The Greatest Showman#1251 - Series reboot
By 1989, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" marked the supposed conclusion of the Indiana Jones saga, bringing an end to the beloved trilogy. For nearly two decades, the franchise remained dormant, leaving audiences to wonder if they would ever see Indiana Jones on the big screen again.
Meanwhile, in the 1990s, the "Jurassic Park" series became another massive success. The first film, released in 1993, dominated the box office, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. However, its sequels in 1997 and 2001 saw a decline in both critical reception and audience satisfaction, leading to an eventual hiatus for the franchise.
After a twelve-year gap, Universal Pictures decided to reboot "Jurassic Park," a move that, by industry standards, was expected. By the second decade of the 21st century, Hollywood—and the global film industry at large—began facing a creative crisis. Original ideas were dwindling, and high-quality scripts were becoming scarce. As a result, major studios shifted their focus to adaptations of novels, games, comics, and television series. The successes of franchises like "The Hunger Games" and Marvel's Cinematic Universe became the market standard, reinforcing the industry's reliance on pre-existing intellectual properties.
When adaptation resources became oversaturated, studios turned to their own archives. Classic remakes, reboots, and continuations of established franchises became the new norm. "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones," "Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Bourne Identity," "Die Hard," and "Mission: Impossible" all saw sequels beyond their original trilogies. Simultaneously, properties like "Spider-Man" and "Fantastic Four" were rebooted repeatedly. Films such as "Carrie," "King Kong," "Ghostbusters," "Ocean's Eleven," "21 Jump Street," and "Jumanji" were also revived through remakes.
Disney led this movement, particularly after its acquisition of Pixar, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm in 2012. These acquisitions resulted in a powerhouse of blockbuster franchises, while Disney's live-action remakes of animated classics ensured a steady stream of nostalgia-fueled success.
Universal Pictures, however, struggled in the franchise landscape. Historically, they had difficulty sustaining long-term film series. Their major franchises, "Jurassic Park" and "Fast & Furious," were among the few consistent performers, but even these saw creative missteps that nearly led them to stagnation. Given this context, it was unsurprising that Universal, under Ron Meyer's leadership, chose to revive "Jurassic Park" through a reboot.
When "Jurassic World" premiered in 2015, director Colin Trevorrow and lead actor Chris Pratt, who had recently risen to stardom with "Guardians of the Galaxy," spearheaded the revival. Despite mixed critical reception—earning a 59 on Metacritic, a 71% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and an audience score of 78%—the film became a massive box office success. It grossed $650 million domestically and $1.67 billion worldwide, ranking as one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
Paired with the record-breaking performance of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" later that year, "Jurassic World" reinforced the viability of nostalgic franchise revivals, proving that revisiting beloved properties could be both commercially and culturally significant.
However, was "Jurassic World" a great film? From Renly's perspective, the answer was no.
As a director, Colin Trevorrow had only previously helmed "Safety Not Guaranteed," a Sundance Film Festival hit that won a screenwriting award in 2012. While promising, Trevorrow's storytelling lacked the precision and masterful pacing of Steven Spielberg. "Jurassic World" suffered from an uneven narrative structure—its first half moved too slowly, while its second half felt overly rushed, making it a flawed commercial spectacle.
Additionally, the film's script was burdened with excessive themes, including corporate greed, bioengineering ethics, humanity's god complex, and family values. These ideas were underdeveloped, leaving "Jurassic World" as a surface-level monster movie rather than a meaningful continuation of "Jurassic Park."
Yet, despite its flaws, Renly found the film immensely enjoyable. Nostalgia played a significant role in his appreciation, as did the sheer thrill of seeing dinosaurs brought to life on the big screen once again. Cinema has always been a medium for dreams, and "Jurassic World" proved that childhood wonder could still be rekindled through modern filmmaking.
Had Renly been given the chance to star in "Jurassic World," it would have been a dream come true—not because of the film's quality or commercial potential, but because of the opportunity to be part of the world Spielberg created, a world that had shaped his own love for cinema.
Sometimes, decisions in the film industry aren't purely logical—they stem from personal passion, nostalgia, and the magic of storytelling.
However, if Renly had been consulted on "Jurassic World," he would have advocated for Steven Spielberg's original vision:
Avoid overcomplicating the narrative. The story should focus on a singular, well-developed theme rather than trying to tackle multiple ideas superficially.
Move away from monster movie conventions. Instead of making dinosaurs mere antagonists, the film should emphasize humanity's relationship with nature and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
Strengthen character development. The dinosaurs should be treated as integral to the story, with a narrative that prioritizes human-dinosaur interactions rather than relying on action sequences alone.
A prime example of this storytelling approach is "Guardians of the Galaxy." Despite its straightforward plot, the film succeeded by investing time in character development, humor, and dynamic relationships. As a result, it received high critical acclaim, proving that even blockbuster films can balance depth and entertainment.
Similarly, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" demonstrated how monster movies could transcend genre limitations by placing emphasis on character-driven storytelling. Instead of relying on spectacle alone, the film presented a poignant narrative about intelligence, empathy, and the moral dilemmas of scientific advancement.
However, balancing commercial appeal with artistic depth is a paradox in Hollywood. A film that leans too heavily into intellectual storytelling risks alienating mainstream audiences, while prioritizing spectacle often leads to narrative shallowness. It's a difficult equilibrium to maintain, and screenwriters face this challenge with every new project.
Ultimately, as a moviegoer, Renly still enjoyed "Jurassic World." And as an actor, he recognized the value of immersing himself in a childhood dream. But from a filmmaker's perspective, he knew the film could have been more than just a box office success—it could have been truly great.
Ron Meyer, however, wasn't as convinced.
Smiling, Renly remarked, "For me, this is an incredible opportunity. But for Ron Meyer, I'm not sure if it's a good proposition."
Steven Spielberg chuckled, nodding in agreement. "At least we've reached a consensus on the first step. The rest, we can discuss in due time."
His response left little room for doubt—Ron Meyer was indeed hesitant about Renly's involvement.
Only time would tell if that would change.