It's been a decade since we last had the opportunity to see a group of hapless scientists and morally bereft venture capitalists go mano-a-dino in a Jurassic Park film. In that time there has been a steady stream of rumors and speculation amongst the public about the storyline for a fourth film, and a (seeming) series of fits-and-starts in the production.

Captain America: The First Avenger director Joe Johnston has been the name most consistently attached to the project (other than film franchise creator Steven Spielberg and writer Mark Protosevich).

Johnston directed the third instillation in the franchise, a film that received a mixed critical and fan response. He had previously indicated a desire to keep the fourth film off the island saying, “Why would anybody go back to that island? It was hard enough to figure out the second and third reason for them to go, but it would take it off in a whole other trilogy basically, but when it gets to that level it’s sort of about studios and Steven’s thing and who knows."

Very little has been revealed as to an actual story for Jurassic Park 4, though Protosevich (who worked on the story for Thor) and Steven Spielberg are reportedly in the process of crafting a framework for the film. When we sat down with Johnston this weekend to speak about Captain America we asked if there were any updates from the world of Jurassic Park.

The director said simply, "We are in discussions about 'Jurassic Park 4.' The most important thing I can tell you is that it starts a new trilogy that will go off in a different direction -- a completely different direction that is very exciting, and different from anything we've seen." Johnston continued by saying that, "It starts with the history of the first trilogy, but it spins it off in a completely different direction. That's all I can tell you."

One can only speculate on what that direction might be. With an earlier indication that it would be challenging to get an audience to accept another trip to an Island, could it be that the dinosaurs are now going to be placed within a general population, or that perhaps so much time has passed that it is now standard practice to have a dinosaur zoo within a cityscape? Will it be Planet of the Apatosaurus? It's really anyone's guess.

With the success of Thor and the anticipated success of the Johnston helmed Captain America is it possible that we may see Jurassic Park 4 emerge from development purgatory and make it's way to the production pipeline fast track?

Captain America: The First Avenger opens next weekend - beginning Friday, July 22nd

Make sure to take a look at Screen Rant's additional coverage from our conversation with Joe Johnston on the possibilities of Captain America 2 and a film adaptation of The Winter Soldier - as well as his desire to bring Star Wars back to the big screen with a Boba Fett movie.

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