You probably saw Jurassic World. I’m not saying that because I’ve been watching you (though, really, you should change that shirt). I’m saying that because the box office haul that film brought in was so huge I’m sure that you- and even your dog– saw the dang thing. The reboot-within-a-sequel made $1.7 billion dollars worldwide, and will naturally get a sequel. Jurassic World 2 will be helmed by a fellow named J.A. Bayona (A Monster Calls), who’ll be taking the reins from Colin Trevorrow- who is now slated to direct Star Wars: Episode IX. Bayona, who’s new to the series, offered some insight into how he’s approaching Jurassic World 2. 

In a chat with Cinema Blend, Bayona revealed how he expects the film to simultaneously be Jurassic World 2 and Jurassic Park 5. If you’ll recall, the first film was definitely a continuation of the original series, but it was packed with new characters and placed the series on a fairly new storyline trajectory. Aside from B.D. Wong, the cast had no real connection to the previous ones either. So Bayona asked if Jurassic World 2 will continue to press in new directions, or if it will also try to contribute to the overall arc that began in Jurassic Park.

Here’s his response:

“That’s a good question! I think somehow it’s both. It’s a very good question, and what we’re doing is a sequel to Jurassic World, but it’s definitely the fifth chapter of a longer saga. It’s very interesting. It’s always tricky, but you need to find a balance in what people expect to find, and the new stuff you’re bringing to the story. And I think the story is looking for a connection between Jurassic World and Jurassic Park — more than what Jurassic World did.”

Bayona is known for films that are a little more hard hitting, a little deeper, and a little more intense. His previous credits include The Impossible, and The Orphanage. The original Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg, had a more contemplative tone that Jurassic World. Spielberg wanted to tell a rollicking adventure story that also asked questions about humanity. There were themes in there about humanity overstepping its boundaries, messing with nature, hubris, greed, and the double-edged sword of major technological breakthroughs. 

Jurassic World had some of that in its DNA, but it was mainly a popcorn-ready summer blockbuster. It was lighter and fluffier than Spielberg’s first film in the series. One has to wonder if Bayona’s comments above point to the idea that he’d like to continue exploring the headier ideas of Spielberg’s film while advancing the new threads that were introduced in Jurassic World. Based on what the Spanish filmmaker has done in the past, that’d be my guess. He doesn’t strike me as the “mindless summer action flick” type of guy, and would probably only sign on for something like this if he has a chance to tell an interesting story.

On a more superficial level, something Bayona could do with Jurassic World 2 is bring back a member of the original cast to help tie things together. People sure do love nostalgia.

Cinema Blend also asked about the plot of the sequel, following remarks last year from Trevorrow that the escape of Wong’s character on a helicopter in the last film will loom large in Jurassic World 2. Trevorrow also mentioned that the sequel could explore the idea of “dinosaur proliferation”- as in, the idea that the creatures could start to reproduce and expand their reach considerably.

Bayona said:

“Sure. I think what this film does is it’s the second chapter of the story that started in Jurassic World, and it’s open to a third chapter too. It’s very interesting in the way that we’re approaching the story, and where we are leading the story. We’re leading the story to a place that the audience is not expecting, and that’s always exciting when you do a sequel.”

So Bayona doesn’t directly address Trevorrow’s hints about Jurassic World 2‘s plot, but he did start his answer with “Sure,” so it would appear that those will be a part of what is explored. Though, I have to admit, his assurance that they’re taking the story to an unexpected place sounds way more exciting to me than what Trevorrow mentioned last year.

There was nothing that was particularly new or exciting about Jurassic World, and it was one of those films that I’d forgotten about by the time I stepped out of the theater. Bayona is an exciting young filmmaker, so I’m very much looking forward to where he takes Jurassic World 2.

What do you think of Bayona’s comments about the dinosaur sequel?

SOURCE: Cinema Blend