Category: Opinion Piece

‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ Celebrates 25th Anniversary With New Soundtrack Release!

Posted on by Derrick Davis

BBC’s 1999 TV mini-series ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ is one of my favorite dinosaur media productions that has ever been made. It became “the most-watched factual science programme on British TV of the 20th century,” spawning an entire genre of dinosaur documentaries where we truly felt like we were part of their world. I remember watching its broadcast on the Discovery Channel and being absolutely blown away. Despite its outdated science, the original ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ remains the pinnacle of how to tell these stories in a way that is completely alluring, realistic, and genuinely moving. It’s a cinematic classic that is personally unrivaled, although next year a new series with the same name will be released.

To celebrate the original program’s 25th anniversary, composer Ben Bartlett is reissuing his majestic and memorable score on digital platforms! Performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, this score was the winner of the BAFTA for “Best Original Television Music” in 2000, and its legacy has been lovingly endured by its fans ever since.

Composer Ben Bartlett says:

“I am super excited to be re-releasing my music for Walking With Dinosaurs after 25 years, and to revisit my musical roots in orchestral music. Listening to these tracks again I am struck with how fresh they sound. I feel I am coming full circle after living a quarter of a century in TV and Film music production, and liberating a musical spirit from its amber mould.”

“Over the years I have received heartwarming messages from both aspiring composers and paleontologists. Some now mature scientists have expressed gratitude for the music for the iconic show Walking With Dinosaurs, as during their childhood it tapped into emotions beyond the reach of pure science, and driving a passion for paleontology. I am incredibly touched that over the years Composers have frequently got in touch to connect about how the music led them to pursue careers in music for picture, and the score has been used at music colleges around the world.”

The score is available on various digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, & Qobuz (high resolution audio).

Before I go any further about the music in this release, I have to address the elephant in the room: the cover. For whatever reason, AI art has been used and does not represent the show well at all. My only guess is that images from the show itself couldn’t be used for copyright reasons, but I personally feel anything other than AI should have been considered. Thankfully, Ben Bartlett has been pointed out this issue and appears to be rectifying it with a call for paleo artists. If interested, reach out to him via this e-mail. When the cover is updated, this article will be as well.

As for the music itself in this new release, it appears to be remastered and is a tad louder than before. In terms of music that was previously unreleased, there are really only two tracks.

The opening track “Walking With Dinosaurs” omits the Kenneth Branagh dialogue that played over the original CD version from 1999 (he was the narrator on the original program) in favor of simply the music. While some may miss that edit, I personally am happy to finally have this piece of music without it. Interestingly, the opening brass statement (and perhaps the rest) sounds like a different performance as well.

The second track with unreleased music comes near the 2:50 mark of the aptly renamed “Torosaurs Lock Horns Plus,” providing about a minute of new material.

A few tracks from the score actually appear to have slightly less music compared to the original CD release, but in minor ways that may not be detected by most in the form of micro-edits. The biggest example of this is “Cruel Sea,” which is over 40 seconds shorter than its CD counterpart. It seems to mostly remove some of the track’s repetition in parts, but it is curious such an edit was made for a digital release when length is not relevant. I can only assume this was done by Ben Bartlett for his own personal preferences, but completists may want to hang onto their CDs to retain the minor omissions. Because of this, and other music from the show that is still missing from this release, I hesitate to refer to this as a “complete” release myself.

After the “End Credits” track, there are three additional tracks from the ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ special ‘The Ballad Of Big Al’ (aka ‘Allosaurus’). These were previously on the CD release for the ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ sequel production from 2001, ‘Walking With Beasts.’ It’s more appropriate to now have them included on this release, featuring some of the most rousing action music of the entire saga in “Battle Of The Salt Plains.”

Despite the mentioned issues, it is still great to have a new release of this soundtrack and to have it widely available again for everyone to hear. I think every ‘Jurassic Park’ fan should give this score a listen (and perhaps throw Bartlett’s name in the ring to score ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth?’). Hopefully a Blu-Ray release of the original program itself is also on the way to celebrate the anniversary!

‘Walking With Beasts’ will also have a new soundtrack release on October 10th. This new release of the equally fantastic score will include seven never-before-heard tracks from the show, performed by the BBC Singers. It will be available on the same platforms as ‘Walking With Dinosaurs.’ A vinyl release of both scores will also be released in the future. Sadly, CD collectors, like me, appear to be omitted from all releases (the format isn’t dead yet!).

Do you remember the original ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ mini-series and its sequels/spinoffs (including ‘Prehistoric Park‘ starring Nigel Marvin)? Reminisce in the comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!

Frontier Includes Details for ‘New Jurassic World Game’ in Latest Report

Posted on by J. Malone

Frontier Developments released their latest portfolio strategy and financial reports, which included information about the ongoing development of their third Jurassic World game.

The report states:

‘Development is on track for a third Jurassic World game coming in FY26, in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences, alongside the promotional support of Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s all-new film, Jurassic World Rebirth, currently scheduled for release on 2 July 2025.’

News broke back in June of Frontier developing a third Jurassic Park Evolution game. The news was met with mixed reactions. While it is exciting to see Frontier continuing to delve into the world of Jurassic, the question of “is another Evolution needed?” hovers.

The announcement of the third game came only weeks after the Park Manager’s DLC Pack release for Jurassic World Evolution 2. So, with JWE2 still getting new content, what is the need for a whole new game? Furthermore, the overall release of JWE2 felt muddled. The game’s initial release felt incomplete and was rife with bugs. Then DLCs and content that felt like it should’ve been included to begin with were sold separately over months at varying prices. While a beautiful and masterful game, it’s been hard to not feel the constant twist of the capitalistic knife during the entirety of JWE2’s existence. And, if I’m being honest, that’s exactly what a Jurassic World Evolution 3 feels like.

While JWE2 certainly expanded (and in some cases perfected) what JWE1 started, it perhaps doesn’t feel as if there has been enough growth or change to warrant yet another entry in the series. In fact, some gamers and Jurassic fans have pointed to that being a reason why they weren’t interested in JWE2 even.

So, what are some things that Frontier could change or include that would turn Jurassic World Evolution 3 into an instant MUST? We have some thoughts.

1.) More “Scientifically Accurate” skins (ala Rex 65 MYA, Utahraptor, Deinocheirus,) and skins we don’t have yet

On top of expecting every species of animal and their skins that we’ve had thus far in the JWE canon, we’d LOVE to see skins that we haven’t had yet for certain animals (*cough* TLW Ptera *cough*).

We would also love if a lot more of them got the “realistic” makeover. Come on, gimme a small feathered Velociraptor. A fluffy compy. A seven-meter-long Dilophosaurus.

2.) Dinosaurs from the Universe and Juveniles

While there are a great many species included in JWE, there are still several dinosaurs from the Jurassic canon missing. Fans love to try and recreate scenes from the books, games, and more- we want to see some of our favorite dinosaurs from different parts of the series brought to life. Psittacosaur. Coelurus. Mussaurus. Ornitholestes. We can go on. Call us Frontier, we got a list on standby.

Also, it would be amazing if we could finally get juveniles, or even eggs and nests. Juveniles alone would be a great addition, for being able to make a Gentle Giants Petting Zoo, a proper Tyrant family on Isla Sorna, or hidden raptor tribes in the jungles of your park. The Jurassic franchise shows off so many amazing juvenile dinosaurs, yet we’ve never had a Jurassic game that lets us have them in our park. It’s a shame.

3.) Create your own hybrid

Enough said. I want to just have a high-quality version of the splicing machine in my Jurassic Park 3 Dino Dex. Is that too much to ask for?

4.) Rides/Coasters/Attraction creation

River Adventure/Kayak Ride is a must, first off. We’ve been begging for it forever.

On top of that, it would just be wonderful to actually build other attractions. We’ve seen the Jurassic franchise utilize “rides” in the stories for their theme parks, and in expanded material like Camp Cretaceous, Jurassic Park The Game, and more. Rides are undeniably an important part of any theme park, and there’s a severe lack of rides in the JWE games. Let us build our own VelociCoaster.

5.) More “Non-Dinosaurs”

Deinosuchus, Sarcosuchus, Megalania, Beelzebufu, Postosuchus, maybe even large arthropods? And, come on, it’s time for some mammals.

6.) ADS System

A key plot element in Jurassic World: Dominion, BioSyn’s ADS system helps keep the pterosaurs in their vally corraled and under a certain height, outside of “aviary” like enclosures.

It’d be great if this was added to the game so that we could have pterosaurs flying around in paddocks with other animals, but not necessarily able to fly around our parks doing damage and killing guests.

7.) More Decorations, Building Modification Options, and “Stops” for Guests

More signage, rest areas, smoking areas, smaller vending decorations, TLW double trailers, building ruins, the list is honestly endless.

8.) More ranger missions.

Where JW2 really shines is on the missions during the various modes. Frontier took the idea of small missions that goes back to Jurassic Park Operation Genesis and made them so immersive that you truly get wrapped up in the beauty, the chase, or the tension sometimes during these tasks. They are the best moments of the game, and we desperately want more of them.

So, tell us, what do you want from Jurassic World Evolution 3?

Walking with Dinosaurs to Return in 2025 with All-New Series

Posted on by J. Malone

BBC Studios recently announced that they are co-producing an all-new Walking with Dinosaurs series with ZDF and France Télévisions, for the BBC and PBS stations.

From the official press release:

‘In an exciting reimagining of one of the BBC’s best loved factual shows, each episode of Walking with Dinosaurs will tell the dramatic story of an individual dinosaur whose remains are currently being unearthed by the world’s leading dinosaur hunters. Thanks to cutting-edge science, experts can reveal how these prehistoric creatures lived, hunted, fought and died more accurately than ever before. As the dinosaur’s bones emerge from the ground, the series will bring these prehistoric stories to life with state-of-the-art visual effects – making each episode a gripping dinosaur drama based on the very latest evidence.‘

The original Walking with Dinosaurs series, which debuted in 1999, mixed digital and practical effects to showcase dinosaurs (and other animals that lived during the Mesozoic) in natural environments and with [at the time] up-to-date scientific knowledge. The six-part series was record-breaking, and due to its popularity, it spawned several spin-off series and specials, such as Allosaurus: A Walking with Dinosaurs Special, Walking with Beasts and Sea Monsters. There was also a very successful Walking With Dinosaurs arena show (produced by Creature Technology Company, who are also responsible for the animatronics used for a plethora of Jurassic projects such as Jurassic World Live Tour!, Jurassic World The Exhibition, and Jurassic World Adventure at Universal Bejing,) and one unfortunately unsuccessful movie attempt in 2013.

The new Walking with series will span six episodes and audiences can expect to meet many different prehistoric species in an array of Mesozoic landscapes. These include a Spinosaurus roaming the rivers of ancient Morocco; Cretaceous favorites of North America; and a lonely Lusotitan risking it all for a chance at love in Portugal. Scientific consultants, such as Dr. Thomas Holtz, have also given hints as to how the series will be structured:

Watch the teaser for the all-new series, and let us know in the comments if you’re excited about the new series and what you hope to see!

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory SEASON ONE REVIEW – A Brilliant Thriller for a New Era in the Jurassic Franchise

Posted on by Jurassic Outpost

We’ve been lucky enough to catch Jurassic World’s new animated show Chaos Theory ahead of its debut on Netflix on May 24th!

The show is a follow-up to Camp Cretaceous, an animated series that saw six campers become stranded on the island of Jurassic World after the Indominus Rex disaster. Chaos Theory picks up a number of years after their eventual rescue, and follows these familiar faces as they tackle various dangers and threats in the new modern world.

We’re going to give you our thoughts on season one of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory! As always with these reviews – if you want to remain completely spoiler free then maybe best to avoid this one, but either way we won’t be spoiling any major plot points here! 

Read on for our review of Season ONE of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory…

Chaos Theory is a thrill ride from start to finish – one would honestly expect nothing less from the follow-up series to Camp Cretaceous. While Jurassic’s first animated outing secluded the stories to the dinosaur-riddled islands of the pacific, Chaos Theory firmly places us in the present day, or near enough anyway, in a Jurassic world where dinosaurs now roam.

The Nublar Six are now famous – or perhaps infamous – for their ties to the Jurassic World disaster and the dinosaurs that it has ultimately unleashed upon the world. Very early on in the story Chaos Theory perfectly demonstrates the concept that was set up and teased to the audience in Fallen Kingdom: dinosaurs in our world. Arguably this concept is still a desired one, having not been a very large feature in the final World movie, but Chaos Theory showcases it really well, throughout the story, in ways that are natural, engaging, and realistic.

The very first episode, “Aftershock,” teases this concept with radio commentary from disgruntled civilians; the reality of dinosaurs in our world isn’t a dinotopia. The writers have carefully crafted the world that we enter to show us these realities in ways the movies haven’t, and sometimes a single shot tells you everything you need to know. Chaos Theory continues to show us that these dinosaurs are not monsters, but animals living in an unfamiliar world. And don’t forget, this is the first time we are truly seeing an expansive, detailed look at dinosaurs being out on the mainland, a very important and world-changing period of time in the Jurassic story.

The first season of Chaos Theory is an unravelling mystery that takes – with confidence – a darker, shadier, and more mature tone than its predecessor. Our campers have grown, and with that, so too has the storytelling. Many elements of the campers’ search for the truth while evading dinosaur and human danger harken back to the Nublar Six’s experiences doing the very same things on Isla Nublar. But in some ways, this feels like a whole new BEAST.

Writer & showrunner Scott Kreamer and his team have shown here that they understand this franchise. Chaos Theory seems to perfectly represent a crossing of the two Jurassic eras, each with their own distinct tones. Both fans of the Jurassic Park trilogy AND fans of the Jurassic World trilogy will feel like there is something for them here.

The show is filled with references and callbacks to the early movies, and seemingly a number directly to The Lost World. Chaos Theory brings back the RAPTORS, those gloriously cunning and violent beasts. They are here, and while not Velociraptors, the Atrociraptors from Dominion are absolutely vicious in this show and if you’ve been longing for some raptor action – then Chaos Theory delivers.

None of the characters feel out of place and they all feel like grown, developed versions of their former selves, characters who have reacted and adapted to the new world they live in. All the minute observations, the micro behaviors that make these characters themselves – they’re all on display here. The personal relationships and the intricacies of these characters continue to be the strongest element of this series.

One of our favourite elements in this first season is Yasmina’s personal struggle with what happened to them on the islands. The dream sequence that we saw in Camp Cretaceous showed us how the experience was already tormenting her, and this show continues to explore that narrative with her character’s growth.

And maybe we should address the elephant in the room: Brooklynn. We won’t be spoiling anything, as this show deserves YOUR viewing experience. You will like where this goes, and how it unravels. It’s emotional, it’s nerve-wracking, it’s a new Jurassic world.

The additional characters in this show, while not main features, all hold their own well. There is one who will likely become the most memorable, and the humor he brings is the perfect comedic timing required in this… pretty intense show.

Visually, this show delivers! Diverse locations, great lighting and composition – it all comes together here to provide some fantastic visuals. The animation and lighting in many environments is simply gorgeous. From dazzling sunsets to moonlit horrors, the understanding of Jurassic’s color pallet is on display here. The dinosaurs themselves appear to have had some polish too, looking even closer to their movie counterparts than the already impressive Camp Cretaceous. There are some moments in this season that look near photo-realistic, adding to the beauty and mystique of the series.

Of course, there are new dinosaurs which deliver on the chills and thrills you would expect from a Jurassic World. But we also get incredibly touching moments between man and dinosaur which continue to prove that these dinosaurs (most of them anyway) are animals – animals that deserve our respect. Chaos Theory simultaneously dials up the intensity and terror of dinosaur encounters. It doesn’t shy away from the reality of it, and we love that.

While some encounters might leave you thinking of Maisie’s superhuman escape abilities in Fallen Kingdom, overall this series is an improvement on an already great premise that fans of the Jurassic story want to see. Camp Cretaceous fans will be happy with the show’s new direction and the quality time spent with beloved characters. We can’t help but be excited for what might come next!

The overall story doesn’t shy away from its conspiratorial inspiration: the ever-growing distrust of establishment, corporations, and the media. It’s all quite present as this story evolves. This show is off to an excellent start at building a mysterious, dramatic new world for our characters to navigate with its dark, engaging visuals, striking musical score, and excellent voice performances.

The show, the ending, all of it will all leave you wanting more, not just for what happens but for the fact that this first season flies by. It’s tight, contained, and near perfect in its execution. Another big credit to executive producers Scott Kreamer and Aaron Hammersley, who have created Jurassic’s animated world and made it something worth returning to.

Chaos Theory solidly and progressively fills the space in this franchise that was first opened by Camp Cretaceous, and while the fourth and fifth seasons of that show may have been divisive, Chaos Theory moves forward in the right direction. 

We’ve never been in the habit of giving actual ratings in our reviews but what we will say is that Jurassic World: Chaos Theory might be one of the best things to happen in the Jurassic World era.

But that’s just our opinion! 

It arrives on Netflix May 24th – and trust us, this one’s worth the watch.

David Leitch Addresses His Departure from Jurassic World 4

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

On this the day of our lord Ryan Gosling (and the release day of his new film The Fall Guy) director David Leitch has addressed his involvement in and departure from the upcoming Jurassic World 4. On the latest episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Leitch and his producing partner Kelly McCormick discussed filmmaking in general as well as their conversations towards being attached to the 2025 dinosaur movie. You can listen to the full episode below:

Contrary to prior reporting, Leitch described their side of the situation as ultimately lacking the creative control he and his partner feel they have earned, saying:

“To be asked to be in those worlds, you want to always take the conversation seriously. And I think, you know, we are creative and can find our ways into a lot of things. So it was a really great conversation to have, and like, to be in talks with Steven (Spielberg) and Frank (Marshall) about that franchise that’s so dear to us. It was really a beautiful time.

Ultimately, you have to do what’s best for the movie at hand and do what’s best for you as an artist to make sure that you could make the same movie and you could do it with the parameters that you needed to do. And at some point, we just said, you know… We wanted to give that answer quickly because they have to go make this movie that everyone’s excited to see.

I believe we’ve earned this position… We’re able to choose the movies we want to make and we want to make sure we can have the creative freedom to make those movies the way we need to make them.”

The pair also said that they felt they were “finally acknowledged in the business” when Spielberg approached them and feel “so fortunate” to have spent time with the director of Jurassic Park, who is producing the upcoming film. 

Leitch also expressed admiration for Jurassic World 4’s new director Gareth Edwards, saying he had “love and respect” for the “brilliant” filmmaker.

It’s certainly interesting that further comments have even arisen on this situation. All press is good press? Have we dodged a bullet train? What would the David Leitch-directed Jurassic World 4 have been like?

What do you think? Let us know below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost.

Images courtesy of Yahoo.

New Jurassic Fan-Film Ready to AMBUSH You!

Posted on by J. Malone

While we all wait for the next official installment of the Jurassic franchise, fans are hard at work, bringing their own stories to life. With dinosaurs roaming rampant across the globe by the end of ‘Jurassic World: Dominion,’ there are endless possibilities and stories to tell of chance encounters with these wonderful, yet dangerous, animals. One such fan, Muzzammil Shaik, released his newest fan-film this morning.

‘AMBUSH’ follows an individual listening to a podcast that reports on incidents and news revolving around the prehistoric creatures now cohabiting on our planet. A few surprises lie in store for viewers as a few characters and creatures from Jurassic stories past make appearances. And be sure to stay during the credits!

“They have set up a Jurassic “World” of opportunities,” Muzzammil said when asked what prompted the short. With projects like ‘AMBUSH,’ he hopes to encourage fans of all kinds to tell their own stories. “I plan to write down whatever comes to me. This one was big for me because it’s an idea I had since ‘Battle at Big Rock.’ Also, anyone who’s seen the ‘Jurassic World’ Resort TV segments, I do plan to make more in the future especially to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2015 film coming up. Ultimately, I encourage [other] fans to continue to share stories in any format you see fit. It’s inspiring and fun to see what you all come up with!”

You can watch AMBUSH below!

Who Should Compose the Music for Jurassic World 4?

Posted on by Caleb Burnett

Jurassic World 4 is stampeding its way into theaters next year on July 2, 2025! Gareth Edwards is directing, David Koepp is writing, Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall are executive producing, Scarlett Johansson is in talks to star, but there are still some unknowns…

Who’s going to shoot this film? (Greig Fraser?)

Who will create the visual effects?

Who’s going to fill the rest of the cast?

Who’s going to be creating sound?

Who… will compose the music?

Music – both orchestral and otherwise – is an integral bone in the Jurassic skeleton, and an irreplaceable part of the art and filmmaking that go into creating all of the films we love. When it comes to the narrative mediums of film and television, fans of Jurassic have experienced scores from the greatest film composer of all time, John Williams, the amazing Double D Don Davis, the inimitable Michael Giacchino, and incredibly gifted newcomers like Amie Doherty and Leo Birenberg. Whoever is brought on board by Gareth Edwards and producers to create the musical world for the next Jurassic film will be joining some pretty fantastic dinosaur music company. Will it be someone familiar, or someone new? My hope and my bet is on some new blood, but… we shall see!

Let’s talk about who we think should be the composer for the next Jurassic movie!

John Williams

The obvious choice! And while we know the GOAT Johnny Williams coming back to Jurassic isn’t too likely to happen, we had to take the time to mention it and dream for a second about John Williams Jurassic music. Jurassic Park? The Lost World? Near the top of his most iconic scores! Imagine if he came back, even just to write a new theme or piece of music like he did exceptionally well for SOLO? He has returned to other franchises to continue his musical legacy before, so it wouldn’t be unheard of. The circumstances, timing, and story would all have to line up… Regardless, we’ll always have Malcolm’s Journey as the underscore to one of the best Jurassic moments.

Amie Doherty

The next choice on our list is the composer of Jurassic World short film Battle at Big Rock, which was a hit with pretty much every Jurassic fan – it was a great display of the awe and terror that comes with dinosaurs being loose in the world, solidified by Amie’s use of Jurassic musical themes both classic and new. Musically she goes from the Jurassic World theme, to utter terror, to the Jurassic Park and Lost World themes, all within about 10 minutes. Her Jurassic experience combined with her work since then on projects like Spirit Untamed, Undone, and She-Hulk demonstrate her command of the orchestra and thematic skills, making her a perfect choice for a future Jurassic movie.

Sarah Schachner

Composer of the Predator franchise film Prey Sarah Schachner is next on our list. She also created the scores for The Lazarus Effect, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare I & II, Assassins Creed: Valhalla, Anthem, and multiple other video games and series. She has experience adapting previous thematic material into new projects with Prey while simultaneously creating something fresh and new. On top of her experience in the science-fiction realm, her video game music is top-notch, emotional, and action-packed – she could be a great musical fit for the next Jurassic.

Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous composer Leo Birenberg would be a solid talent to call upon for the next Jurassic film. His work over 5 seasons and 50 episodes of the show contain some excellent Jurassic music, fitting in perfectly with the island settings and dinosaurs throughout. He and his scoring partner Zach Robinson have worked recently on Cobra Kai, Twisted Metal, and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Their modern style with familiar orchestral elements could work well with a modern Jurassic story, not to mention, having another composer with a bit of Jurassic experience would be great!

Hans Zimmer

The next composer finds himself on our list in part because he has experience working with director Gareth Edwards on his latest feature The Creator. No doubt you’ll recognize the name of legendary musician and film composer Hans Zimmer! He’s created countless iconic scores for films like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, Dune, and Gladiator (to name only a few). His music from Backdraft was used in an incredible trailer for The Lost World: Jurassic Park, so technically he has touched Jurassic before! His connection to Gareth and iconic, engrossing music are big upsides, and while his more modern style doesn’t really fit Jurassic at all in my opinion, his more orchestral music in the past would give me hope if he were chosen to score the next Jurassic.

James Newton Howard

James Newton Howard: composer for amazing films like Disney’s Dinosaur, Atlantis, The Hunger Games, Signs, and the 2005 King Kong remake – has a strong musical argument to score a Jurassic film. Howard’s music exudes adventure and suspense in its brass fanfares, sweeping strings, and the overall power he provides the orchestra with his writing. He’s written breathtaking music for dinosaurs more than once already, but is also clearly able to create chilling and exciting music for science fiction, fantasy, and adventure stories. Listening to his score for Dinosaur recently… I would be very excited at the prospect of his take on a Jurassic score.

Kara Talve and Anže Rozman

Composers Kara Talve and Anže Rozman are no strangers to creating music for dinosaurs in wild global habitats. Their score for the AppleTV+ series Prehistoric Planet is massive, grand, and majestic, and they even created their own dinosaur instruments to add to the orchestra! Outside of dinosaurs their work, both separately and together, ranges from The Simpsons to Faraway Downs to BBC’s The Planets. Kara and Anže enjoy creating excitement and wonder with their music, and the vast emotional and stylistic range in their Prehistoric Planet score alone provides an intriguing foundation should they ever get the opportunity to score a Jurassic project.

Natalie Holt

Another composer who has followed in John Williams’ footsteps while also paving a path of her own is Natalie Holt. She took on the Star Wars universe with her score for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, and has also scored exciting projects like The Princess, Marvel’s Loki series, Knightfall, and a project unfortunately shelved by idiot execs at Warner Brothers, Batgirl. Regardless, she did a fantastic job carrying on John Williams’ styles and themes in Obi-Wan Kenobi. That and her engaging, mysterious style on Loki would have me very intrigued to hear her take on some Jurassic music.

Joe Kraemer

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Jack Reacher, and The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot all boast music by composer Joe Kraemer. While those titles may not sound too related to Jurassic, their music certainly is. Kraemer’s grasp of traditional orchestra and use of brassy motifs and rhythmic strings could be great for a Jurassic adventure. His somewhat old-school approach to huge action set pieces and more intimate moments of espionage in Mission Impossible followed by the danger and uncertainty his music aids in Jack Reacher could pair very well with a science fiction dinosaur story likely filled with international intrigue and suspense.

Alexandre Desplat

Last on our list, but certainly not least, is Alexandre Desplat – a solid orchestral composer who is extremely creative thematically and in his choice of instruments. Not to mention, he’s worked with the man, the myth, the Gareth on a reptile movie before! His score catalog speaks for itself with intense and bombastic action music for Godzilla, sweeping, emotional music for the final two Harry Potter film installments, and quirky, tunes for many Wes Anderson films. He also created suspenseful, yet poignant music for The Shape of Water, and engaging thriller music for Argo. My gut says the next Jurassic score has a good chance of coming from the mind of Desplat – his experience with director Gareth Edwards is valuable, and his ability to work an orchestra to create captivating, thematic music no matter the genre could make a flawless pairing with Jurassic.

So, that’s our list of the top composers we think could score the next Jurassic – Jurassic World 4. However, there are a few honorable mentions who may also find their way to a new Jurassic project in the future: 

Jongnic Bontemps (affectionately know as JB), composer of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

Henry Jackman, Marvel and Jumanji composer.

Ludwig Goransson, known for his sweeping hybrid scores for Black Panther, The Mandalorian, and Oppenheimer.

Christophe Beck, composer of Marvel projects and other great orchestral works.

John Powell of How to Train Your Dragon, Bourne, and Solo: A Star Wars Story fame.

And of course, a name that could still happen for Jurassic, Michael Giacchino, whose bombastic, sweeping, and epic music left a large dinosaur footprint on the Jurassic World trilogy. Giacchino has been the Jurassic composer for three films in a row – would it make sense for him to simply continue? He started out in the world of Jurassic by scoring The Lost World and Warpath: Jurassic Park video games before making his way onto bigger things. Similarly, Amie Doherty and Leo Birenberg have composed music for smaller Jurassic projects, and it could be a perfect time for them to move onto bigger projects as well. While I’m hoping for some new blood in the Jurassic musical world, Giacchino’s experience with Jurassic and Gareth Edwards keeps him in the possible conversation going forward.

But, we’ll have to see which composer nature (or the producers and studio) chooses to create the music for the next Jurassic story.

Who do you think should be the composer for Jurassic World 4? Who did we miss on our list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Bryan Cranston Wants to Join Bryce Dallas Howard for New Jurassic World Film

Posted on by J. Malone
Logo mockup by Chris Pugh

Since the announcement of a new Jurassic film in the works, fans have been wondering who will be tied to the project. Will we see the return of some familiar faces, or will we get all new characters to enter the fray? One such character many fans are wondering if will return is Claire Dearing. Since Claire’s growth and evolution have been a huge driving force behind a lot of the Jurassic World series, will we be seeing more of her?

The Bryce Dallas Howard Network tweeted a clip from a recent interview EXTRA did with the actress herself, along with her co-star Bryan Cranston, promoting their new film Argylle. In it, Howard was asked if she was coming back to the franchise for the 7th installment. While she states that she would like to return, her ultimate hope was that “{…] they continue with the story and the conceit that Michael Crichton has created, and invite new cast members and storytellers to be a part of it.”

Later in the interview Cranston chimes in, stating that he would “love to be a part of Jurassic World,” and that he loves the films. Bryan Cranston is a renowned actor, known for roles in films and shows such as Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle, Godzilla (2014), Isle of Dogs, and many many more. He’s the kind of actor who would be an amazing addition to the franchise, adding to the already incredible list of talented performers who have been a part of this saga.

You can watch the entire interview below:

While the original announcement of a new film stated that it would be the start of a “new Era” for the franchise, it is unknown at this point if any characters (human or dinosaurs) from the first six films will be returning for the new movie. We also have had no further word on who else will be working behind the camera as well.

In the last several years Bryce Dallas Howard has found herself in the director’s chair for several projects, including the popular Star Wars series The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett on Disney+. Proving to have great a passion for her projects, as well as a wonderful eye and directorial skill, perhaps the person best to take on the reigns of Jurassic 7’s director’s chair is someone close with the material already?

With the film’s initial announcement stating that Universal is currently aiming for a 2025 release, we suspect that if they intend to keep to that timetable more announcements could be just around the corner.

What do you think? Who would you like to see star in the next Jurassic film? Would you like to see familiar faces or all-new characters? Who would you like to see direct the film?

‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ Soundtrack By John Williams Gets A New 2-CD Release!

Posted on by Derrick Davis

‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ may not have the same cultural impact as ‘Jurassic Park,’ but it features one of composer John Williams’ most intense and exciting music scores. Loaded with percussive action, memorable jungle rhythms, and alluring atmosphere, this score holds a strong identity for the entire franchise. Now, over 25 years after it premiered, this incredible music score gets a definitive release in a brand-new 2-CD set from La-La Land Records. But how definitive is it, and what sets it apart? To find out, let’s embark to this “lost world” together!

In 1997, the soundtrack was released on CD in the form of a 69-minute album via MCA records (also available on audio cassette). John Williams assembled this 1-CD release himself, combining some cues together to form certain tracks, and arranging it all in his own personal sequence. While this album featured a large chunk of the score it did leave off several cues that were heard in the film. Some of these were favorites of those who had seen the film, expecting to find them on the album but ending up disappointed.

Interesting to note is that the CD version of this album featured a pop-up foldout display and housed the CD within its cardboard assembly. It was called, fittingly, a “3D Dinorama”. Collectors often criticized the packaging due to it falling apart easily, but worst of all, it would scratch the CD if not removed carefully. The cassette version had a 2D paper foldout-only version of the same scene as well. A Taiwan CD release also included a digital “Tamagotchi-styled” dinosaur pet. While the 1997 CD Album is now out of print, it can at least be bought for relatively cheap prices in the secondary market and is also easily available for digital purchase.

This same music program was replicated in the year 2000 for a CD re-release of the score. It was included in a neat “Collector’s Edition” set with the films and soundtracks for ‘Jurassic Park’ & ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park.’ It featured unique cover art that mimicked the DVD release at the time. Unlike the 1997 version, there is no 3D Dinorama and it is instead housed in a typical jewel case. For a long time, many collectors would seek this version of the album for this reason alone.

Finally, in 2016, La-La Land Records released a 2-CD expanded and remastered edition for the first time, as part of a 4-CD collection that had included John Williams’ score to ‘Jurassic Park’ (also expanded and remastered). Apart from the remastering, La-La Land Records also went back to the original elements and provided every cue of the score for the very first time. This was a godsend for fans after yearning for the missing cues for so long. This included “On The Glass”, when Sarah Harding is terrifyingly on the glass portion of the Mobile Lab as it hangs over a cliff; “Ripples”, when the T-Rex parents make their attack on the hunter’s camp; and the intense conclusion in the abandoned village as the raptors’ chase after our heroes in “High Bar and Ceiling Tiles”.

While many units of the 2016 set were produced, it did eventually go out of print. This led to second-hand sellers taking over the reins of offering this CD release to people online, often selling for well over $100. The perfect sound quality and the complete score presentation it contained was otherwise hard to find for fans of the score that wanted more than the 1997 or 2000 albums had to offer.

Now seven years later, La-La Land Records returns with a brand-new 2023 re-release. Only this time, it is focusing on just ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park,’ with some additional improvements to truly make this be the definitive release of this thrilling score:

La-La Land Records, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Geffen Records present THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, a limited 2-CD re-issue presentation of maestro John Williams’ (JAWS, E.T., JURASSIC PARK) original motion picture score to the 1997 blockbuster THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, the first sequel in the legendary JURASSIC PARK franchise, starring Jeff Goldblum, Julianne Moore and Pete Postlethwaite and directed by Steven Spielberg. Maestro Williams’ sensational and powerful orchestral score thrills and awes, ranking as one of the composer’s most celebrated and unique works. Produced, edited and mastered by Mike Matessino, the 96k/24 bit master files utilized in our previous 2016 collection have been newly output and remastered, including minor sonic improvements throughout. Newly added to this 2-CD expanded reissue are never before released takes of “On The Glass,” “Rescuing Sarah” and “The Raptors Appear,” all featuring alternate instrumentation, plus the unique film version of “Ripples.” The 28-page CD booklet features liner notes by Matessino (adapted from our 2016 collection) and the new art design is by Jim Titus. This is a limited edition of 5000 Units.

This release’s additional new bonus tracks make or an appealing reason for super-fans of the score to seek it out! The first new track is a partial alternate (the second half) of “On The Glass.” It covers the section where Eddie is arriving and trying to figure out how to save the characters hanging over the cliff. It’s mostly just an alternate performance with some other unique touches. The alternate for “Rescuing Sarah,” the sequence where Eddie uses his car to pull the trailer as Sarah and the others attempt to climb the rope, is not only a quite different performance but also feels more subdued and eerie. The percussion feels less active, and features what the sheet music calls “a low animal moan” and “synth breaths” in prominent ways that add to this unique version.

The film version of “Ripples” is an interesting one. The middle of this cue is where the alterations happen, but not from an alternate performance. It was created editorially, using isolated elements of the orchestra and synths to create a unique version that removes most of the active percussion and instead builds on a rhythmic pulse-pounding escalation with strings into the T-Rex’s attack at the campsite. While John Williams apparently did not create this alternate version, it was memorable in the film for many people and was included this time since there is no viable way to re-create it without having access to isolated elements of the score. Lastly, the alternate for “The Raptors Appear” is a completely different performance and features unique mixing, the removal of certain elements (like the swelling gong when the first raptor attacks), but the additions of others (different wild percussion, slashing strings, and a different “crying sound”).

Overall, these new additions give fans of the score incredible new insight into the process of its creation! It is also noteworthy that some of these alternate versions have been featured at Universal Studios Islands Of Adventure theme park in Orlando! The overall sound quality of the entire release also sounds slightly better (although not as punched-up in the mastering, which may be a positive or a negative depending on how loud one likes the quieter moments of the score), and features some smoother transitional edits such as “To The Island” and the mid-section of “Rescuing Sarah.”

The booklet included in this release is very much the same as the one from the 2016 release, but only focuses on ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ this time. The cover is of course different (with a striking cityscape against the Rex skeleton!), making it unique enough to stand on its own. There are some additional credits this time as well, including a special thanks to Jurassic Outpost friend Bernard A. Kyer!

By far the most important aspect of this release isn’t what is new, but simply the fact that it is available again. Generations of old and new film score fans, and even those who would like to study such a masterful score as this, should have a comprehensive presentation that is accessible. As good as the previous releases were for their time, having every single cue available, and now different variations of them, is integral for preserving this important milestone of music.

If you have never purchased the music score to ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ before, this release is a massive no-brainer. It is a fantastic release, finally back in print and with some great new inclusions. If you only have the 1997 Album (on CD or digital), the additional music alone makes it worth the price. For those that have the 2016 CD set paired with ‘Jurassic Park’… I can understand skipping this, despite the improvements and some new alternate tracks. Those extra perks may not be enough to fully justify shelling out more money for it again, but that will just depend on who you are.

Since this is one of my favorite music scores of all time, from my favorite film franchise… the choice was pretty easy. This new edition is a must-have. And who knows, perhaps ‘Jurassic Park 3’ will similarly be revisited next? We can only hope!

But don’t just take my word for it. Listen to some of the clips for yourself below! Then, be sure to order your copy today from La-La Land Records!

TRACK LISTING (with select sound clips):

DISC 1

SCORE PRESENTATION

1. The Lost World 3:33

2. The Island’s Voice 3:34

3. Revealing the Plans 2:17

4. To the Island 3:39

5. The Stegosaurus (Extended Version) 5:28

6. Fire at Camp and Corporate Helicopters 3:20

7. The Hunt 3:35

8. Big Feet 1:40

9. Spilling Petrol and Horning In 5:06

10. Up in a Basket 3:24

11. In the Trailer 2:20

12. On the Glass 4:04

13. Rescuing Sarah (Extended Version) 5:09

14. Reading the Map 3:07

15. The Trek 5:24

16. The Compys! 4:29

17. Ripples 5:50

18. The Long Grass 2:29

Disc 1 Total Time: 68:58

DISC 2

SCORE PRESENTATION (Continued)

1. Finding Camp Jurassic 3:04

2. The Raptors Appear 3:42

3. High Bar and Ceiling Tiles 4:10

4. Heading North 2:12

5. Ludlow’s Speech 3:14

6. The Wrecked Ship 2:22

7. Monster on the Loose 2:36

8. Visitor in San Diego (Extended Version) 7:40

9. Ludlow’s End 2:51

10. Tranquilizer Dart 3:00

11. Jurassic Park Theme (End Credits) 5:30

Total Score Time: 109:25

ADDITIONAL MUSIC

12. The Lost World (Alternate) 3:34

13. On the Glass (Alternate Excerpt) * 2:18

14. Rescuing Sarah (Alternate) * 5:07

15. Ripples (Film Version) ** 5:51

16. The Raptors Appear (Alternate) * 3:41

17. Tranquilizer Dart and End Credits (Film Version) 4:53

Disc 2 Total Time: 66:00

Total Additional Music Time: 25:33

Total Two-Disc Time: 2:15:00

*previously unreleased

**contains previously unreleased material

Still available from La-La Land Records is their 2-CD remastered/expanded reissue of ‘Jurassic Park’! Don’t miss your chance to own the ultimate version of that score as well, and if you haven’t already: check out my review on that soundtrack & its release history!

NOTE: At the time of posting this article, the soundtrack is temporarily out of stock directly from La-La Land Records. They are awaiting for the next pressing of discs to arrive. If temporarily unavailable there, it can also be purchased from other reliable soundtrack CD venues, such as Screen Archives and The MovieMusic Store.

Are you going to get this new release of music from ‘The Lost World’? Would you like La-La Land Records to tackle ‘Jurassic Park 3’ next? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and as always stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!

Universal Re-Releases Islands of Adventure Soundtrack

Posted on by J. Malone

When Universal’s Islands of Adventure opened to the public in 1999, guests experienced fully immersive lands with unique characters, stories, and rides. Guests were literally thrown into unique and captivating adventures with many of their favorite characters and stories. An incredibly important part of the journey that the guests experience is the unique music for each land that could only be heard in the parks, or if you were lucky to snag a physical copy of the soundtracks (regular or the 2000 special edition.)

Until now, that is!

After teasing the release for several days, Universal officially released their Islands of Adventure soundtrack online for everyone to enjoy! Their playlist includes twenty songs, all of which serenade guests as they make their way through the various islands and attractions at the theme park. This includes specialty music written and composed for the Jurassic Park portion of the park!

The tracklist is as follows:

1. “The Call to Adventure / Main Theme”
2. “Confisco’s Grill”
3. “Ocean Trader Market”
4. “Welcome to Seuss Landing”
5. “The Cat in the Hat”
6. “Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-Pendous”
7. “The Lost City”
8. “Sinbad Bazaar”
9. “Merlin Woods Plaza”
10. “Jurassic Park Calypso”
11. “Camp Jurassic”
12. “Thunder Falls Terrace”
13. “Toon Walk”
14. “The Wacky World of Jay Ward”
15. “Popeye’s Sweethaven”
16. “The Funny Business” 2:00
17. “Marvel Super Hero Island Main Street” 2:47
18. “Doctor Doom” 2:31
19. “Banner’s Science Park” 2:07
20. “The Adventure Lives On” 3:39

While the digital album/playlist includes [most] of the original music that was made specifically for Islands of Adventure, it does not include licensed ambient music that is also present in the park. So, the music surrounding rides and lands like Reign of Kong, or the Wizarding World are absent, as well as all of the extended Jurassic Park and The Lost World tracks heard in and around the Jurassic area.

There is also no word, as of yet, if Universal plans on releasing the album on other digital outlets like iTunes or Spotify, or if they plan on having a physical copy re-release. We surely hope for all of the above! Especially with the very successful collectible Halloween Horror Nights vinyls that have been released over the last few years, a physical copy seems like a no-brainer!

Would you get a copy of the Islands of Adventure soundtrack if Universal released physical copies? Are you hoping that it comes to Spotify or iTunes? Let us know in the comments below!