Jurassic Park 4

Jurassic Park 4 Information

Jurassic Park 4 (also stylized Jurassic Park IV) is an upcoming American science fiction adventure film that will be the fourth entry in the Jurassic Park film series. Set to be released on June 13, 2014, it will be directed by Colin Trevorrow and produced by Patrick Crowley and Frank Marshall. Husband-and-wife screenwriting team Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, known for writing and co-producing the critically successful reboot Rise of the Planet of the Apes, will write the script. Neither a plot synopsis nor any cast members have yet been confirmed.

Since the release of the third Jurassic Park film in 2001, speculation on the fourth film has been abound. Progress on the film endured what has been termed "development hell" for more than a decade, with innumerable rumors regarding casting, plot, and directing having been put forward from varying sources. In early 2013, official announcements confirming a concrete release date and director for Jurassic Park 4 were conclusively made by Universal Pictures.

Production

Since February 2013, speculation has been circulating that Jurassic Park 4 will begin film production at Baton Rouge's Raleigh Studios in April 2013. In late February, producer Frank Marshall, in response to a fan's inquiry about the rumor, tweeted that "no decisions have been made regarding where we are shooting." In March, it was revealed that Universal Studios has rented the studio for use between April and November for the filming of an as-yet undisclosed film which is believed to be Jurassic Park 4, filming under the pseudotitle "Ebb Tide".

Development history

2002"2007: Early speculation

In June 2002, director Steven Spielberg told Starlog magazine that he planned to produce Jurassic Park 4 and that director Joe Johnston, who helmed Jurassic Park III, would direct. In November 2002, screenwriter William Monahan was hired to write, with the film's release slated for summer 2005. In July 2003, Monahan completed the first draft, with the story no longer set in the jungle. Actor Sam Neill said he was returning as Dr. Alan Grant, with filming expected to begin in 2004 in California and Hawaii. In September 2004, screenwriter John Sayles was re-writing the script, with the film re-slated for a winter 2005 release.

In October 2004, paleontologist Jack Horner said he would return as technical adviser for the fourth film as he had done for previous Jurassic Park films. By April 2005, special effects artist Stan Winston explained that the delay in production was due to repeated revisions of the film's script, none of which satisfied Spielberg. According to Winston, "He felt neither of [the drafts] balanced the science and adventure elements effectively. It's a tough compromise to reach, as too much science will make the movie too talky, but too much adventure will make it seem hollow." In March 2007, Laura Dern was asked to return for the new film, which Universal still wanted to release by 2008. Director Joe Johnston was also reported not to be directing the film. Richard Attenborough has been contacted about reprising the role of John Hammond. Jeff Goldblum had expressed some interest in reprising his role of Ian Malcolm for the fourth film.

2008"2010: Conflicting rumors of development

In December 2008, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy were asked if there was any development on the sequel. Kennedy responded, "No... I don't know. You know, when Michael Crichton passed away, I sorta felt maybe that's it. Maybe that's a sign that we don't mess with it." While Marshall and Kennedy were no longer signed with Universal Pictures in a production capacity, it was said that the two would remain involved with the studio and its plans for Jurassic Park 4. In November 2009, Joe Johnston discussed the possibility of Jurassic Park 4, stating that the story for the film is completely different from that of its predecessors and would take the franchise into a whole other trilogy.

Jurassic Park III director Joe Johnston revealed in an interview in January 2010 that Jurassic Park 4 was set to be the beginning of a second Jurassic Park trilogy. He also added, "Jurassic Park IV is going to be unlike anything you've seen."

2011"2012: Further progression and rumors

On June 15, 2011 it was reported that Steven Spielberg has been brainstorming with writer Mark Protosevich on a film that happens to be the fourth film in the franchise. It is unclear whether it is a reboot or the fourth installment of the original series. During a new interview with Joe Johnston in July 2011, he stated that Jurassic Park 4 was being discussed and would be a spin-off of the history of the first trilogy.

At the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, Spielberg confirmed in front of at least 6,000 spectators that preparations for Jurassic Park 4 were in progress, with a story ready and a script being written. Spielberg said that it would be possibly released "within the next two or three years", with a representative from Universal saying 2013 would be the preferred deadline for completion. On October 26, 2011, Spielberg said that the script was being written by Mark Protosevich, and that he hoped for it to be released "in the next couple of years" and that he felt the story they were working on was stronger than that of Jurassic Park III.

In January 2012, Spielberg announced that he would not be directing the film, opting instead to be a producer. On June 21, it was confirmed that Rise of the Planet of the Apes writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver would be scripting Jurassic Park 4. Whether they will be continuing Mark Protosevich's script or creating a completely new script is unknown. On July 2, Frank Marshall responded to a question on Twitter which further confirmed that he would be producing Jurassic Park 4.

2013: Conclusive confirmation of production details

On January 11, 2013, Universal confirmed that Jurassic Park 4 is scheduled for release on June 13, 2014. In February, it was reported that Kathleen Kennedy will not be producing the film in favor of focusing on Star Wars Episode VII for 2015. On March 14, it was officially announced that Colin Trevorrow will direct the film; he had been attached as early as June 2012. On March 20, Trevorrow stated that there will be no feathers on the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park 4.