David Koepp Reboots ‘Jurassic World’ at Spielberg’s Request: “Can We Start Over?”
More than three decades after crafting the iconic screenplay for Jurassic Park, writer David Koepp is back—this time to breathe new life into a franchise many felt had grown too big, too fast.
When Steven Spielberg called Koepp and asked, “Do you have one more in you?” the veteran screenwriter had just one condition before agreeing to write Jurassic World Rebirth: “Can we start over?”
The result, hitting theaters on July 2, promises a fresh take on the billion-dollar dino saga—featuring a new cast, new director, and a grounded storyline that returns to the franchise’s roots.
The Man Who Wrote the Dinosaurs
Koepp first brought Michael Crichton’s prehistoric thriller to life in 1993 with his sharply visual script for Jurassic Park. He remembers asking Spielberg what his writing limitations were in an era before modern CGI. Spielberg’s answer? “Only your imagination.”
But over the years, Koepp’s signature hasn’t been unlimited imagination—it’s been elegant constraint. From Panic Room to Presence, he excels in what he calls “bottle movies”—tight, contained stories with clear boundaries.
“The world is too big,” Koepp says. “I’ve always looked for bottles in which to put the delicious wine.”
Why ‘Jurassic World’ Needed a Reset
By the time Jurassic World: Dominion hit theaters in 2022, dinosaurs had overtaken the globe. For Koepp, that was a creative dead end.
“I don’t know where else to go with that,” he admits.
So when tasked with revitalizing the franchise, Koepp did what he does best: he set parameters. In Jurassic World Rebirth, dinosaurs are geographically herded to tropical zones near the equator. The action returns to an island setting—a nod to the original film’s tension-filled environment.
A New Cast and a Familiar Voice
Jurassic World Rebirth stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey, with Gareth Edwards (Rogue One) directing. But it’s Koepp’s name on the script that sets the tone.
“The first page reassured me,” Edwards says. “It said: ‘Written by David Koepp.’”
And yes, Spielberg is still involved—he recently completed another film with Koepp, an untitled sci-fi project that Spielberg is “as locked in on” as he’s ever been.
Writing Rules: Humor Is Oxygen
To keep the reboot focused, Koepp developed nine “commandments” for Jurassic World. Inspired by Chuck Jones’ rules for the Road Runner cartoons, Koepp’s version includes principles like “humor is oxygen” and a reminder that the dinosaurs should be treated as animals, not monsters.
“This wasn’t a monster movie,” he explains. “It’s about awe, chaos, and survival.”
The script’s structure is tighter. The dinosaurs don’t pop up everywhere—they live where it makes sense. That intentional focus reflects Koepp’s belief that limitations fuel better storytelling.
The Two Stevens: Spielberg and Soderbergh
Koepp’s recent output also includes two thrillers with director Steven Soderbergh: Presence, a ghost story told entirely from the spirit’s perspective, and Black Bag, a spy film disguised as a dinner party drama. Together with Kimi (2022), they form a brisk, tightly wound trilogy.
Koepp notes both Soderbergh and Spielberg share an old-school studio sensibility:
“If Jack Warner said, ‘I’m putting you on the Wally Beery wrestling picture,’ they’d say, ‘Great! Here’s what I’m going to do.’”
Solo Credit in a Committee-Driven World
Blockbusters today often list half a dozen writers. But Koepp stands alone on Jurassic World Rebirth. He sees danger in the “script-by-committee” model.
“There’s an old saying: ‘No one of us is as dumb as all of us,’” he jokes.
The only time a group effort worked, in his experience, was 2002’s Spider-Man. But even then, Koepp says, “I was hired and fired three times.”
Relentless Output and a 5th Grader’s Note
Koepp’s back-to-back work on Presence, Black Bag, and Rebirth meant five months with no days off. “I might have broke something,” he says with a laugh.
Still, the stories are flowing—and so is the feedback.
“After the first Jurassic Park, a fifth-grade class wrote letters to me,” Koepp recalls. “Then they added, ‘P.S., don’t take so long to get to the island next time.’ Everyone’s got a note.”
Source: AP News – ‘Jurassic World’ needed a restart. Steven Spielberg knew who to call
