Bryce Dallas Howard in Jurassic World: Dominion.
“I’d always be open to coming back if it made sense, but I believe it’s important for the franchise to explore new narratives,” Howard expressed. The upcoming Jurassic World: Rebirth, the first installment since 2022, boasts a star-studded cast including Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey, and is set for release on July 2. While Howard won’t be appearing in the latest Jurassic World film, she hasn’t ruled out a reappearance in the series’ future.
During her June 10 appearance on the talk show, Howard currently promoting her action-comedy Deep Cover fielded a viewer’s question about her potential return given the premiere of Rebirth on July 2. “I would definitely always come back as the character if that made sense. But I think it’s really right for the franchise to take the story in a different direction,” she remarked. “Jurassic has always championed dinosaurs over human characters, a trend I find delightful.”
Additionally, Howard expressed admiration for the film’s current leading lady, noting, “Scarlett Johansson is in it and I’m like, obsessed with her. And Mahershala Ali, too.”
Howard, alongside Chris Pratt, headlined the 2015 Jurassic World, the 2018 sequel Fallen Kingdom, and the 2022 finale Dominion, marking the franchise’s return after Jurassic Park III in 2001. Her character, Claire Dearing, served as operations manager at Jurassic World’s fictional Isla Nublar theme park. In the original 2015 film, Claire and Pratt’s Owen Grady must rescue Claire’s nephews from a rogue T. rex. Subsequent films feature the duo’s continued efforts to save dinosaurs from extinction following the park’s destruction. Dominion notably saw the return of Jurassic Park’s original stars Laura Dern, Sam Neill, and Jeff Goldblum.
In a 2022 PEOPLE interview, Howard conveyed sadness at concluding her Jurassic role but cherishing the dinosaur-centric series. “Bidding farewell is bittersweet. But I’m eager for those who will advance the Jurassic tale,” she said, noting that it “will feature a mostly new ensemble, something truly exciting.”
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The new installment Rebirth introduces Johansson as Zora Bennett, a “covert operations expert” leading a high-stakes mission at Jurassic Park’s original island. During a risky journey aboard a stranded boat, they encounter a family learning dark secrets of the dinosaur-infested island. An official movie synopsis declares, “In an uncharted terrain teeming with surprisingly diverse species, the team stumbles upon a sinister, long-concealed secret.”
