Jurassic World Dominion bids a fond farewell to the latest dinosaur trilogy this weekend, with Thursday previews up already roaring more than its predecessor. Though the Jurassic Park franchise is most likely not over for good, the latest entry did welcome back director and co-writer Colin Trevorrow to wrap up the story in his own way. It also crafted a reunion between the current generation of stars and the triumvirate of the first three films.
Claire Dearing and Owen Grady, played by Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt respectively, got to spend time onscreen with some of the legendary cast members who came before them: Jeff Goldblum as Ian Malcolm, who previously appeared in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and for the first time ever with Sam Neill as Alan Grant and Laura Dern as Ellie Sattler.
Screen Rant spoke to Howard and Pratt about the mixed feelings that come with closing out a chapter of their lives that has lasted 8 years, as well as the question of how they would behave if they ever found themselves in a world like Jurassic's.
Screen Rant: I've cried twice in my life. One when I found out Little Sebastian had passed, obviously, and two when I found out the Jurassic World trilogy was coming to a close.
Chris Pratt: Really? Wow, I feel grateful that I've been part of both of the times you've cried in your life.
How does it feel for you two?
Bryce Dallas Howard: Honestly, it's wonderful. The fact that we got to make this movie to begin with? It's been delayed a year because of the pandemic, so now it's finally being released. This is something that we've waited on for a while - and even beyond that, it's kind of 30 years in the making. I think there's a lot to celebrate, for sure.
We know how Owen Grady calms down a raptor. How would Chris Pratt calm down a dinosaur?
Chris Pratt: Well, it depends. If I trained the dinosaur my entire life, I'd probably implement some of the same techniques. But since I haven't, I will just run. I'll push down somebody who's slower than me and then sprint. Because I'm not a fast runner, so I don't think I'd last very long. I might be the slow guy. I probably get eaten right away.
Bryce Dallas Howard: You're a fast runner. You've said this a few times, but I think you're very fast runner. You're very athletic, Chris Pratt.
Chris Pratt: Thank you.
Bryce, what would your strategy be?
Bryce Dallas Howard: I don't want to seem pathetic. I want to be an empowered woman. But really, my strategy would be to run to Chris' house. It would be, because we've kind of vetted these circumstances over the last eight years. I think we make a good team, and Chris is not afraid to take on a dinosaur.
Chris Pratt: We have room for you at the compound.
What's the number one keepsake you took from this experience, whether it be something physical or a memory?
Chris Pratt: Well, I've stolen my fair share of keepsakes. On every movie, I take props home.
What'd you take this time?
Chris Pratt: I got a tooth. I got a tooth off of a big dinosaur.
Okay, dinosaur. Good.
Chris Pratt: No, yeah. Our DP took his tooth out with a pair of pliers. "Get over here, John! I'll always remember this."
Bryce Dallas Howard: John Schwartzman [our DP] is adorable.
Chris Pratt: Yeah, I take props. Something I can lock away and look at. I always attach much sentiment to little items, which my wife finds drives her crazy because she doesn't like clutter. And I'm like, "You can't get rid of that stapler! It's from the set of Parks." "Alright, can you put it somewhere else?"
Bryce, what did you take?
Bryce Dallas Howard: I took nothing, because I'm not a criminal. I took nothing, so I have my memories.
Chris Pratt: Exactly what a criminal would say.
Bryce Dallas Howard: No, I didn't take anything. But I do have wonderful memories. And I should say - you don't actually see it. There was no screen time, so this was why I was allowed to take this with me, but I had a little anklet that I would wear on the last movie that had a C on it. I pretended that Owen gave [it] to Claire. I got to keep that, which is nice.
I have to wrap, but I just want to say: I moderated The Mandalorian‘s season 1 premiere, and you do not have to do this, but backstage you were hyping me up. As someone with impostor syndrome, it meant the world to me.
Bryce Dallas Howard: Oh, my God. That's cool. That's very cool. You're amazing! And you kicked ass with that. That was awesome; that was so fun.
Jurassic World Dominion Synopsis
The future of mankind hangs in the balance as humans and dinosaurs coexist following the destruction of Isla Nublar.
Check out our interview with Jurassic World Dominion stars Laura Dern, Mamoudou Athie, Jeff Goldblum, Isabella Sermon, and DeWanda Wise, as well as director Colin Trevorrow.
