Jurassic World Rebirthdirector Gareth Edwards has revealed that filming on the dinosaur sequel was so dangerous, he had to hide the details from his cast. Thestory ofJurassic World: Rebirthstars Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett, a covert operations specialist hired to gather genetic material from large dinosaurs alongside paleontologist Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) and team leader Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali). Their mission takes them to tropical locations near the equator, and soon after the ocean, when a boat housing the Delgado family is attacked by dinos while the crew are nearby.

Speaking withEntertainment Weekly, Edwards revealed just how dangerous filmingJurassic World Rebirthtruly was, and how he never informed the actors of the dangers they were brushing up against. The director explained how most of the movie was filmed in swampy locations with poisonous snakes and spiders that needed to be avoided during filming. He also lamented the difficulties of filming in the ocean, saying the combination of both places meant actors were experiencing “physically demanding, sometimes near-death experiences.” Check out what Edwards had to say below:

Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth

I’m allowed to say this now that we’re on the other side of it, but we shot in rivers and these mangrove swamps. When we were scouting them, we saw poisonous water snakes, massive ones that we had to catch. We kept it quiet from the actors as they spent a whole day wading through the same area. And there were giant spiders that were poisonous and stuff on the edge of the trees. You just wouldn’t point them out if you saw them. Just keep going!

It’s probably the last film I ever shoot in the ocean because it was very difficult. I’m glad we persevered, but I think everybody, all the actors, went through as crazy a journey as the characters in the film, these very physically demanding, sometimes near-death experiences that had these high-reward factors if you managed to succeed.

Spinosaurus from Lost World in front of a scratched background

What Edwards' Filming Dangers Reveal About Jurassic World Rebirth

The Movie’s Journey Was Just As Harrowing In Real Life

Edwards' admittance to just how dangerous filming the movie was reflects the film’s own harrowing journey its characters will embark upon. While thecast ofJurassic World Rebirthwas in the dark about some elements of filming that transpired, the dedication to authenticity will likely make the movie all the more memorable. This, coupled with a script byJurassic Parkwriter David Koepp, emphasizes the level of effort afforded to making the next chapter of the franchise an exciting, risky follow-up to the previous trilogy.

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While theend ofJurassic World Dominionopened the door for plenty of new stories across the dinosaur franchise, this dangerous mission sounds like it will be somewhat similar toThe Lost World: Jurassic Park. However, despite Edwards' new aversion to filming in the ocean, the Delgado family’s appearance will help shake up the storyline. This makes filming in these locations, while dangerous, an important factor in crafting the story that’s going to be told. While it’s unclear the extent of safety measures actors had, the director’s response indicates they were always focused on keeping them safe.

Jurassic World Rebirth - Duncan Kincaid

Our Take On Jurassic World Rebirth’s Filming Dangers

There Was A Dedication To Creating An Authentic Experience

While the filming dangers are slightly concerning, since it seems the actors involved weren’t informed of the extent, the care Edwards put into making these locations safe shows his dedication to realism in the movie. WhileJurassic World Rebirth’s story is sci-fi, the realistic settings help ground it, making the actors performing in actual tropical environments and in the real ocean all the more important when crafting a compelling narrative. These efforts will no doubt be reflected onscreen when the movie hits theaters next summer.

Jurassic World Rebirth’s 2025 release date means new movies in the franchise have been released every 3 to 4 years since 2015.

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Jurassic World Rebirth

Cast

Jurassic World Rebirth, set five years after Jurassic World Dominion, sees covert operations expert Zora Bennett guiding a team to obtain dinosaur genetic material. Their mission collides with a stranded family on a perilous island, uncovering a long-buried secret.