With 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' around the corner, and set for UK release on 6th June, there's now more speculation than ever over what the Juan Antonio Bayona directed sequel could have in store for us. Luckily, we were able to attend the press conference for the upcoming film that took place in Madrid just this week (22nd May), and got to hear protagonists, Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard speak a little about their experience on set.
Bayona began by speaking of working on a Spielberg project: "It's so weird because in all of my other works, people tell me they see elements of Spielberg, but now I've actually worked alongside Spielberg, they say more of my own style has come through". Continuing, Bayona revealed Spielberg commented that 'Fallen Kingdom' "has a bit of the first 'Jurassic Park', a bit of Bayona, and a lot of my own style".
Bryce Dallas Howard, who's returning as Claire Dearing in the 'Jurassic World' sequel, spoke in depth about the choice of shoes for her character in comparison to those from first film. "The first scene of the script (for the sequel) read that I was wearing trainers, and I insisted I should be wearing heels, because it was an office environment... What I loved about the first film was how empowering Claire looked fleeing from a T-Rex in heels. This film is a lot more emotional for Claire, she's more vulnerable, and you see that in her change of dress... the change of shoes is a metaphor for the change in her".
Better representation is possible
When questioned about their take on the introduction of more LGBT characters in these types of action films, Bayona responded that when asked this question he always thinks of Daniella Pineda's character, Zia Rodriguez: "she's an LGBT character, it's just not made explicit". Dallas added that "we've a long way to go" and that journalists should be pushing actors and filmmakers to advocate for better representation on both the small and big screen, "regardless of whether their sexuality is relevant to the storyline".
The panel all took time to compliment one another, although the icing on the cake was when Bayona revealed what he gave to Dallas Howard and Pratt when they'd finished filming on set. "I gave them each a director's cap because I think one of them should make their own film one day".
