"Jurassic World" director Colin Trevorrow will be penning and producing the sequel but has stepped down from the director's chair in order to direct "Star Wars: Episode IX." Universal Pictures has not yet announced who will be filling in his shoes but a report from Deadline now indicates that Juan Antonio Bayona is a very likely candidate.
According to the report, Bayona was a part of the lineup of directors for "Jurassic World 2" back in September last year but was dropped for unknown reasons. The director was then set to helm "World War Z 2" but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts and his name has now once again risen for "Jurassic World 2."
It is also explained that Bayona has a close relationship with Frank Marshall, executive producer on "Jurassic World" alongside Steven Spielberg. It is also noted that Bayona may not necessarily be in talks to helm the sequel but the possibility isn't ruled out either.
Bayona does not have an extensive resume yet but his work thus far is impressive. Bayona previously directed "The Orphanage," a well-received horror flick back in 2007, as well as the 2012 drama "The Impossible," in which actress Naomi Watts was nominated for best Actress.
"Jurassic World" not only revitalized the franchise but also managed to earn over $1.6 Billion worldwide and was only topped by another 2015 film, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
At the time being, no official plot synopsis has been revealed but it is speculated that Dr. Wu (B.D. Wong) will be responsible for spreading the technology of bringing back dinosaurs to numerous bidders, causing a world catastrophe akin to the "Planet of the Apes" films. Actors Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will be returning for the sequel.
"Jurassic World 2" may not yet have a finished script or a director at the helm but the film is already scheduled to release on June 22, 2018.
