With San Diego Comic Con well underway, the Jurassic reveals are heating up! Corey in the house is on the ground at the con and you can follow the coverage and updates on Twitter and Instagram.
But let’s get real for a moment.
Last week I whined about the lack of accurate diecast vehicles for the legendary Jurassic vehicles… and Jada heard me. I mean, obviously they didn’t, but they did just unveil one sexy (and highly accurate) diecast of the 1992/1993 Ford Explorer! Check it out below:
Isn’t she lovely, isn’t she glorious?
The sudden unveiling comes after their not-so-accurate Hollywood Rides version dropped a few months back. We thought this might be it for Jada but they just screamed their way into my heart, and hopefully yours too.
The John Bell designed tour vehicle is in the 1:18 scale which aligns with the Matchbox 1:18 Jeep Wrangler that came out during Fallen Kingdom’s reign of terror, and means it’ll be roughly the same scale as Mattel’s Jurassic action figures.
It will retail at $120 USD and the estimated release date is Spring 2024. Never have I wished for time to move faster than right now.
We’re unsure if there will be light-up headlights and taillights on this vehicle, but it does look like there could be an LED housed within those front lights. See for yourself in the gallery below.
What do you think? What does Baptiste think? Will you be buying one of these? Share your thoughts below in the comments!
Here’s your chance to add some extremely unique items to your Jurassic collection: The Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary TUBBZ Ducks! These officially licensed collectible toys are produced by Numskull – click here to head to their website for these and even more Jurassic Park items!
The second sauropod to appear in the Jurassic Park franchise has joined Mattel’s Legacy Collection! The Lost World: Jurassic Park briefly introduced us to a very large and in charge species – the Mamenchisaurus.
Join Chris in the latest episode of Beyond The Gates to dive deep into the development and design of this fan favourite dinosaur! Mattel’s Rafael Bencosme joins to discuss the development of this toy and to show us the process from screen to toy shelf.
Check out the exciting unveiling and behind the scenes look at The Lost World: Jurassic Park below:
This season of Beyond The Gates has been filled with items to celebrate Jurassic Park’s 30th Anniversary, with last month’s unveiling of the Hammond Collection Brachiosaurus!
The Legacy Collection Mamenchisaurus is now available to pre-order exclusively (in the US) at Target.com! Don’t miss your chance to bring home this Sorna Sauropod.
There are some exciting unveilings still to come – stay tuned for more!
TOMY have launched a Kickstarter crowdfund for a 1:10 scale accurate DeLorean from the original Back to the Future movie, and it’s bloody gorgeous.
The authentic Time Machine vehicle is 17 inches long and made with diecast metal parts, with working interior and exterior lights, and real smoke that emits from the rear fins.
The project was “3x funded in 1 day”, but you can still put your hard earned cash behind it and secure yourself an iconic movie vehicle that will display perfectly at home on the shelf, on your bedside table, in your bathroom, or mounted on the front of your crappy ’98 Toyota Corolla.
Why are we posting about this? Well, have the Jurassic Park vehicles ever had an accurate diecast? I mean, truly accurate? You could argue the (awesome) Iron Studios Ford Explorer achieved this, but unfortunately the final product forgot the front suspension, thus rendering the $600+ diecast vehicle as not quite perfect. The Matchbox 1:18 Jeep Wrangler also got it right – but it never reached the global market and is now quite difficult and expensive to obtain.
It’s time to bring Jurassic Park’s vehicles to the diecast market, at the same level of detail and love as seen in this DeLorean. The Ford Explorer and Jeep Wrangler featured in the 1993 movie deserve their spot on your shelf (or your Corolla) and perhaps a crowdfund is the way to go.
You can learn more about TOMY’s DeLorean by checking out the detailed Kickstarter. What are your thoughts?
Don’t forget: Mattel Creations launched their first Jurassic Park crowdfund which features some highly-detailed Jurassic items, and it ends in just 9 days! Get backin’!
Two brand new figure sets have been announced as part of Mattel’s 2023 San Diego Comic-Con lineup! Let’s dive into these two figures and get you up to speed on the best way to get your hands on one.
First up is the new The Hammond Collection “Man Creates Dinosaurs” Steven Spielberg Figure. Take a step behind the magic and into production with this vintage recreation of the famous director hard at work. You can recreate the making of the film with this set which includes a figure of Spielberg and various accessories including a director’s chair and camera, and a companion Dilophosaurus, and even a life-size cardboard replica of the Jurassic Park clapperboard as the packaging.
This figure will cost $30 and will be available one of two ways. First up, if you were one of the lucky ones to get tickets to San Diego Comic-Con this year, it will be available on site through the exclusives lottery. Be sure to sign up for a Mattel Creations time slot through the Exclusives Portal. The second way to score one of these figures is online here. Online purchases begin on July 21, 2023 at 9:00am PDT.
Next up is the Hot Wheels Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler & Dr. Ian Malcolm set. This miniature set features a diecast Jeep Wrangler and Ian Malcolm figure incased in packaging resembling the outside the Tyrannosaurus Rex paddock. If you have a spare T. Rex laying around, you can recreate the iconic chase scene!
Like the Spielberg set above, this one will be available onsite at San Diego Comic-Con, or online here on July 21, 2023 at 9:00am PDT. Best of luck getting your hands on these two amazing collectibles!
Jurassic Outpost will be on the ground at San Diego Comic-Con 2023 this year, so stay tuned for future coverage of any and all things Jurassic that the Con has to offer!
Hold on to your butts – the first ever Mattel Jurassic World Crowd Fund is here, and it’s a showstopper. Continuing the Jurassic Park 30th Celebrations, Mattel Creations have unveiled brand new and exclusive items from Jurassic Park… and a long-awaited item from The Lost World, incredible items that debut their first Jurassic crowdfund.
There is a lot to look at with this announcement, so let’s jump in!
Right out the gate (no pun intended) we’re gonna say we want the stretch goals to be hit, because they all deliver something special – so if you want this set to be made, and you want all the goals to be hit, help spread the word!
So what is the core set? It’s a Hammond Collection version of the Jurassic Park gates that also comes with a premium Ford Explorer Vehicle – there’s a lot to dive in to with those, but before we get into the details we wanted to give a quick explanation on what a crowd fund is, and why they’re done:
Essentially, in this capacity, crowd funds exist to develop and sell items and sets that would be more difficult, if not impossible to have major retailers carry, usually due to their price, size, and maybe their demand. Items best suited to this crowdfund platform are items geared even more towards the fans and collectors than regular items that has to focus on the whole audience.
The crowdfund ensures a certain number of items are guaranteed – in this case at least 5000 – which covers the development costs. Ultimately, it means the designers at Mattel get to cater even closer to what the fans want to see in the Jurassic toy lines, and that fans more of a say
As more people commit to the sets, as in, the more backers this gets, Mattel earn more wiggle room in costs and can add more value to the orders via stretch goals… and believe us these stretch goals are GREAT!
Let’s take a look at the set, and how this crowdfund works:
The centerpiece of the campaign is a fan-demanded motorized entry gate, accompanied by a first-ever replica of the Ford Explorer #5. Attention to detail has been a priority, ensuring an authentic recreation of the iconic movie scenes. The crowdfund also offers additional unlockable extra stretch goals at different tiers.
The Jurassic World Hammond Collection Gates measure 20.7 inches in height, 22.8 inches in width, and 12.1 inches in depth. They require four AA batteries (not included) to operate. These structures are accurately scaled to fit with the Hammond Collection figures, faithfully capturing every crack and crevice.
The motorized door gates can be manually adjusted to any desired position, and flickering torch lights illuminate the entrance, providing a truly immersive experience. The gates also play the original movie theme music and ambient jungle sounds, adding to the atmosphere. The set includes the Ford Explorer #5, complete with rubber tires and enhanced design details, such as film-accurate hang tags, navigation screen, and antennas. This exclusive crowdfund offering is only available through the campaign.
To bring this extraordinary set to life, a minimum of 5,000 backers based in the United States is required. Once this threshold is reached, international backers will also be able to join the campaign.(As of Friday June 30th, the set is available to be ordered internationally!) As the number of backers increases, additional figures and accessories will be unlocked, enabling fans to recreate more thrilling Jurassic Park moments.
When the campaign reaches 6,000 backers, a post-electrocution Tim figure and enclosure fences will be added to everyone’s collection. Accompanying Tim are enclosure fences measuring 9.0 inches in height and 14.8 inches in width.
At the 8,000 backer milestone, the Hammond Collection male “Buck” T. rex from The Lost World: Jurassic Park will be included bringing to life that T rex variant for the first time in collector level toy form from Mattel. This Rex is a MUST HAVE.
Finally, with 10,000 backers, the set will be complete with the addition of a Lex Murphy figure, this time with some mud decals and her hat, plus a goat with a removable hind leg.
There’s an additional incentive for early backers. If the campaign achieves 5,000 U.S.-based backers within the first two weeks (by July 11), a set of six Jurassic Park Paddock Signs will be given to ALL participants, including international fans.
Interested supporters are encouraged to join the campaign promptly as it concludes on July 26, 2023, at 11:59 PM PT. Fans are urged to spread the word and invite other Jurassic Park enthusiasts to contribute, as their collective support will enable the creation of the ultimate Jurassic Park collection.
The cost to support and pre-order this set is $250, and that cost will include every stretch goal met! So what are you waiting for, help spread the word to ensure the entirety of the set can be created, and support this project now directly at Mattel Creations!
UPDATE: Mattel hosted a livestream to further unveil the set and featured special guests, and a much closer look at the items!
COMMON QUESTIONS
Does backing the set count as purchasing it?
Yes! Your backing of the set counts as a purchase if the set is funded; if it is not funded you will be refunded.
Will Mattel let fans outside of the US back the crowdfund?
Yes – as of Friday June 30th the set is available to be ordered internationally!
If funded, will the set be available at retailers or online?
No – the only way to purchase this set is via Mattel Creations through July 26th. It will not be available afterwards in any capacity.
If the stretch goals are met, does it cost extra?
No! The cost of the set does not change, so the more people that back the crowdfund the better value the set receives via more collector items.
Why is this set a crowdfund – shouldn’t they just release it in stores?
Were it so easy. While we would love for retailers to carry items and sets like these, they simply do not have any desire to carry them due to high prices and large box sizes cutting down on shelf space profitability.
Isn’t it unfair that they’re limiting the run of such desired items?
There is no limitation on this set besides time – if you want to join the crowdfund, you can (international backers just need to wait a bit longer). Every item even at mass retail has limited production numbers and limited time for distribution, this just cuts out the middleman of items trickling out of warehouses to store shelves.
Why is the male “Buck” T. rex from The Lost World in a Jurassic Park set?
Fair question – it simply comes down to the fact that they already have the Hammond Collection Jurassic Park T. rex on store shelves now, and had offered an alternate exclusive version last year, so they wanted to add something to this set that hasn’t been done before.
Q: Does “Buck” have his facial scars?
Yes! Toy designer Greg Murphy made sure to highlight them on the live stream.
Is there anything else unique about the T. rex – and might it ever hit store shelves separately?
Yes, it has new sculpting for the head and neck, sharper teeth, plus all-new film accurate smaller feet. As for the store shelves question, it’s hard to say, but we would wager there is a chance over some years – however its painting would likely not be as detailed & premium.
Does this set count as ‘Hammond Collection’?
Yes, this set has been designed as a Hammond Collection collector level set making full use of premium stylings.
Hold on to your butts, the Jurassic Park gates are coming to Mattel Creations! As we tweeted earlier today, Mattel have begun to tease a first look at the first crowdfunded Jurassic Park item to join Mattel Creations online platform, and it’s a big one.
Isla Nublar’s doorway to death has made its way to the toy universe before – Kenner’s 1993 Jurassic Park Command Compound playset included some of Jurassic Park’s iconic fencing, along with the dauntingly large gates to complete the set.
The gates did get a reissue by Hasbro in 2001 (for some reason), but haven’t been reimagined by Mattel since their acquisition of the license… until now.
The celebrations for Jurassic June continue with an all-new episode of Beyond The Gates! In the latest episode, Chris unveils a giant newcomer to Mattel’s Hammond Collection: the 1993 Brachiosaurus, as seen on Isla Nublar!
Joining Chris to dive deep into the development and design of this Jurassic Park collectible is none other than Mattel’s Gregory Murphy, alongside the legendary Academy Award winner Dennis Muren, who took the time to speak with us about his work on the Brachiosaurus scene.
Check out the exciting unveiling and behind the scenes look at Jurassic Park below:
This season of Beyond The Gates has been filled with items to celebrate Jurassic Park’s 30th Anniversary, with no signs of slowing down!
The Hammond Collection Brachiosaurus from Jurassic Park is now available to pre-order exclusively (in the US!) at Target.com! Don’t miss your chance to bring home this towering titan.
There are some exciting unveilings still to come – stay tuned for more!
Today Hasbro revealed the Transformers Collaborative Jurassic Park x Transformers Dilophocon and Autobot JP12 to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Jurassic Park! These figures are inspired by the iconic Dilophosaurus and Jeep Wrangler Sahara from the original film. This new mash-up pack is available for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse and Amazon.
Transformers Collaborative Jurassic Park x Transformers Dilophocon and Autobot JP12
(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $74.99 / Available: Fall 2023)
The worlds of Transformers robots and Jurassic Park collide once again with the Jurassic Park x Transformers Dilophocon and Autobot JP12 mash-up pack! The iconic Dilophosaurus and Jeep Wrangler Sahara from the Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s blockbuster Jurassic Parkmovie are now Transformers robots. Each figure converts from robot mode to movie-inspired alt mode (convert Dilophocon in 20 steps; Autobot JP12 in 23 steps) and features screen-accurate deco and details. This 2-pack comes with movie-inspired accessories including a shaving cream canister, embryo containment unit, rain hat, venom blast effect, and 2 blaster accessories.
Transformers robots have always been — More Than Meets the Eye — but now, through the Transformers Collaborative, fans can experience these larger-than-life characters as they team-up, mash-up, and meet up with other characters, teams, and people who share this same special quality. Available for preorder on Hasbro Pulse and Amazon.
What do you think of Jurassic Park x Transformers? Will you be pre-ordering? Let us know in the comments and follow Jurassic Outpost for more!
This morning Universal Orlando opened their Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary Tribute Store to excited guests at their resort! Located in the Hollywood section of the park, the store acts as a sort of museum dedicated to the production, release, and impact of one of the most influential films in all of film history. Featuring several rooms crammed with rare production archives and props, exclusive merchandise, and unique foods, it is going to be a must stop-shop for the summer months at the resort for guests.
The latest tribute store is the newest Jurassic offering of the Orlando destination. In the last few years there has been the opening of Jurassic World VelociCoaster (which was awarded Best Roller Coaster two years in a row,) a Jurassic World Tribute Store (which ran the summer months of 2021 in the previous Tribute Store location in the New York section of the park,) and the Great Movie Escape which features a Jurassic World themed escape room experience.
While most of the additions to the park have been centered around the Jurassic World brand, the new tribute store transports us back to the 90’s and centers entirely around the film that started it all- Jurassic Park. Acting as a sort of museum that harkens back to the vibes of the “Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park” traveling exhibit, the store is divided into several different rooms that takes guests on a journey through the production of the film all the way through to its release and impact.
Before entering the store, the guests come face to face with the infamous sick Triceratops lying on its side, which is absolutely breathtaking (and I fully admit to tearing up upon seeing it up close.) Just before entering the store you’re surrounded by scaffolding, stage lights, and banners sporting the Jurassic Park logo and the classic sunset imagery. Many noted last week, when signage started going up, that the signage sported a “Making of Jurassic Park,” rather than just Jurassic Park. This tribute store being more of a shine to the overall production of the filmsets it in contrast to the 2021 JW Tribute Store which had more of an “in-universe” feel, and I’m sure it also offered a bit of a creative change for all of the incredibly talented Team Members of Art and Design, fabrication, carpentry, and painters who are involved on the project.
The first room has a focus on the “Pre-Production” (and a bit of “Post-Prod”) of Jurassic Park. It is filled to the brim with concept art of the dinosaurs and characters, film props, maquettes, and footage. It also has sections where they showcase and explain how Go-Motion was going to be the way they brought the dinosaurs to life in the film and how, as we all know now, it was abandoned in favor of computer-generated dinosaurs which revolutionized the film industry forever.
Moving on to the second room, we are now in the “Production” stage of the film. There are several photo-ops where guests can stop and put themselves into key moments of the film. Guests can either get down and hide behind kitchen counters from a stalking Velociraptor, try to appease an agitated Dilophosaurus, or quake in terror while sitting on a toilet in the middle of a rainstorm beneath Rexy herself. There are also lots of production documents and images as well for guests to gaze at and read as they make their way through, including a part that discusses Hurricane Iniki. Just before heading into the next room, guests can come face to face with another Velociraptor in the shed while they can attempt to return power to the island!
Rounding a corner, the guests are able to pass through the legendary Jurassic Park main gates and snag some unique and delicious treats before heading into the final room which illuminates the legacy and impact of the film upon its release. This, personally, had to be one of my favorite rooms in the whole store as it was just like walking into a sanctuary of classic Jurassic Park memorabilia. In display cabinets sits many different Kenner Jurassic toys, posters, magazines, buttons, bookbags, and loads more of vintage Jurassic Park merchandise. For fans of this franchise, whether you were able to experience the Jurassic craze in the 90’s or only wished you were able to, you can relive it here. If the first three-quarters of the store were the “Making of Jurassic Park” documentary come to life, this room perfectly embodies the “Dinosaur Dream Team” Marketing Video, tying the whole experience together.
The Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary Tribute Store proves to be an amazingly well executed, and immersive experience that is filled with fun easter eggs and beautiful set pieces sure to awe everyone who steps through the entrance. As soon as you enter it’s impossible not to feel the love put into this experience by everyone involved, and for fans it will be even harder not to be overwhelmed by it. The exclusive merchandise and collectables lining the walls harkens back to the feeling of shopping in the 90’s and seeing endless shelves and racks dedicated to Jurassic, and a lot of the new offerings are sure to be “must haves” for many. Some of the merch can be found throughout the entire resort at different stores (like Jurassic Outfitters and the Dino Store in the Jurassic Park section at Islands of Adventure,) the store sports of a wider variety of the 30th Anniversary merch as well as the special snacks.
The limited time JP30 Tribute Store is now open at Universal Orlando, during park hours. While there is no word on exactly how long the store will be there, in the past the “summer” tribute store typically runs until the first few weeks of August, at which time it will be closed and construction on the Halloween Horror Nights tribute store will begin. The store is just one of the few ways the Orlando resort is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film. Guests can also get exclusive food, treats, and drinks at the Thunder Falls Terrace Restaurant at Islands of Adventure (again, no official word on how long the offerings will last,) and June 9th, 10th, and 11th the Cinemark at City Walk will have screenings of Jurassic Park (tickets are not up yet, but keep checking Cinemark/Fandango,) along with possibly some other potential surprises along the way!
