AceShowbiz - Gareth Edwards is stepping away from the Jurassic World Rebirth sequel project, Comicbookmovie reports. This marks a significant change for the upcoming installment, which was initially set to continue the story Edwards helmed in the 2025 film.

Deadline confirms that Edwards will no longer direct the next Jurassic World movie and that Universal and Amblin are actively searching for a new director to take over the project. Cbr adds that Edwards' departure stems from creative differences and that he plans to concentrate on developing original projects moving forward. The sequel is expected to start filming in 2027, with returning stars such as Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali anticipated to reprise their roles. David Koepp, a longtime contributor to the franchise, penned the most recent draft of the script.

The Jurassic franchise, which began with the groundbreaking 1993 original film, has evolved through seven movies featuring five different core actor and director groups. The 2025 release of Jurassic World: Rebirth, directed by Edwards, followed several years after 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion and earned $872 million worldwide. The franchise remains a major tentpole for Universal Pictures, blending adventure and thriller elements and boasting a history of involvement from key figures like Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall.

This leadership change is notable as the new director will become the sixth helmer in the franchise’s history, following Spielberg, Joe Johnston, Colin Trevorrow, J. A. Bayona, and Edwards himself. With production slated to begin in two years, the studio’s search signals a pivotal moment for the next chapter in the Jurassic saga, aiming to maintain the series’ momentum while navigating fresh creative directions.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Comicbookmovie.