Here’s How Jurassic World: Rebirth Was Supposed to End, Were Scarlett Johansson or Jonathan Bailey Going to Die?

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In Jurassic World: Rebirth, Mahershala Ali’s character, Duncan Kincaid, miraculously survives an extremely perilous face-off against the fearsome Distortus rex. However, it might come as a shock to viewers that Duncan wasn’t initially intended to make it to the end of the movie.

Originally, the brave act by character Duncan was intended to be his final scene, as Director Gareth Edwards shared with USA Today. In his own words, “My initial instinct was to have him die, and that’s what I aimed for.” Initially, even actor Ali supported this approach.

Studio pushed for a happy ending

Originally, the screenwriter David Koepp wrote drafts of the Jurassic World Rebirth script with Duncan meeting an earlier demise. However, director Colin Trevorrow added that in his edited version, Duncan died, but the studio asked if there was a way to keep him alive instead.

Initially, Edwards was uncertain, but eventually, he crafted an alternative storyline where Duncan manages to live on. He acknowledged, “Since it’s scripted and filmed for him to perish, all the subtle hints and unconscious actions one would employ to foreshadow his death are present in the movie.

In this unexpected turn, the viewers found themselves amazed by Duncan’s continued existence in the story. Edwards expressed his emotional response upon witnessing the film with an audience and hearing them cheer as Duncan ignited a flare. He further mentioned that it was one of those instances where the studio’s advice proved to be accurate.

Here’s why the change made sense

Additionally, it’s worth noting that David Koepp agreed with the alteration. He explained, “Duncan grew into a larger role and a more intriguing character, and we have an exceptional actor portraying him. Consequently, eliminating him just 90 seconds before the movie’s end wouldn’t have been logical.

In the closing moments of Jurassic World Rebirth edit, Duncan manages to lure the monstrous Distortus rex away, creating an opportunity for Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), and the Delgado family to make their escape. It seems he makes a selfless sacrifice, but in fact, he’s still alive and signals them with a flare from a safe distance before hopping aboard their boat alongside Zora and Henry.

No ‘rex machina’ ending this time

Differently from previous Jurassic movies, the Distortus Rex survives in Jurassic World: Rebirth. Director Colin Trevorrow contemplated reintroducing the legendary T. rex for a climactic battle and questioned whether it was an idea worth pursuing.

Instead, the visual effects supervisor convinced him against it, pointing out that in all past films, the T. rex had always arrived to rescue the day, and this was something the audience anticipates. Edwards termed this predictable occurrence as ‘T-rex machine’ and opted to omit it, stating that doing so would help Rebirth stand apart by offering a unique twist.

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2025-07-04 20:22