Universal has announced that the third entry in the Jurassic World franchise and sixth overall Jurassic Park film has been delayed to June 10th, 2022.
This delay wasn't exactly expected, since Jurassic World: Dominion is one of the few films that has continued production during the COVID-19 pandemic with strict measures in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Universal has been taking many precautions in order to continue filming, spending over $5 million on pandemic-related expenses alone, including daily testing for all cast members. One day after the delay was announced, director Colin Trevorrow said that production would be shutting down due to positive COVID tests despite the staff members testing negative immediately afterward.
Jurassic World: Dominion is shaping up to be the Avengers: Endgame of the Jurassic Park saga, with several cast members returning from previous films. Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum are reprising their roles as Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm, respectively. First appearing in the original Jurassic Park, the trio haven't been seen together in any movie since, although Malcolm was the protagonist of The Lost World: Jurassic Park while Grant and Sattler returned in Jurassic Park III. Campbell Scott plays Dr. Lewis Dodgson, the man who sent Dennis Nedry to steal dinosaur embryos in the original film. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and B.D. Wong are back as Owen Grady, Claire Dearing, and Dr. Henry Wu from the two previous Jurassic World movies, while Omar Sy and Jake Johnson return as Barry and Lowery from Jurassic World and Daniella Pineda, Justice Smith, and Isabella Sermon reprise their roles as Zia Rodriguez, Franklin Webb, and Maisie Lockwood from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Several undisclosed roles have also been cast, with Dichen Lachman's role in particular intriguing me (Marvel fans know her as Jiaying, the mother of Daisy Johnson/Quake in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).
While I'm disappointed that the film is delayed, especially since it was due to release on my birthday, I'm impressed with how careful the production team is being and I'm glad they're putting the safety of the cast and crew first. Considering that Jurassic Park films usually have an entirely new supporting cast for each installment, I'm also very excited to see so many established characters returning for the final adventure.
What do you think of Jurassic World: Dominion? Who are you most excited to see return? Comment below!
Jurassic World: Dominion releases on June 10th, 2022.
Source: Variety