Jurassic World: Dominion – out Friday – begins four years after Isla Nublar was destroyed by a volcano, with a host of dinosaurs rescued and brought to America, only to be set free

The original Jurassic Park movie turns 30 next year, which might make us all feel a bit prehistoric.

However, the franchise has stood the test of time as a new movie, Jurassic World Dominion, is set to hit theaters this weekend (with perhaps a watery impact shake?).

So, what can we expect from the latest installment in the much-loved film series?

Will it roar with rapid success and applause, or will we wish it faded into our memory? Here’s everything you need to know…

Look who’s back

The new film will feature characters from the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World trilogies, meaning Sam Neill, 74, and Laura Dern, 55, could once again rekindle their romance. Laura joked that she now perceives their 19-year age gap differently than she did in 1993. “Well, it was totally fitting to fall in love with Sam Neill,” he said. she declared. “And it wasn’t until now, when we came back in a moment of cultural awareness about patriarchy, that I was, like, ‘Wow! We’re not the same age?

Veteran frontman Jeff Goldblum, 69, will also return alongside Chris Pratt, 42, and Bryce Dallas Howard, 41, from the most recent films. New characters include former military pilot Kayla Watts, played by DeWana Wise, 38, and smart young scientist Ramsay Cole, played by Mauritian actor Mamoudo Athie, 33.

The parcel

Jurassic World: Dominion begins four years after Isla Nublar was destroyed by a volcano, with a host of dinosaurs rescued and brought to America, only to be set free.

Now able to move and hunt the world alongside humans, prehistoric animals are everywhere; causing big traffic jams, attacking big cats and even being petted in parks by small children.

However, some of the dinosaurs have fallen victim to a society that uses them to conduct experiments. The responsibility falls to Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) to investigate.

At the same time, Jurassic World survivors Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Clare Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) must fight to protect their adopted daughter, who is a genetic clone people are looking for.

Special effects

The special effects of Jurassic movies are really what makes them special. From 1993 until today, the franchise has used the most advanced technology available.

However, this film will actually include more animatronics, which are mechanical puppets, than the other films. As director Colin says, “We’ve actually gone further in every Jurassic movie we’ve made since the first, and we’ve created more animatronics in this one than in the previous two.”

However, when computer animation is used, Bryce explains that the production uses artists and performers wearing “costumes that embody creatures and beings from all universes.” Apparently, they work so hard that the actors really feel the threat of the dinosaurs!

Pitches

Much of the film was shot at Pinewood Studios in London. However, it looks like Jurassic World, like the rest of the world, wasn’t immune to the coronavirus. Between March and July 2020, filming for the blockbuster had to be halted and the cast and crew had to stay at a hotel in Buckinghamshire.

Sam described how the experience brought him closer to co-stars Laura and Jeff again. “We’re not just friends, we’re survivors,” he joked. “We weren’t allowed to go out, we could walk in the park surrounding the hotel, but that was it.”

The film was also partly shot in Malta, where the dinosaurs can be seen running wild in the city of Valletta, as well as in Hawaii which had to cure some of the team’s Covid blues of production.

Fascinating facts

Jurassic World: Dominion is the longest film in the franchise, with a running time of 146 minutes.

Paleontologist Steve Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh consulted this film to make it as factual as possible.

There were 75 employees building 48 dinosaurs for the film, and 30 puppeteers were needed to move them. It took three months to build the new Giganotosaurus.

The film cost £131m to make, but the production team spent £2.4m on Covid testing alone.

Jurassic World is the one to beat at the box office as it’s the highest-grossing film in the franchise, grossing £1.3 billion.

During the filming of Jurassic Park in 1993, the T-Rex animatronic would sometimes light up randomly, scaring the cast and crew.

New Dinosaurs

One of the biggest surprises in the new film, quite literally, is the addition of Giganotosaurus, which actually existed at the end of the Cretaceous – around 99.6 to 97 million years ago.

They are said to rival the T-rex in size and will be the villain of the movie. Director Colin Trevormorrow revealed, “I wanted something that looked like The Joker. He just wants to watch the world burn.

Feathered dinosaurs will also be present for the first time, including the red plumage Pyroraptor, as well as the Therizinosaurus with huge clawed hands.