James Cromwell, best known for his roles in The Artist and FX’s American Horror Story, has closed a deal to join Jurassic World 2 – and not a moment too soon.
After all, it was only yesterday when we brought you the news that Universal’s monstrous sequel was gearing up to enter production in earnest, after series veteran Frank Marshall Tweeted out a brief status update from his HQ in London. The English capital will prove to be one of three major filming locations for Jurassic World 2, given Universal has also earmarked Wales and Hawaii, which is becoming an increasingly popular destination for AAA Hollywood productions.
In light of today’s last-minute coup, Cromwell, whose role is total mystery at the time of writing, now joins franchise mascots Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard – sans high heels – Rafe Spall, Sherlock‘s Toby Jones, Daniella Pineda and The Get Down breakout Justice Smith. Ted Levine is another last-minute addition to the starry ensemble, while reports claim DJ Dimitri Vegas is also circling a role in the 2018 follow-up.
On the other side of the lens, Juan Antonio Bayona (A Monster Calls) will direct in place of Colin Trevorrow, who parted ways with the rebooted franchise to dabble in another rebooted franchise by the name of Star Wars. His Episode IX is incubating in the early, early stages of development ahead of a release in 2019.
Having mapped out trilogy plans with series stalwarts Steven Spielberg and Marshall, Trevorrow is still actively involved in Jurassic World 2, and even turned in the sequel’s screenplay he co-wrote with lone-time cohort Derek Connolly. If leaked domain names are anything to go by, its a story that involves themes of dinosaur rights and genetically modified dinosaurs, each more terrifying than the last, as InGen’s precious formula falls into the wrong hands.
Jurassic World 2 opens on June 22nd, 2018.