Scarlett Johansson, who stars in Jurassic World Rebirth, faced her intense fear of cockroaches during on-location filming in remote jungles, a challenge she candidly discussed as part of her experience bringing the new adventure to life. The revelation offers insight into how Scarlett Johansson’s cockroach phobia Jurassic World experience became a unique obstacle throughout the movie’s international shoot.
Unexpected Challenges Encountered On Set
While preparing for her role as Zora Bennett, a mercenary leading a specialized team in Jurassic World Rebirth, Scarlett Johansson had to confront more than just fictional dinosaurs. Despite handling physical feats like scaling sheer walls with relative ease, she found herself tested by her deepest phobia—cockroaches—due to frequent encounters with insects in the jungle locations of Thailand and Malta.
Speaking during an interview, Johansson clarified the nature of her fears.
“The heights is not, like, my greatest phobia. My greatest phobia is cockroaches, and there were plenty of those, too – but not on the abseiling wall.”
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress
She further explained the presence of exotic creatures on location, with Thailand, in particular, being home to what she called “some pretty serious creature critters.”
Moments of Tension Behind the Scenes
Daily life on set brought new surprises for the cast and crew. Johansson recounted an incident that stood out in her memory at the coffee station.
“You’d be making coffee at the coffee table and then two minutes later (someone would say), ‘You know what they just found at the coffee table? They just got a scorpion.’ And you’re like, ‘What!?’ Like, I was just making myself a coffee right there.”
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress
Despite these unsettling experiences, Johansson emphasized her enthusiasm for joining the franchise.
A Lifelong Wish Fulfilled Through Jurassic World Rebirth
The role of Zora Bennett in Jurassic World Rebirth marks a personal milestone for Johansson, who described the opportunity as the fulfillment of a childhood ambition.
“It was a childhood dream of mine to be in this movie,”
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress.
Scarlett Johansson shared vivid memories of watching the original Jurassic Park as a ten-year-old in theaters.
“Like the entire audience, I was completely transfixed, mesmerized, carried away, terrified, all of that stuff, and it’s part of the formative part of my childhood.”
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress
In the film, her character leads a team of specialists on a mission to recover dinosaur DNA from a restricted island, with production spanning striking locations in both Malta and Thailand. Other notable settings, such as coffee stations on the set, provided points of real-life tension between thrills behind and in front of the camera.
As Jurassic World Rebirth approaches release, Johansson’s candidness about her struggles and triumphs underscores both the logistical and emotional demands placed on actors working in authentic, unpredictable environments. Her persistence and willingness to face deep-seated fears on set not only add depth to the film’s narrative but also resonate with audiences familiar with their own personal challenges.
