'Jurassic World': Here's when we're getting a sequel

Studio Universal has reportedly announced a release date for a follow-up to this summer's 'Jurassic World.' What should the sequel have in order to come close to matching the success of its predecessor?

Shocking absolutely no one, studio Universal Pictures has announced a release date for a sequel to this summer’s smash hit “Jurassic World.”

“Jurassic” came out this past June and has since become the third-highest grossing film worldwide of all time. The movie is the fourth-highest-grossing movie of all time domestically. 

The film continues the story when it first began in the 1993 movie “Jurassic Park,” which was directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Richard Attenborough. In that first film, when cloning dinosaurs became possible, a wealthy man comes up with the idea of creating a theme park in which families could come see the creatures. He gives a paleontologist and paleobotanist, among others, a preview and things quickly go wrong.

The sequels to “Jurassic Park,” which were 1997’s “The Lost World” and 2001’s “Jurassic Park III,” didn’t come close to matching the gross of the first film and it was obviously some time before a new movie was released. “World” imagines that a theme park with dinosaurs has indeed been opened and has so far been a success, but when those behind the park decide to alter a dinosaur in order to keep parkgoers interested, disaster strikes. Chris Pratt stars as a velociraptor trainer and Bryce Dallas Howard plays a manager at the park. 

Now the “World” sequel – which, we suppose, is a sequel to "Jurassic Park," really – will reportedly be released in 2018. Pratt and Howard will reportedly be back and Colin Trevorrow, who directed and co-wrote "World," will be co-writing the script, but a director has not yet been revealed.

What did “World” do right that a sequel should imitate? It’s no doubt good news that Pratt will be back. While “World” received a fairly negative reception from critics, many praised Pratt’s performance, calling him “tremendously likeable” and “effortlessly engaging.” Pratt delivered a star-making turn last summer in the comic book movie “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

In addition, the movie series still has a reputation as an event for all (or at least many) ages. Doubtless parents would keep the youngest kids away, but the “cool, dinosaurs!” aspect will no doubt draw most children and teenagers, and adults most likely feel they can find in a “Jurassic” movie an adventure film that most would enjoy.