"Jurassic World" has proven to be a massive success for Universal Pictures, earning well over $1.5 billion and receiving favorable reviews from critics and fans alike. The studio has issued a press release confirming that they are pushing through with the sequel, now scheduled for release on June 22, 2018.
According to the press release, as cited by Collider, lead actors Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are returning to portray Owen Grady and Claire Dearing, respectively. "Jurassic World" ended with the two deciding to stick together after finally escaping the island in order to "survive."
Despite surviving the events of the film, Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong) has not yet been confirmed for the sequel. It is also unsure if Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson will return as the Mitchell brothers.
Director Colin Trevorrow has stated before that he is not returning to helm the sequel but he will work on the script alongside "Jurassic World" writer Derek Conolly. Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall are also set to return as executive producers for the film.
One aspect that the report points out is that Universal Pictures is referring to the film as the "Jurassic World" sequel instead of labeling it as "Jurassic Park 5." Given how successful the most recent film is, however, it comes as no surprise that the studio would want to build on that success instead of relying solely on nostalgia for the franchise.
"Jurassic World" managed to gross over $1.5 billion worldwide, taking over "The Avengers" as the third highest grossing film of all time, just below "Titanic" and "Avatar." It also broke the record for the highest opening weekend both in the U.S. and overseas, the fastest to earn $1 billion, and the record for IMAX opening worldwide among many others.
The announcement was later re-iterated via the official "Jurassic World" Twitter account.
