With less than a week to go before Jurassic World: Dominion, we can’t help but believe that the stakes are sure to be higher than ever, and the battle against nature’s greatest killing machines will cost more than just worldwide destruction.
Will Jurassic World: Dominion Kill a Key Character?
It’s been seven years since Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard first defied the odds in Jurassic World, and nearly three decades from when Jeff Goldblum captivated our attention with an unbuttoned shirt. Jurassic Park is a Spielberg masterpiece; Jurassic World is a worthy sequel; we’ve treaded the waters of a combination between the two when Goldblum reprised his role briefly in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but the third (and potentially final) film in franchise is pulling out all the stops to carry the baton of the 1993 classic.
This time, we’re prepared to see Pratt and Howard team up with original trio Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Goldblum after mankind is threatened once more. With three of the legacy characters returning, could Jurassic World: Dominion be setting up one last goodbye, and which of the heroes could be meeting their demise at the jaws of the beast?
Now, we can’t say for certain this is where the film is heading; the original series hasn’t been shy about killing off big names – we’re still grieving Samuel L. Jackson. However, the Jurassic World trilogy doesn’t seem to share the same thirst for death; in fact, the sequels are rather tame in who they pick off – except Zara, that one is still rough to watch.
We may be jumping the gun here, but Pratt is safe as with Howard. They’re the face of Jurassic World, the next generation fronting the fight for humanity. Besides, it’s unlikely either of their deaths would hold much weight to the film; yes, Owen would probably take a bullet or two for Blue, though there’s a higher chance his Dino pal will kick it before he gets the chance to. As for Claire? Well, it’s just not something we can see happening.
These two folks have been through enough together; they have a kid to look after following Fallen Kingdom, there’s maybe some raptor babies running around; the two will either be closing up shop to retire or going cross-country to prevent more prehistoric havoc by the film’s end – and we’re swaying towards the former.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm. Where Fallen Kingdom hit a low with killing only villainous characters, Dominion might hold the key to redemption by eliminating one of the three original heroes. We haven’t seen Grant or Sattler since the ill-received Jurassic Park III, so it’s a huge deal to welcome them back into the series.
When you think of Jurassic Park, the pair are at the forefront of your mind. Neill’s Grant goes on a whirlwind rollercoaster throughout the movie, going from passive introvert to vehement protector. This is a guy who is not afraid to take the necessary steps, and his good-willed façade could be his downfall.
Between the trio, we’re willing to place money on Grant being the one to croak, if anyone does that is. He is ultimately the character to thread both franchises together considering his hefty involvement back in the first trilogy. His death, which would likely be a noble sacrifice rather than a sudden twist of events, would add a layer of emotion to Dominion; the tie to the first film would be severed.
Though Goldblum and Dern play crucial roles, it’s Grant who swoops in and does all the heavy lifting to save the day. Losing Neill at any point during Dominion, particularly early on, would switch the trajectory of the entire film. It could be the very thing that drives the plot in motion for Owen and his new companions, and be the push they need to end the chaos once and for all.
While Jurassic World has been afraid to up the ante in previous films, Jurassic Park certainly hasn’t shown signs of playing it safe. With a movie of this caliber, something needs to be done to raise the bar, and the death of a leading character would definitely put it on the map. If this is the final hurrah for the franchise, what better way to go out than with a bang?
NEXT: Jurassic Park Movies Ranked From Worst to Best
About Jurassic World: Dominion
This summer, experience the epic conclusion to the Jurassic era as two generations unite for the first time. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are joined by Oscar®-winner Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Sam Neill in Jurassic World Dominion, a bold, timely and breathtaking new adventure that spans the globe.
From Jurassic World architect and director Colin Trevorrow, Dominion takes place four years after Isla Nublar has been destroyed. Dinosaurs now live—and hunt—alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures.
Jurassic World: Dominion hits theaters on June 10th.
Jenna is a Film and Visual Culture graduate and freelance entertainment writer from Scotland. Her passion lies with TV and horror, where she will take any opportunity to geek out. Jenna spends her free time binging shows and looking to be spooked.