Jurassic World Rebirth director Gareth Edwards has exited the film’s planned sequel following creative differences with Universal Pictures.
According to Variety, Edwards had been expected to return for the next installment after relaunching the dinosaur franchise with a new cast for effectively the third time. Universal and Amblin Entertainment have already begun searching for another director as they prepare to start production in 2027.
“We had an incredible experience working with Gareth on Jurassic World Rebirth,” the companies said in a joint statement.
Scene from Jurassic World Rebirth – Universal Pictures, YouTube
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Edwards will instead focus on several original projects that he currently has in development. Neither the filmmaker nor the studios have revealed the specific creative disagreements that led to his departure.
The untitled sequel is still moving forward without him. Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali are expected to reprise their roles as Zora Bennett, Dr. Henry Loomis, and Duncan Kincaid. David Koepp, who wrote Rebirth and the original Jurassic Park, is also returning to write the screenplay.
Jurassic World Rebirth Failed to Leave a Lasting Impact
Jurassic World Rebirth arrived in theaters in July 2025 and earned approximately $872 million worldwide. Although the movie received mixed reviews from critics, its financial performance made another installment almost inevitable.
That said, many moviegoers appear to have left the theater underwhelmed. The film currently holds a 48% “Decent” score on Criticless. Many of its top reviews suggest that Jurassic World Rebirth failed to bring anything new to the long-running franchise. Others noted that key story elements felt unbelievably contrived and that audiences were cheering for the dinosaurs rather than the human characters.
Ultimately, the film may serve as a reminder that strong box office performance does not always translate into lasting cultural impact.
It is a concept that Edwards seems to understand well.
Gareth Edwards Takes a Long-Term View
Before helming Jurassic World Rebirth, Edwards directed Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Many fans consider it one of the few bright spots of the Disney era. However, Edwards has always taken a long-term view of the film’s success.
“It’s not about how people feel the day it gets released, it’s how people feel about it 10, 20 years from now,” he stated. “It’s the kid who comes up to you 20 years from now and goes, ‘Oh my God, I loved that movie!’ I think that’s the reward.”
A clip from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – Disney+
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Edwards has also faced questions about his creative control on major studio productions. Rogue One underwent extensive reshoots after Tony Gilroy joined the project, leading to years of speculation that Lucasfilm had pushed Edwards aside.
The director has repeatedly disputed that account. He said Gilroy contributed significant work but maintained that the two collaborated through the end of production. Edwards later announced that he had no interest in making another Star Wars film, explaining that he was happy to move forward with his own projects.
Is Gareth Edwards Finished With Franchise Filmmaking?
His departure from the Jurassic World sequel does not necessarily mean that the production is in trouble. Universal still has its returning stars, an established screenwriter, and more than a year to find another filmmaker.
Scene from Jurassic World Rebirth – Universal Pictures, YouTube
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For now, Edwards appears ready to move away from franchise filmmaking and pursue projects that offer him greater creative freedom. After guiding both Star Wars and Jurassic World installments through demanding studio systems, he may have little interest in immediately stepping into another tightly controlled blockbuster.
Whether his original projects can achieve enduring success remains to be seen. However, they may provide a clearer picture of the filmmaker Edwards wants to be when he is no longer responsible for protecting someone else’s intellectual property.
Why do you think Gareth Edwards left the Jurassic World sequel? Sound off and let us know!
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