‘Jurassic World 5’ Could Bring Back the Franchise’s Gothic Horror — And Its Most Bizarre Concept Yet
The Jurassic World franchise has spent years experimenting with increasingly unusual dinosaurs, from genetically engineered predators to creatures whose existence pushes the limits of science. But the next film could introduce a very different kind of monster if Universal Pictures brings back a filmmaker who previously explored the darker side of the series.
Earlier this month, The Wrap reported that J. A. Bayona had emerged as the frontrunner to direct Jurassic World 5 (TBA), following Gareth Edwards’ departure from the project over creative differences. Nothing has been officially confirmed, but Bayona’s potential return could have intriguing implications for the franchise.
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Bayona previously directed Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), a sequel that moved away from the sun-soaked dinosaur adventure formula by embracing shadows, suspense, and gothic horror. Its latter half unfolded inside the Lockwood Estate, where Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), and Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) found themselves facing the terrifying Indoraptor.
The genetically engineered creature was among the franchise’s most unsettling creations, and its scenes inside the mansion gave the film an atmosphere more reminiscent of a monster movie than a conventional blockbuster. Bayona’s other work, including The Orphanage (2007), also demonstrates his familiarity with horror.
Could Jurassic World 5 Go Even Further?
A return to that style could open the door to ideas the franchise has previously approached without fully exploring. One of the most controversial possibilities is the introduction of human-dinosaur hybrids, a concept that dates back to an abandoned version of Jurassic Park 4.
Some fans have also theorized that the Indoraptor in Fallen Kingdom contains human DNA, although this has never been confirmed. Bayona’s return would not automatically mean that the next movie revisits that idea, but his previous film certainly offers a potential starting point.
Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) introduced mutant dinosaurs, including the Distortus Rex and the Mutadons, after its story took audiences to another InGen island. With a screenplay reportedly written by David Koepp, the next movie already has a bizarre foundation on which to build.
Scarlett Johansson (Zora Bennett), Mahershala Ali (Duncan Kincaid), and Jonathan Bailey (Henry Loomis) are reportedly expected to return, although plot details remain under wraps.
Would you like to see Jurassic World 5 revisit gothic horror and finally explore human-dinosaur hybrids? Let us know in the comments below!
