Gareth Edwards has exited his role as director for the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth sequel, citing "creative differences" as the cause for his departure from the project. Universal Studios confirmed the director's exit, stating they "had an incredible experience working with Gareth."
The studio has not yet announced a replacement director. However, the script for the film has been completed by David Koepp, who previously penned the screenplay for the original 1993 film Jurassic Park and its 1997 follow-up, The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
Reports suggest that stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey are expected to reprise their roles from the previous film. Schedules for the returning cast are reportedly still being finalized. Johansson's involvement in the previous installment made her the highest-grossing lead actor, surpassing Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson.
Jurassic World Rebirth was a significant box office success, grossing over $750 million worldwide. The film achieved a strong opening weekend, earning $300 million globally. Despite its financial performance, critical reception was mixed. IGN's review noted that the film "plays it frustratingly safe, falling back on the blueprint of the original film, but not shedding any of the problems with the more recent movies."
While Rebirth offered a largely self-contained narrative, its conclusion indicated potential for future installments. The film's story was set in the aftermath of Jurassic World Dominion. Universal appears committed to moving forward with the sequel, with further details anticipated by fans.