Jurassic World Rebirth has arrived, and it’s already sending shockwaves through the fan community. One of the most exciting revelations comes from director Gareth Edwards, who has confirmed the inspirations behind the film’s standout new creature, the Distortus rex. This movie takes viewers to an island brimming with experimental dinosaurs, but the D-Rex is undoubtedly the most striking addition.
In an interview with Screen Rant’s Liam Crowley, Edwards elaborated on how classic cinematic monsters influenced the D-Rex’s creation. He mentioned that the Xenomorph from Alien and the Rancor from Star Wars played crucial roles in crafting this terrifying beast. Interestingly, Edwards also pointed to a regular T. Rex as part of the inspiration. He instructed animators to revisit David Lynch’s The Elephant Man to understand the emotional depth he wanted for the D-Rex.
Edwards shared insights on how the D-Rex’s design, movement, and behavior were shaped. He described the creature’s mutant origins, saying that these dinosaurs have “breathing difficulties and they can’t quite walk properly and things like this.” This adds layers of empathy, allowing viewers to feel conflicted about the terrifying monster onscreen. Here’s a glimpse of Edwards’ remarks:
Liam Crowley: Something that scared the s–t out of me, I can’t mince my words, is the D-Rex. Oh my God. You bookended this film with the D-Rex. We obviously got a little taste in the opening scene and then we got a full-on clearer shot in the third act. The D-Rex gave me vibes of a Xenomorph, a Rancor from Star Wars, and a little bit of the Cloverfield monster as well. What were your inspirations when it came to crafting the D-Rex?
Gareth Edwards: You got two of them. The other ones were a T-Rex. It was funny because you could write in a script, imagine we were dinosaurs making a movie about humans. You could write in a script, ‘And then a human appears,’ and that’s all the information you’d ever need. When you build these models of these creatures, they’re all built very static. It’s called a T-pose or this very sort of default pose. They only really come to life when they’ve been posed and they’ve got a bit of an attitude. So they were like, ‘What’s the attitude? What’s the character?’ I was like, ‘Okay, go rewatch David Lynch’s The Elephant Man.’ It’s this idea of someone who didn’t choose for this to happen to them. You might be afraid of them and want them gone, but you start to feel a bit of empathy.
Decoding the D-Rex’s Inspirations
The Future of the Jurassic World Franchise
Drawing inspiration from the Xenomorph and Rancor suggests a daring new direction for this Jurassic World saga. While the narratives are increasingly grounded, the creatures are evolving into something almost alien. These mutated dinosaurs inject a sense of horror that aligns perfectly with the franchise’s legacy. It’s possible that future installments could look to more cinematic aliens to further elevate the stakes in this high-octane world.
This isn’t the first time Jurassic World has borrowed from iconic villains. Colin Trevorrow, director of Jurassic World Dominion, compared the film’s Giganotosaurus to the Joker from DC Comics, noting that the dinosaur “just wants to watch the world burn.” The trend of drawing from classic cinematic antagonists demonstrates the franchise’s willingness to innovate while paying homage to the genre.
Analyzing the D-Rex’s Impact
Is the D-Rex a Game Changer?
Despite the intriguing design and the backstory behind the D-Rex, it may not contribute significantly to the narrative of Jurassic World Rebirth. In many ways, it parallels the T-Rex—a massive beast that hunts protagonists effectively. Lacking unique powers, the D-Rex doesn’t pose a more formidable threat than its predecessor, the T-Rex, who has already cemented its place in cinematic history.
Nevertheless, the D-Rex serves as an interesting starting point for the franchise’s future. There’s potential for introducing dinosaurs with unique abilities in future films, promising to elevate the drama and conflict. As fans eagerly await what comes next, the D-Rex may yet pave the way for more thrilling experiences in the ever-expanding Jurassic World universe.
With its release date set for July 2, 2025, Jurassic World Rebirth anticipates a transformative impact on the franchise, offering both nostalgia for long-time fans and excitement for those new to the series. The D-Rex, with its compelling story and character, could be just the beginning.
Ultimately, the Jurassic World saga is poised for exploration, and as audience reactions unfold, it’s clear that these creatures continue to be a fascinating intersection of horror, empathy, and adventure.
For more on the transformative landscapes of cinema, check out our discussions on Oppenheimer and the evolving narratives in Christopher Nolan‘s impressive works.