Motivational
22 Jul, 2025
William Jones
ThatJurassic World Rebirthis the seventh film in a franchise started by Steven Spielberg should make at least one thing obvious. The film’s existence alone is a tribute to the iconic director. And while previous iterations havehonored the filmmaker’s workin other ways,Rebirthtakes things to a whole other level.
“In reading the script,there are scenes [and] descriptionswhere they’re in a boat chasing a giant creature through the water. They’re leaning forward at the front with a rifle. There’s a giant fin. And you’re like, ‘This reminds me of another movie.’ I don’t know if you guys have ever seen this thing calledJaws.” That’sdirector Gareth Edwards talking to io9about the film’s homages to the director ofClose Encounters of the Third Kind,E.T., Hook,and so many more. It was clear to Edwards early on that David Koepp had written a script with multiple direct references to Spielberg’s work, so he took things a bit further.
“I started to play this game of, like, ‘Well, I guess then it’s like open season a little bit,'” Edwards said. “Why not have a bit ofRaidersin there? And so to me, it felt semi-sacrilegious, but I justified it by going, ‘This is my big love letter to Steven Spielberg.’ And so whenever there was a little vacuum or a little idea that was added, I always felt like, ‘What’s the Spielbergian way?’ And I would never, ever, ever compare myself. He’s the master. But how I got through this was because it was such an intimidating thing knowing you’re in the shadow of those masterpieces, my way through it was to just consider this a love letter full of Easter eggs for other fans of his films.”
And so there are the nods to the originalJurassic Park, Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, etc. Films Edwards grew up watching and loving. But it wasn’t only watching Spielberg movies that helped the director makeRebirthinto a self-fulfilled prophecy.
“There’s a strange thing; it happened onStar Wars,and it happened on this movie as well, which is when you’re a little kid, and you grew up playing with dinosaurs and spaceships, and then you learn that the world is not really built that way, and it’s all a lie called cinema,” Edwards said. “You end up quite disappointed, driving to work, doing tax returns, a bit frustrated that they lied to you. And then one day you’re really lucky, and you end up in the middle of a jungle with dinosaurs, and you’re like, ‘Finally, what they promised in the first place.’ And so [making this movie] felt very comforting. It felt like becoming a child again, like having a comfort blanket. So it sort of compensates for any anxiety you might have about doing a giant movie [because] it is suddenly this world that you just feel familiar with as a kid.”
From playing in the backyard to watching Spielberg movies,Jurassic World Rebirthis a movie Edwards had been prepping for his whole life. It’s now in theaters.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latestMarvel,Star Wars, andStar Trekreleases, what’s next for theDC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future ofDoctor Who.
Gareth EdwardsJurassic World RebirthSteven Spielberg
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