Jurassic World Rebirth cast talk the terrifying T-Rex river raft scene

Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air within that tropical biosphere hold, in their DNA, the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.

As Jurassic World Rebirth roars into Australian cinemas on July 3, Nick L’Barrow spoke with some of the film’s cast, including David Iacono, Luna Blaise, and Audrina Miranda about the impact of the original film, and how they crafted the bond between their characters.

Nick: It’s such a pleasure to meet you all, and thank you for taking the time to chat! You are all in my favourite scene of the film, which is the T-Rex/river raft scene! And in that moment, it really highlighted the authentic chemistry you all had with each other. I’m curious to know what was the process in finding that bond together?

Audrina Miranda: I’d say it came pretty easily! I think when we all met each other, it kinda clicked very fast. And so, when we went into those roles, it was good finding where we can just make some stuff a little bit more funny, because we have that connection.

David Iacono: Yeah, for sure, just feeling like the liberty and space to be able to play around with one another was really important to everybody.

Nick: Gareth Edwards is such a visual director, and this movie looks amazing. But, I’m also sure being in these real locations not only makes the movie look great, but helps with the immersion into this world and into your characters…

Luna Blaise: I think in a movie like Jurassic, you’re obviously surrounded by these fanstical, ferocious sort of situations. You’re surrounded by these massive monsters, and insane waterfalls. You’re in the mud, and the rain, doing all of this stuff. It’s so big and scary.

But then you actually get to set as an actor, and you’re like, “This is exactly how everything is, minus the T-Rex!” It’s all real except for our one big thing – the dinosaur! So, being able to have the opportunity to actually be on set, and not in a studio with AC, but being in Thailand, in the mud and sweat, makes the whole thing just so much more real.

Audrina Miranda: It did really help because this is the first feature film for me. So having all of this amazing stuff, and seeing all the effort put into it – like, almost everything was shot on location, so it was definitely cool to experience that with everybody.

Nick: Like many people, and I’m sure it’s the same for yourselves too, I’m a huge fan of Jurassic Park, so hearing John Williams’ score bellow through the speakers just flooded me with nostalgia. I’m curious to know, what is the first image that comes to your mind when you hear that iconic score?

David Iacono: I mean, it’s kind of a basic answer, but it’s when John Hammond initially introduced them to the dinosaurs. When Alan Grant and Dr. Sattler are there and you hear, “Welcome to Jurassic Park!” Just the grand spectacle of like these ferocious beasts and their scale juxtaposed to the humans… I don’t know! I feel like in our movie, they savour it every time they use John Williams’ score.

Audrina Miranda: I’d have to say “Welcome to Jurassic Park”. It’s just so iconic. It’s something you can always remember. Actually, Bechir [Sylvain], one of our castmates, got us a little box that does the theme song. It was so sweet! I cried looking at it because it was our wrap gift!

Luna Blaise: I mean, I’m such a nerd when it comes to this guy, but Alexandre Desplat and his wizardry is such a master of his craft, and he did such an amazing, beautiful job with this film. Our theme of this movie is very special and different. It’s really cool and a lot darker, which the movie is too! But Alexandre did such a great job to incorporate John Williams’ original theme and turn it into something magic. When you hear that, you get full goosebumps, and you know you’re going on a journey that no one’s gonna forget.

Nick: So much of the magic of Jurassic Park, and this film too, is watching it in a cinema, on the big screen with loud speakers. It’s such a cinematic experience! Do you all have a moment for yourselves that stands out as a memorable or formative cinematic memory?

David Iacono: It’s probably when I saw Avengers: Endgame…

Luna Blaise: I knew you were gonna say Avengers: Endgame!

David Iacono: That moment where Captain America picks up Thor’s hammer for the first time… I will never get that feeling again! I remember my whole theatre erupted. I had grown up with these movies my whole life, and to be so present in that moment, with the rest of these strangers that I was watching it with, that’s completely unforgettable.

Luna Blaise: I’m a full cinephile, so I’ve seen so many movies! God, it’s so hard! If we’re gonna stay in the realm of big blockbusters, because I could name a thousand, but I have to give it to my man Alexandre Desplat again – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part Two! When they’re doing the Battle of Hogwarts, and it’s just silent. Then you hear, “Begin!” It’s just so amazing. They all start running to each other. Oh my, God! It’s so amazing when you see something when you’ve been on the whole journey, and it’s the beginning of the end. It’s so good.

Audrina Miranda: The thing is I’m still in the PG kind of movies! I haven’t gotten to the level where it’s gonna be a super drama! I loved The Wild Robot! I think that is an amazing movie in general. It was all incredible!

Thank you to David, Luna, and Audrina for their time, and to Universal Pictures for organising the interview. Jurassic World Rebirth is in cinemas July 3.