Universal Pictures has announced a release date for Jurassic World 3, as well as a new female co-screenwriter for the film. The second film in the trilogy, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom will be released this summer on June 22. It is directed by J.A. Bayona and written by Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow, who directed the first Jurassic World film.

The Jurassic World movies take place 22 years after the original Jurassic Park trilogy. Jurassic World is a successful theme park that allows visitors to get up close with their favorite prehistoric creatures set on the Isla Nublar island of the original film. Starring Chris Pratt as Owen Grady, a former member of the U.S. Navy who conducts behavioral research on velociraptors, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire Dearing (the Jurassic World Operations Manager), the first film showed what happened after the genetically engineered dinosaurs got loose in the park.

According to Variety, Jurassic World 3 is set to be released on June 11, 2021. Trevorrow will return to write the script based on a story he wrote alongside Connolly. This time he will be joined in screenwriting duties by Emily Carmichael. Carmichael is one of the writers on the upcoming Pacific Rim Uprising and recently re-wrote The Black Hole for Disney. Treverrow spoke of his excitement for the future of the Jurassic World trilogy:

“It’s important to this franchise that we welcome new creative voices to keep our storytelling fresh and alive. I’m thrilled with the tension and beauty J.A. has brought to Fallen Kingdom, and I know Emily will add another layer of emotion to the concluding chapter of our trilogy.”


It is nice to see big blockbuster franchises adding different voices behind the camera and recognizing the importance in doing so. With the success of Wonder Woman and Black Panther it is becoming more and more apparent that fans want diversity in storytelling. Adding a female screenwriter is a good step in the right direction. Hopefully a female writer will also help tackle some of the problems fans had with the first Jurassic World – namely, the film’s treatment of women and Claire’s decision to wear heels throughout the entire film. (She will not be making the same mistake in Fallen Kingdom.)

There is no director attached to Jurassic World 3 yet. It would be another step forward to see a women or women of color in the role. It is time to let women direct big sci-fi disaster films and other films that aren’t just about female superheroes or coming of age stories. Since the early 1990s, all different kinds of fans have enjoyed the story of dinos wreaking havoc on humans and their plans. It’s time the films represented that both behind and in front of the camera.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom release date: Jun 22, 2018