Universal

Scarlett Johansson promises "the scares" are back with 'Jurassic World: Rebirth'

By Sophia Soto | Last updated Apr 3, 2025 11:14 AM ET

Universal's CinemaCon presentation started with Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and director Gareth Edwards taking the stage to talk about Jurassic World: Rebirth. Johansson, who stars as Zora Bennett, expressed, "It’s been a lifelong dream to be in a Jurassic movie. Each time they were making a new one, I reached out and said I was available."

She continued to explain, "This time, I went to Steven Spielberg directly and told him I would play any role even if I was eaten in the first five minutes." As for what fans of the franchise can expect with this film, she shared, "We wanted to put the scares back into Jurassic, keep the dinosaurs hidden, you turn around no one really sees them."

Edwards mentioned, "I suffered from a rare condition in childhood where I was compelled to watch Jurassic Park ten times a year," adding this was "the honor of the lifetime." As for Ali, who plays Duncan Kincaid, he spoke about shooting in Thailand, which he described as "incredible."

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"You think to yourself, ‘There’s no effing way I’m doing that,'" the actor said, recalling how the filmmaker wanted him to run through the jungle despite the wildlife. "Which is why we shot Jonathan Bailey's scenes first," commented Edwards.

Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.

The cast also includes Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono, Audrina Miranda, Philippine Velge, Bechir Sylvain, and Ed Skrein. The script is by original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp.

Jurassic World Rebirth hits theaters on July 2.

Sophia Soto

Sophia Soto is a writer and interviewer with a passion for all things entertainment. She is a Senior Reporter at The Nerds of Color and contributes to Yardbarker, Screensphere, Den of Geek, What to Watch, Nerdtropolis, and Temple of Geek. You can see her past work on Remezcla, Young Hollywood, Looper, Paste Magazine, Primetimer, Soundsphere, and Starry Constellation Magazine

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