It’s been a mere two days since the first trailer for Jurassic World roared online and already fans and critics alike have dissected seemingly every frame. Some even took to the idea of a genetically-modified dinosaur immediately, while others were more critical of the reboot’s B-movie-esque plot.
But Sharktopus Vs. Pteracuda this is not, and the film’s director, Colin Trevorrow, spoke to Empire about the key moments from the recently-released trailer and how he considers a man-made dinosaur to be the natural evolution of the franchise.
“There is no shortage of awesome [real] dinosaurs. We could have populated this entire story with new species that haven’t been in any of these movies. But this new creation is what gave me a reason to tell another Jurassic Park story. We have the most awe-inspiring creatures to ever walk the Earth right in front of us, but for some reason that’s not enough. We’re always hungry for the next thing, and those who profit from it are always looking to feed that hunger. The focus groups want something bigger than a T-Rex. And that’s what they get.”
And so, the rampaging nemesis teased in Tuesday’s trailer — a highly intelligent killing machine — will act as the film’s overarching threat, as Byrce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt scramble to evacuate Isla Nublar. But Jurassic World‘s maiden teaser also contained an enticing nugget at the end — a money shot, if there ever was one. As a group of velociraptors burst from their paddocks, we see Pratt’s Owen ride alongside the vicious beasts without bating an eyelid. It’s a great shot, but Trevorrow revealed that not all is what it seems.
“Owen’s relationship with the raptors is complicated. They aren’t friends. These animals are nasty and dangerous and they’ll bite your head off if you make the wrong move. But there are men and women out there today who have forged tenuous connections with dangerous predators. That’s interesting territory to me.”
Finally, when asked if the fourth installment in the franchise will witness the return of the T-Rex — who, let’s face it, is the real star of the show — the filmmaker added: “You bet your ass you will.” Does that mean a Tyrannosaurus showdown between the two goliaths? We’ll just have to wait patiently to see.
Jurassic World will formally open for business on June 12, 2015.
