Gareth Edwards Not Returning For Next 'Jurassic World' Movie
Deadline
β’Thu, 06 Aug 2026 19:50:00 +0000
π° What Happened
Deadline reported that Gareth Edwards will not return to direct the next Jurassic World movie, with sources citing creative differences. Edwards will instead focus on other original projects, and Universal and Amblin have begun the search for a new director. Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali are expected to return for the next film, which the studio hopes to shoot in 2027, based on a script by David Koepp.
π The Backstory
Edwards directed Jurassic World Rebirth, the successful 2025 relaunch of the franchise that brought back stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali. Having successfully revived the franchise, the studio is pressing on with a sequel. The Jurassic franchise has a long history of rotating directors across its seven films.
π― Why It Matters
A director change on a flagship franchise is significant because it affects the creative direction of a major tentpole film and its box-office prospects. That the studio would cite creative differences and cast decisions on a sequel at a key creative juncture underscores the high-stakes production decisions facing Universal as it extends one of Hollywood's biggest and most reliable franchises.
Deadline reported that Gareth Edwards will not return to direct the next Jurassic World movie, with sources citing creative differences. Edwards will instead focus on other original projects, and Universal and Amblin have begun the search for a new director. Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali are expected to return for the next film, which the studio hopes to shoot in 2027, based on a script by David Koepp.
Edwards directed Jurassic World Rebirth, the successful 2025 relaunch of the franchise that brought back stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali. Having successfully revived the franchise, the studio is pressing on with a sequel. The Jurassic franchise has a long history of rotating directors across its seven films.
A director change on a flagship franchise is significant because it affects the creative direction of a major tentpole film and its box-office prospects. That the studio would cite creative differences and cast decisions on a sequel at a key creative juncture underscores the high-stakes production decisions facing Universal as it extends one of Hollywood's biggest and most reliable franchises.