastic fit for Jurassic Park, and I find the smaller scale 2-player tabletop approach to be quite exciting and approachable!
Stay tuned for more news out of San Diego Comic Con 2019, as we continue to cover Jurassic Park and Jurassic World news directly from the show floor — and as always, sound off in the comments below!
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!
