JA Bayona returning to direct the next Jurassic World?

The director of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is reportedly in discussions with Universal to return behind the camera for the next installment of the saga.

And if the next Jurassic World brought a familiar face back behind the camera?

JA Bayona, who had directed Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in 2018, is currently in discussions with Universal to take over orders for the next film in the franchise.

According to American journalist Jeff Sneider, via The InSneiderthe studio had first considered Lee Isaac Chung, director of the very successful remake of Twisters (2024), before turning to Bayona. Information also reported by Borys Kit from Hollywood Reporterwho claims that the director of Fallen Kingdom would currently be “at the top of the list” at Universal.

The studio has been looking for a new director since the departure of Gareth Edwards, who was initially set to direct the sequel to Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025). Edwards left the project over creative differences and Universal confirmed he would not return.

The screenplay is already in the hands of David Koepp, who had written Renaissance but also the Jurassic Park original from 1993.

Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali are set to reprise their roles, while Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall remain involved in the production.

This would therefore be Bayona’s second foray into the world of dinosaurs. Released in 2018, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom had grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide. The director notably imposed a darker tone, after moving the action from Isla Nublar to the Lockwood estate.

The film began with the planned evacuation of the dinosaurs from the island before switching to a story about the auction of genetically modified dinosaurs. A change of setting and tone which divided critics, without preventing the film from continuing the commercial success of the franchise.

For the moment, nothing has been officially signed.

Universal has not announced Bayona as director and neither the shooting nor the release date of the upcoming film have yet been confirmed. This sequel must extend the story launched by Jurassic World: Rebirthwhich grossed $869 million worldwide.