Steven Spielberg prohibited 'Jurassic World: Dominion' from having any direct references to his movies

Jurassic Park is a masterpiece. We can all agree on that, right? Well, even Steven Spielberg himself wants it to remain that way, without any more nods in the modern films of the saga. Gareth Edwards, director of the new installment of the franchise, Jurassic World: The Rebirth, has revealed that, at Steven Spielberg’s recommendation, all references and nods to the previous works of the legendary filmmaker were removed from the film. This decision, although difficult for Edwards, was met with understanding due to his admiration for Spielberg and his career. In a recent conversation with Vanity Fair, the director […]

Jurassic Park is a masterpiece. We can all agree on that, right? Well, even Steven Spielberg himself wants it to remain that way, without any more nods in the modern films of the saga. Gareth Edwards, director of the new installment of the franchise, Jurassic World: The Rebirth, has revealed that, at Steven Spielberg’s recommendation, all references and nods to the previous works of the legendary filmmaker were removed from the film. This decision, although difficult for Edwards, was met with understanding due to his admiration for Spielberg and his career. In a recent conversation with Vanity Fair, the director expressed his appreciation for the veteran filmmaker’s experience and commented that, in his opinion, Spielberg was right to suggest this approach.

References? That’s a thing of the Jurassic

Edwards, known for his work on Rogue One and The Creator, expressed his mixed feelings about having to get rid of some nods that he found hilarious. However, despite the changes, he omitted that he had left certain less obvious references that pay homage to Spielberg’s legacy. According to the director, one of these ‘easter eggs’ is hidden at the beginning of the film, a detail that could have delighted Spielberg himself, who is known for including tributes in his work.

This approach aligns with the tradition that Spielberg started in Jurassic Park in 1993, where he made a nod to his iconic film Jaws. In that film, the character Dennis Nedry, played by Wayne Knight, is enjoying the classic shark movie on a screen, something particularly noteworthy, given that the movie is now 50 years old. Edwards, aware of Spielberg’s legacy, has chosen to follow that line of subtle homage, removing the obvious nods but preserving the essence of the tribute throughout his new work.