Director Colin Trevorrow says that despite a break from shooting due to coronavirus, the script for Jurassic World: Dominion hasn't changed. Trevorrow, who directed the first Jurassic World and produced the second movie, is returning to the hot seat for the trilogy closer, as well as penning the script. The sixth movie in the Jurassic Park franchise will reportedly explore what the world looks like when dinosaurs live among humans across the globe.
Trevorrow, who was famously let go from Star Wars Episode 9: Rise Of Skywalker due to creative differences, is currently shooting the movie in England using new safety protocols set up in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Dominion will reunite Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, for the first time since they starred in the original Jurassic Park back in 1993, while also focusing on current franchise stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.
During a San Diego Comic-Con@Home panel called "Directors on Directing," that featured Trevorrow, Robert Rodriguez, and Joseph Kosinski, the Jurassic World director says that he didn't change the script, despite having the time to do so thanks to the shutdown. Trevorrow said that instead, he focused on getting the sequences they had shot into the visual effects pipeline and also used the time to forge stronger relationships with the other creative heads working on the movie.
“Man I wish we all had a break like that. I’m sure everyone agrees, the ability to just stop and think for a second about what you were doing, cut it together, make sure that, especially if you’re trying something really new, what you believed would work was working. And we got to do that. We didn’t really change the script much, but we were definitely able to cut and go in to put several sequences through the visual effects pipeline and in a lot of ways establish relationships between each other. Some people have worked together a lot before. But like with any movie you’re forging creative relationships over the process of it and to be able to have this time for all of us to know how we work together, to know each other and then to head back in to what will be a challenge. At least we’re doing it with people we know really, really well.”
Trevorrow's comments are a sign he is happy with where the script is, a sentiment Howard echoes. But it's also an indication that he used the time wisely, getting what he'd already shot ready for visual effects, to check that what they've done so far holds up. It's also a good sign that Trevorrow is focusing on relationships, as on a large set, it's often difficult to get cast and crew members to bond the way directors may want.
With reports that Jurassic World: Dominion will be the most ambitious production of the trilogy, including scenes set around the world, and at least one action scene taking place in an arctic landscape, Trevorrow has a massive task on his hands. So the fact that there haven't been any recent changes to the script means that the director has instead had more time to plan the enormous shoot and get ahead with post-production.
As Trevorrow says, the fact that he was able to stop in the middle of production and take some time to look at everything from a distance is a luxury few filmmakers get. Hopefully, that will mean that Jurassic World: Dominion turns out to be a strong entry in the franchise, and a solid way to end the trilogy.
Source: SDCC 2020
