1
Credit: Inside the MagicWhile there are four Jurassic sequels on the horizon, fans may soon be forced to say goodbye to Jurassic Park all over again in the coming years.
Jurassic Park is the most iconic fictional theme park. When Steven Spielberg’s epic sci-fi blockbuster rampaged through movie theaters in 1993, the world of cinema as we know it changed forever. While nothing could prepare us, we were warned to hold onto our butts.
Not only did Jurassic Park (1993) pioneer groundbreaking special effects (both practical and digital) that transformed the cinematic landscape, but the film also spawned an entire multi-media entertainment franchise, with sequels, merchandise, and even a “real” Jurassic Park.
Since 1996, Universal Studios has hosted Jurassic attractions, which continue to expand throughout all their destinations worldwide. Jurassic Park River Adventure, VelociCoaster, and Jurassic World: The Ride are just a few of the rides you’re undoubtedly familiar with.
Related: ‘Jurassic Park’ Releasing Official Never-Before-Seen Version of 1993 Film
Jurassic Park at Universal Studios
Whether Jurassic Park or Jurassic World, these attractions can be found in all five Universal Studios resorts worldwide: Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Singapore, and Universal Studios Beijing.
While the water-based rides started under the Park banner, Universal Studios Hollywood’s Jurassic Park: The Ride became Jurassic World: The Ride following the success of 2015’s franchise-resurrecting film of the same name, which grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide.
The entire area was also rebranded accordingly (although it was still “spared no expense”). But while Jurassic World appears to have become the most dominant dinosaur theme park over the last decade, Jurassic Park isn’t going anywhere. Right?
Related: ‘Jurassic World 4’ Everything We Know: Plot, Cast, Release Date, Trailer, and News
While the upcoming film Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) expands the World side of the franchise in film, that side of the theme parks may also expand even further yet.
Nothing has been confirmed for the newly announced Universal Studios Great Britain, which is set to open sometime in 2031, but it is rumored to feature a Jurassic-themed area with attractions.
The Jurassic World part of the franchise also continues to expand on the smaller screen with the animated series Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, which is getting a fourth season, and the upcoming video game sequel “Jurassic World Evolution 3” set for release later this year.
But what about the Jurassic Park side of things?
New Jurassic Park Sequel May Rewrite History
Jurassic Park may be about to go extinct — but not in the way you might think.
Soon, fans may experience the destruction of Jurassic Park in an upcoming sequel. You might think, “Didn’t this already happen in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom?” with the volcanic eruption, but that was Jurassic World. We still don’t really know what happened to that first park.
In the film series, the original park was abandoned after the Isla Nublar incident in 1993. While the InGen dinosaurs (the T-Rex, the Raptors, and the Dilophosaurus, and so on) that escaped wreaked havoc, they didn’t actually destroy the park.
When Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), Lex Murphy (Ariana Richards), and Tim Murphy (Joe Mazzello) escaped by helicopter at the end, the island was simply left to its own devices.
Related: New Jurassic Park Theme Park Experience To Replace ALL Universal Attractions
Nublar wasn’t revisited on screen again until 2015’s Jurassic World, in which it’s revealed that the titular rebranded park has relegated the remains of its predecessor to an area known as the “Restricted Zone” – although it’s unclear just how much of that original park is left.
All we really see is the Visitor Center, which has been mostly reclaimed by jungle, so it’s hard to tell what happened to the rest of the park — which once spanned the entire island.
Either way, by 2018 – the year Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is set – it doesn’t matter, because a volcanic eruption destroys most of the island, obliterating both Jurassic Park and Jurassic World and killing all the dinosaurs, except those taken to the mainland in the film.
The decision to destroy Nublar was likely inspired by the original ending to Michael Crichton’s best-seller “Jurassic Park” (on which Steven Spielberg’s 1993 film is based), which tells us that the theme park – recently abandoned by InGen – is destroyed by the Costa Rican Air Force.
The upcoming first-person action-adventure video game “Jurassic Park: Survival” (TBA) takes place 24 hours after the events of the original Jurassic Park, and it’s shaping up to be an authentic experience for fans, one that will immerse them in the world of the 1993 film.
But while it would appear that the sequel is canon with the film series (mainly the first one), it may also be free to do as it pleases and offer an alternate continuation to that film, particularly where the park, the island, and the dinosaurs are concerned.
The fate of the park is one of many major differences between the book and the film, however, the new game may utilize the original concept from Michael Crichton’s book. Or, it may stick to strict canon and finally reveal how the park becomes the Restricted Zone.
The former would certainly raise the stakes for the game’s lead character Dr. Maya Joshi. Per the official website, we know that players will be forced to use their ingenuity, stealth, intelligence, and all available resources to outlast the island’s predators. But throwing in a race-against-time scenario where Joshi must find a way off the island before it’s destroyed would make for an even more compelling video game experience.
Watch the trailer for “Jurassic Park: Survival” below, per Jurassic World YouTube:
Per the official website, here’s the synopsis for the game:
Return to Isla Nublar the day after the events of the beloved 1993 Jurassic Park film in an original adventure 65 million years in the making.
Survive thrilling first-person action as InGen scientist Dr. Maya Joshi, who was unable to evacuate Isla Nublar, in this single-player action-adventure game and discover a never-before-told story.
Through thrilling encounters, experience the wonder and danger of dinosaurs, each with their own distinct and adaptive behaviors brought to life by John Hammond’s vision.
“Jurassic Park: Survival” will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Are you excited about “Jurassic Park: Survival”? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!