New ‘Jurassic World’ Movie At Universal Circling David Leitch To Direct–The Dish

By Justin Kroll, Mike Fleming Jr

February 5, 2024 2:00pm

EXCLUSIVE: After recently tapping David Koepp to pen the script, Universal Pictures new Jurassic World pic is gaining some serious momentum as it has zeroed in on a familiar face to direct. While it is early days on the negotiation front, sources tell Deadline David Leitch is in early talks to direct the next film in the billion dollar franchise. The film is set to bow on July 2, 2025.

The new movie will be a completely fresh take on a Jurassic era with Jurassic World castmembers Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard not expected to return, nor the original trilogy’s thespians Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern and Sam Neill.

The film will be executive produced by Steven Spielberg through Amblin Entertainment, Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley will produce and David Leitch and Kelly McCormick will also produce through 87North. Executive Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Creative Executive of Production Development Jacqueline Garell will oversee the project for the Studio.

If a deal closes this would be a seismic attachment and be the biggest name to helm a film in the franchise since Steven Spielberg directed the first two Jurassic Park films in the 90s. Universal still sees this as an IP that hasn’t lost its luster with fans as the most recent pic, Jurassic World: Dominion, bringing in a billion dollars at the global box-office and have been anxious to dive back into the universe with a fresh take.

All that said, the studio is clearly not messing around tapping seasoned veteran scribe Koepp, who teamed with Spielberg on the first two Jurassic Park films, to pen this script and now tapping one of the more sought after directors in the industry to helm the film. Leitch’s unique style especially when it comes to jaw-dropping action sequences in films like Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train, is unlike anything the franchise has experienced with previous directors and would certainly give the series a fresh new look execs have wanted since the development of this film.

If a deal closes it also builds on the strong partnership Leitch and his production company 87North have had with the studio going back to when he was tapped to direct the Fast & Furious spin-off, Hobbs & Shaw. Leitch and his partner Kelly McCormick already have a deal with the studio and Universal looks to be very high on his next film The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling, which is set to bow this May.

Leitch is repped by CAA.