JURASSIC PARK III's "Clash of the Titans:" T-rex vs. Spinosaurus
© 2001 Universal Studios
Jurassic Park 4
By: Coming AttractionsDate: Monday, May 26, 2003
Genre:
Action/Adventure/Sequel.
Studio:
Universal Pictures.
Production Company:
Amblin Entertainment.
Project Phase:
Script Stage.
Who's In It:
Unknown.
Who's Making It:
William Monahan (Screenwriter); Kathleen Kennedy (Producer).
Premise:
Unknown.
Release Date:
Unknown.
Comments:
Spielberg is keeping the idea for the fourth JURASSIC PARK film a secret, but he's commented that, after the first film's storyline, it's his favorite take on man versus dinosaurs.
Scoop Feedback:
May 22, 2001... The story first broke yesterday in the New York Daily News that plans are already afoot for a fourth Jurassic Park film even though the third movie hasn't been released to theaters yet! Columnist Mitchell Fink reported that Spielberg's copmpany, Amblin Entertainment, has already begun the process of developing ideas for a possible Jurassic Park IV.
When Fink called Spielberg's publicist, Martin Levy, the rumor was confirmed. "I've heard rumblings to that effect," is what Levy was quoted as saying in the Daily News. "From what I understand, Steven is very happy with what he has seen of Joe Johnston's work in [Jurassic Park] III. If there is a [JP] IV, Steven would again produce it. But Steven is definitely not going to direct any more Jurassics." [Originally appeared in the New York Daily News.]
Now all that remains to be seen is how well Jurassic Park III fares at the box office. The film opens on July 18th.
July 19, 2001... While it's common knowledge now that Steven Spielberg has some kind of idea for a fourth Jurassic Park movie, the specific story that Steven has in mind hasn't been mentioned. That's still the case, but according to a report on 13th Street, we might now know at least who Spielberg has in mind to be the hero of JP4...none other than The Lost World's Vince Vaughn.
The mysterious source cites "family members" as the means of how they found out the Vaughn rumor. It should be noted that this is still just a rumor, but a rumor that would make some sense. Vaughn's character is already established in the JP world, and the $19 million dollar opening day success of Jurassic Park III (of which there's no returning characters from The Lost World, just from the first Jurassic Park) indicates that the public's interest is with seeing the dinos anyway.
The scooper says there's been no work on exactly why Vaughn would "Return to Jurassic Park", but then again, stuff like that can be fleshed out later. The individual also says JP3 director Joe Johnston will also return to helm the next film, although that runs counter to what Johnston has publically stated: he'd need a six-month rest before considering any further expeditions to dinosaur country. Still, that's what gentlemen agreements are for, we suppose.
[Name withheld; originally appeared on 13th Street.]
August 28, 2001... If there's going to be a Jurassic Park 4, don't hold your breath for Sam Neill to reprise his character for a third time. While speaking on Australia's TV program A Current Affair, Neill said "I suspect this is the last one. Three seems to be the definitive number." Of course, it's already public knowledge that Spielberg has an idea for a fourth one, and with JP3 rising to become one of the summer's top earners, Neill might not realize just how stacked the odds are of there not being another Jurassic Park film.
"Everybody was surprised [at how popular the film is], not at least Steven", Neill also said. [Scoops sent in by Moviehole.]
June 13, 2002... How serious is Steven Spielberg about making a fourth Jurassic Park film? If you've read the latest issue of Starlog magazine, he's pretty damn serious indeed.
"You're talking to the guy who has got to decide, and at this point I've pretty much decided to do a Jurassic 4," Spielberg told Starlog magazine. "Similar to the third Jurassic, I will not direct it. I would hope that I could get Joe Johnston to direct this one, too, but it's up to him. I'll certainly offer it to Joe before I offer it to anyone else. We actually have a wonderful story that I think is the best story since the very first movie. In fact, I wish it were the third story instead of the fourth one. It came late, but it is actually the best story I've heard for a dinosaur movie since the Michael Crichton book. And I'm not going to tell you anything about it. My lips are sealed."
[Originally appeared in Starlog.]
November 5, 2002... Dark Horizons uncovered the next puzzle piece in what Jurassic Park IV could be about. Speaking to the assembled press in Queenstown, New Zealand, actor Sam Neill said "Yeah, Steven Spielberg and his people are quite busy prepping another one. There is a chance you'll see me in it. I'm as surprised as anyone, because I didn't think there was any way they could get Alan Grant involved again. But they came up with a clever idea. Steven just blew me away with the story....something frightnening is happening concerning those dinosaurs that doesn't necessarily bode well for us humans. Scientists never seem to learn."
Neill seemed really sold on whatever this secret new direction for the fourth Jurassic movie would take. "You know that feeling when you first saw the original film, and you were so in awe, and felt so swept away and mesmerised by the sheer majesty of it all? I believe this premise has the potential to elicit that same kind of response. Out of all the concepts that've been created for these movies, this is possibly my favorite."
Now we're really curious to know what it's all about! [Originally appeared on Dark Horizons.]
November 7, 2002... Screenwriter William Monahan is hired to write the screenplay for Jurassic Park 4. Monahan's last project was writing the script for Tripoli, an 18th century drama that Ridley Scott is attached to direct. Kathleen Kennedy will continue to serve as the franchise's producer. No details concerning the third sequel's storyline were made available. We have now moved this project into the script stage of development. [Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety.]
January 30, 2003... It's hard to believe what's said in an anonymous email. That's the curse of running a movie website that specializes in running rumors and insider gossip about Hollywood productions, and it's why we don't put a lot of faith in the Jurassic Park scoop we were sent today. It's one thing for an industry insider to come forward and tell us who they are and how they got their info; at least that person is standing behind what they're telling us and we never reveal a source. But when an individual writes in anonymously trying to get us to trust them solely on the basis that we should, we tend not to. We've been burned before.
Lately there's been a new round of speculation posted about the alleged storyline for Jurassic Park IV. Today's edition of Dark Horizons published one of these so-called insider reports said to be from someone who had access inside Amblin's offices. That scooper said the storyline revolves around the dinosaurs getting off of the two islands and on to the Costa Rican mainland. It also seems to fly in the face of another report that we received today from another alleged "insider", again pertaining to the storyline for
the fourth JP movie. Our scooper's proof of authenticity was to claim that they were the first to tell us about the so-called "Batman: The Frightening" storyline that's rumored to be floating around Warner Bros., and that we didn't report here at CA because none of the sources we trust could confirm its authenticity. That doesn't give us much faith in "MaseMB"'s report that the storyline for Jurassic Park IV involves...intelligent dinosaurs. In the scooper's own words, "They think. Reason. Speak." [Scoop sent in by 'MaseMB'.]
But until another site reports the same information, or new information appears in the trades, we're advising everyone who's following the Jurassic Park IV story rumors to keep an open mind...and not immediately believe everything that you read.
