Jurassic World: Dominion might be a year away from release, but that hasn't stopped the wheels from turning on some heavy marketing, which has so far included a brand-new poster, a special five-minute preview that was released alongside Fast & Furious 9 in IMAX theaters last month, and a trailer for the said-short film, which boasted several species of dinosaur new to the franchise.
Theme park builder sequel Jurassic World: Evolution 2 will also hit shelves this year, which promises that gamers will now be able to create a dinosaur-inhabited world on American soil, falling in line with the premise for Jurassic World: Dominion.
Meanwhile, director Colin Trevorrow has also been spilling the beans on the latest Jurassic sequel, from likening it to a Bond or Bourne movie due to its globe-trotting nature to describing it as a "sci-fi thriller that explores genetic power", adding that it will tie in directly with the original 1993 film and also serve as a "culmination" of every entry in the franchise so far.
Much to the joy of fans, Trevorrow has also confirmed that Laura Dern, Sam Neill, and Jeff Goldblum, who will be reprising their roles as Ellie Sattler, Alan Grant, and Ian Malcolm, will have significant roles in the film.
In an interview with ScreenRant last month, he said the following: "I feel like we'll want people to come to see the movie to see the context of it, but they are in the whole movie. They are major characters and they go on an adventure together, and they collide with our modern characters."
So, we know that the three original characters will be returning to the fold in Jurassic World: Dominion – which is great news for fans of the original film. Even those who haven't been particularly impressed with the two Jurassic World installments (for reasons unknown) – and perhaps every sequel to the original classic – will now likely be drawn to theaters to see their favorite characters back on the big screen battling dinosaurs. But who else is returning? Here are all the other returning characters who have been introduced throughout the sequels, as well as a few others from the first installment...
Claire Dearing
Originally operations manager at Jurassic World prior to its collapse, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) has made strides as a human being. Though she saved the day in the 2015 blockbuster, she was also partly to blame, alongside Owen Grady, as they both played a significant role in freeing the Indominus Rex in the first place.
In the Fallen Kingdom, however, Claire is a different person, now campaigning for the protection of dinosaurs. Dominion has been described as a "redemption" movie for Claire, which is now needed more than ever, considering she is now also partly responsible for the release of dinosaurs onto the mainland.
Owen Grady
Like Claire, Owen (Chris Pratt) is in need of some redemption, having shown others that highly dangerous animals like the velociraptor can be trained and potentially weaponized. Sure, he was one of the main heroes in Jurassic World, but he did also let the Indominus out of its cage, after foolishly letting the intelligent dinosaur get the better of him.
In the Fallen Kingdom, Owen is at first reluctant to help Claire in saving dinosaurs from the ill-fated Isla Nublar but eventually gives in because of his bond with Blue the raptor. As a highly experienced dinosaur expert, Owen will likely be playing a huge role in the lives of the dinosaurs.
Zia Rodriguez
Daniella Pineda will be reprising her role of Zia Rodriguez, who first appeared in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, in which she helped save dinosaurs from Isla Nublar prior - and during - the volcanic eruption, and also helped do the same at Lockwood Manor afterward. As a paleo-veterinarian, Zia's return is a logical choice, given that dinosaurs are now roaming modern America.
Franklin Webb
Justice Smith will be returning alongside Daniella Pineda's Zia Rodriguez, as the anxiety-stricken systems analyst Franklin Webb. It seems an odd choice to be bringing this character back, considering he was terrified of pretty much everything in the Fallen Kingdom, but on the other hand, he did provide the film with some much-needed humor and levity. How exactly he'll fit into the fold in Dominion, though, is unknown.
Barry
Finally, we'll be getting more Omar Sy, who was also strangely absent from the 2018 sequel. Owen's right-hand raptor expert is back and was recently seen in a set photo with Chris Pratt, which showed the pair aboard a riverboat in what looked like a manmade tunnel system. Barry was an instant hit with fans when he first appeared in Jurassic World, so his return will be met with a warm welcome.
Maisie Lockwood
While many fans originally speculated as to the return of young Maisie Lockwood, who was revealed to be a human clone in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, this was quickly put to rest when set photos were revealed early last year, showing Isabella Sermon in a snowy environment and dressed for the occasion.
In fact, it wouldn't make sense not to bring her back, considering she is responsible for releasing dinosaurs onto mainland America - which we can't imagine the public being too happy with.
Henry Wu
As well as Ellie Sattler, Alan Grant and Ian Malcolm, Jurassic World: Dominion will also feature two other characters from the original film. To no surprise, B.D. Wong will be reprising the role of Henry Wu, the villainous scientist responsible for the creation of genetically engineered dinosaurs. Wu made his first appearance in Jurassic Park and has since appeared in 2015's Jurassic World and 2018's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. His return in Dominion will likely see him meet the sticky end he deserves (perhaps through the venomous dilophosaurus, just to make said fate even stickier).
Lewis Dodgson
The second returning character from the original is Lewis Dodgson. The wicked BioSyn geneticist – who appeared only briefly in Jurassic Park, though was the catalyst for all the events throughout – was then played by Cameron Thor.
Now, actor Campbell Scott will be bringing the character back to the big screen for the first time in 28 years. The last time fans saw the character was in the late Michael Crichton's 1995 novel The Lost World, sequel to his bestseller Jurassic Park, in which he was the main antagonist on Site B, but was replaced by Peter Ludlow in the 1997 film adaptation The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
Rexy
The original T-Rex - more affectionately known as 'Rexy' by fans - will also be returning, for what will be her fourth appearance in the franchise so far, an accolade only Ian Malcolm and Henry Wu can also claim. Director Colin Trevorrow has promised that Jurassic World: Dominion will "end" Rexy's arc, which technically speaking started all those tens of millions of years ago, as seen in the special five-minute preview for the upcoming film.
As for the actual clone, though, and not her direct ancestor, she's been through a lot, from surviving two failed parks to now inhabiting the enormous Sierra Nevada forest.
Whether or not Arianna Richards and Joseph Mazzello, who played Lex and Tim Murphy in Jurassic Park and its 1997 sequel, will also return in Jurassic World: Dominion via surprise-cameos, remains to be seen, but as long-standing fan-favorite characters, we'd be surprised if they don't show up in some capacity.
Jurassic World: Dominion is scheduled for release in theaters on June 10, 2022.
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