When Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow signed on to make Star Wars: Episode IX, it was obvious he couldn’t do two blockbusters sequels. Now, after months of unconfirmed rumours, the director for Jurassic World 2 has officially been announced: J.A. Bayona.
“Who?” you ask? Well, Juan Antonio Bayona directed the powerful true story The Impossible, the terrifying film The Orphanage and this year’s fantasy A Monster Calls (new trailer here!). He’s a talented filmmaker who is certainly more experienced than Trevorrow was when he did Jurassic World — he’d only directed one feature at the time — and that worked out pretty well.
The announcement came through the Twitter feeds of each director:
Proud to collaborate with one of my favorite filmmakers on the next Jurassic adventure. JA Bayona, it’s all yours.
— Colin Trevorrow (@colintrevorrow) April 18, 2016
It’s official! So excited to join the Jurassic Team!! @colintrevorrow @LeDoctor pic.twitter.com/NMYozo5Umo
— JA Bayona (@FilmBayona) April 18, 2016
Trevorrow is co-writing the sequel with his partner Derek Connelly before moving on to a galaxy far, far away. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will both return as well. The untitled sequel is scheduled for release in the US on 22 June 2018.