Set photos for Jurassic World 2 highlight the puppets being used in director J.A. Bayona’s sequel to bring the film’s dinosaurs to life. As often as we decry the remake and reboot trend, there are plenty of examples of how to do it right. Jurassic World was something of a primer for Hollywood about how to revamp a long dormant series and package it in a new light. Colin Trevorrow (Star Wars Episode IX) infused his vision of the Jurassic Park franchise with equal parts reverence and new ideas, choosing to build off the world established by Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton rather than bulldoze over it. The soft reboot approach resulted in a film that delighted fans old and new, and went on to earn $1.6 billion at the global box office.
That kind of success assures sequels, and Jurassic World 2 is already filming. Bayona (A Monster Calls) is the latest to bring the thrilling vision of a world where humans can walk with dinosaurs to life, and he’s doing so in a surprisingly old school manner. While fans and critics were mostly pleased with the previous movie, it served as a touchstone for people who lamented the transition away from practical effects to CGI. Bayona, with his history of blending the two methods to create awe-inspiring visuals, has already committed to using more practical effects for his sequel in the form of puppets and models. Now we have our first glimpse at some of the puppets being used.
The images surfaced earlier today on Twitter following a set visit. While we don’t get the best looks at what’s in store for next year’s release, the new photos give us an idea of the dinosaurs we can expect in the sequel. The images include a small glimpse of an Apatosaurus, which was featured heavily in a moving scene in Jurassic World, as well as a Dilophosaurus, which played a key role in the original Jurassic Park.
Apatosaurus #JurassicWorld2 pic.twitter.com/I1hklCKl5l— Raptor Chaser (@RaptorChaser17) April 11, 2017
Here we go! A clear pic! Thanks guys for those who were able to help brighten it and make it look good. #JurassicWorld2 pic.twitter.com/vz2e3X2D6p— Raptor Chaser (@RaptorChaser17) April 11, 2017
While none of the pictures offer a full look at the puppets, from what we do see the new designs are in keeping with the history of the Jurassic Park franchise. The world may remember Jurassic Park as being one of the first movies to fully realize the potential of CGI, but some of the most memorable scenes from the original movie were filmed using animatronic puppetry. Even with the anti-CGI flak Jurassic World received from critics and fans, that movie wasn’t without practical effects, including the aforementioned scene with the animatronic Apatosaurus.
From what we know so far, however, Jurassic World 2 seems like it might be relying more on animatronics than its immediate predecessor. Bayona has been highlighting the skills of his Jurassic World 2 puppeteering team in recent weeks, which makes sense considering his history using the medium. His last movie, A Monster Calls, used a combination of practical and CGI effects to bring its fantastic story to life, which makes him an inspired choice to add to the Jurassic canon.
As of yet, plot details about the upcoming sequel have been scarce, though rumors have swirled that the film will expand on the militarization of dinosaurs, which was introduced in Jurassic World, and will be dealing with themes involving animal rights. The use of practical effects here has the potential to make for some emotional scenes, continuing the long history of the franchise. We’ll keep our eyes out for more information from Jurassic World 2 and update you as news develops.
Next: What Would Jurassic Park Dinosaurs Really Sound Like?
Source: Twitter [1, 2]
