'Jurassic World 2' Production Begins, James Cromwell Signs On for Sequel

By Denise See, Christian Post Contributor Saturday, February 18, 2017

Another actor has joined the cast of "Jurassic World 2," the upcoming sequel to 2015's successful "Jurassic World."

Joining Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard in "Jurassic World 2" is James Cromwell, whose character is being kept a secret, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Cromwell is only the latest in a series of casting news, with Daniella Pineda, Toby Jones, Rafe Spall and Justice Smith previously announced. Apart from character details, the plot of the highly anticipated sequel is also being kept tightly under wraps. However, it has been speculated that "Jurassic World 2" will feature weaponized dinosaurs.

Pratt and Howard will reprise their roles as Owen Grady and Claire Dearing. Unfortunately, Jake Johnson will not be returning as Lowery, the comedic park employee from "Jurassic World" who kept calling back to events that transpired in "Jurassic Park."

Production has already begun on "Jurassic World 2." This much was revealed by producer Frank Marshall, who took to his Twitter handle to reveal the news. Apart from Marshall, Steven Spielberg, Pat Crowley, and Belen Atienza are also on board as producers. Colin Trevorrow, who directed the first film, is producing as well. Trevorrow wrote the script with Derek Connolly, while J.A. Bayona will be helming the sequel.

"Jurassic World 2" will feature a significant time jump and will understandably not be held in a theme park as that idea has been recycled more than enough times. The sequel, which is expected to feature militarized dinosaurs as Vic Hoskins (Vincent D'Onofrio) dreamed, has been described by Howard as "surprising."

Trevorrow said in October 2016 that "Jurassic World 2" will take on the topic of animal rights, saying it "will be a parable of the treatment animals receive today: the abuse, medical experimentation, pets, having wild animals in zoos like prisons, the use the military has made of them, animals as weapons."

"Jurassic World 2" is scheduled to premiere in U.S. theaters on June 22, 2018.