On February 10, 2022, Universal Pictures released the first trailer for “Jurassic World: Dominion,” set to release on June 10, 2022 after originally being set to release in June, 2021. The filming of the sixth installment in the “Jurassic Park” franchise and the conclusion to the “Jurassic World” trilogy had begun in February, 2020 but was then delayed in March, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It resumed in July that same year and was finished in November. On November 23, 2021, a five minute prologue to the film was released online, having previously been shown exclusively in theaters prior to Imax screenings of “F9.” It was later announced that the film’s first trailer would be released on February 13, 2022 during the Super Bowl. The trailer was released on the 10th instead, with a shorter version being played as a commercial during the Super Bowl.

The main message of the trailer is quite clear: Prehistoric animals have spread across the globe, and are now going to have to coexist with human beings in a world much different than the one they were used to. We see many instances of humans dealing with prehistoric animals in the trailer, including a group of workers and Maise Lockwood (played by Isabella Sermon) looking up at an Apatosaurus standing in the middle of what is assumedly their worksite. We also see some violent interactions occur, including a Nasutoceratops charging at and flipping a jeep. Also pictured, is the Jurassic World’s Mosasaurus capsizing a boat after locking its jaws down on a crab trap just above the ocean’s surface, dragging it under the water. Forcing the audience to agree that humans and dinosaurs are not going to be able to coexist without conflict. 

As for the prehistoric animals themselves, we are introduced to five new species to the franchise in the trailer: Atrociraptor, Pyroraptor, Quetzalcoatlus, Therizinosaurus, and Giganotosaurus. The Atrociraptor is seen in a few shots of the trailer chasing down Owen Grady,played by Chris Pratt, and Claire Dearing,played by Bryce Dallas Howard. They are seen in what is assumedly a city in the country of Malta, which was the filming location. These new Raptors have been labeled as stockier, more brutish alternatives to the more popular Velociraptors, and are sure to cause the main characters all sorts of issues. The Pyroraptor is a smaller Raptor species, appearing in a snowy environment in a standoff with Owen Grady and an unnamed character played by DeWanda Wise, before lunging at them. It is the first dinosaur in the franchise to be depicted with a coat of developed bird-like feathers, a trait that is now known to have been present on every Raptor species based on paleontological evidence. Quetzalcoatlus is an enormous Pterosaur, similar to Pteranodon and Dimorhpodon, and is the largest flying animal known to have ever existed. It is spotted attacking a plane carrying Grady, Dearing, and Wise’s character. Therizinosaurus is a large herbivorous dinosaur well known for having the largest claws of any animal that has ever existed, 3.2 feet long claws., . It is seen in a jungle, pictured with a coat of feather-like bristles, stalking Clair Dearing as she crawls into a pond to hide, before it roars at the pond with Claire submerged just below the surface. Finally, the Giganotosaurus is a large carnivorous dinosaur, well known for being one of the longest carnivorous dinosaurs, as long as or possibly slightly longer than Tyrannosaurus. It is said to be the main Dinosaur “villain” of the film and will apparently have a rivalry with the film’s Tyrannosaurus, who fans have nicknamed “Rexy” due to her appearance in 4 “Jurassic Park” films including Dominion. 

The Giganotosaurus is first seen in a shot showing it stalking out of the trees to stand in front of the main characters, including the main trio from the 1993 “Jurassic Park” : Ellie Sattler,played by Laura Dern, Alan Grant,played by Sam Neill, and Ian Malcom played by Jeff Goldblum. For Alan and Ellie, it will be their first appearances in the franchise since 2001’s “Jurassic Park III” while Ian last appeared in 1997’s “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.” The three had been previously announced to appear in the film, however physically seeing the three together on screen for the first time since 1993 made excitement for the film spike in the minds of many. It is still unclear what role the three will play based on the glimpses seen of them. Fans may have to wait until the film’s release.

The film’s plot in general, is also a mystery. The trailer doesn’t give much away except for the main “dinosaurs are everywhere” dilemma. There are rumors of different genetic companies being involved in the film, creating their own genetically engineered dinosaurs and are responsible for their quick spread around the world, the main rumor being the return of the company Biosyn, led by Lewis Dodgson who appeared in the first “Jurassic Park” film. Later played by Cameron Thor, hiring Dennis Nedry,played by Wayne Knight, to steal embryos from Isla Nublar,the fictional island the film takes place on. Neither Dodgson nor Biosyn have been mentioned ever since the first film, however their return in Dominion is a leading theory as to who the villain of “Jurassic World: Dominion” will really be.

Blue the Velociraptor is also said to be a prominent figure in this film. Blue was last seen in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”, in2018, when she was released into the wild in Northern California after rejecting Owen Grady’s offer to stay with him. She is seen in this trailer with a baby this time having reproduced asexually through a process called Parthenogenesis, reportedly named Beta. There is a shot in the trailer of Beta reaching down to eat a dead fox before being launched in the air. Some people have speculated that she was launched by something under the ground, creature or machine, but some have suggested that it was a trap of some sort, and Beta had been captured by something/someone. This has majorly confused many people. Perhaps this could be one of the genetic companies attempting to capture Beta for their own reasons? Could it be poachers? Could it be something entirely different? There are no clear answers to any of those questions. One thing that can be certain is that Blue, as she has throughout the trilogy, and her daughter Beta will be important to the story and direction that this film could take, and could possibly be the center of the film’s entire premise. Due to the lack of plot details the trailer gives away however, it’s basically a guessing game until the film releases this summer.

“Jurassic World: Dominion” (2022) is set to be the conclusion to the “Jurassic World” trilogy, and has also been advertised as the “epic conclusion of the Jurassic Era.” While it has been said prior to the release of this trailer that “Jurassic World: Dominion” would not be the last “Jurassic” film, that statement does say otherwise. Whether or not it will be the last film, “Jurassic World: Dominion” is shaping up to be one of 2022’s most anticipated films. With new and returning characters, along with new and returning dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, it sure to be quite the conclusion to the currently 28 year old franchise. “Jurassic World: Dominion” is set to release on June 10, 2022.