Chris Pratt‘s future as Owen Grady in the Jurassic World franchise remains uncertain, but the actor has not dismissed the idea of returning. However, Pratt has set a condition to reprise his role, emphasizing the importance of honoring the previous storylines if he comes back for the upcoming Jurassic World 5.
During a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where Pratt was promoting his new sci-fi thriller Mercy, he addressed questions about reprising his character in Universal’s next dinosaur-themed blockbuster. The franchise is moving forward after last year’s Jurassic World Rebirth success, and Pratt shared his thoughts on possibly returning.
“Maybe, yeah. I think so. That would be awesome. I love that character, I love the team, I love Universal. Love Scarlett [Johansson]. I think that would be epic. We’d just have to find a way to do it in a way that honors the stories that we told the first three times.”
— Chris Pratt, Actor
The Role of Chris Pratt in Jurassic World’s Success
Chris Pratt’s involvement with the Jurassic World series has been pivotal to the franchise’s popularity. He first appeared as Owen Grady in 2015’s Jurassic World and reprised the role in 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion. Despite the mixed critical reception of Fallen Kingdom and Dominion, both films performed well commercially, earning over $1 billion each at the box office. The first Jurassic World was once among the ten highest-grossing films of all time before being displaced recently.
Pratt’s emergence as a leading Hollywood star was solidified by his simultaneous success in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. His transition from television to blockbuster movies was cemented between 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy and 2015’s Jurassic World, making him a major box office draw for Universal and Marvel alike.
Current Franchise Direction and Universal’s Plans
Following Jurassic World Dominion, which was initially regarded as a conclusion to the saga, Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth shifted the franchise’s direction by introducing a fresh cast, including Scarlett Johansson, a former Marvel co-star of Pratt’s. Rebirth, directed by Gareth Edwards, garnered $869 million worldwide, encouraging Universal to develop Jurassic World 5 despite some unresolved questions about cast involvement.
The studio faces decisions about whether legacy characters like Pratt’s Owen Grady and Bryce Dallas Howard’s character will return, or if the franchise will continue evolving with new actors. Universal will need to consider if having Pratt return could help the next installment reach or surpass the billion-dollar milestone that previous films achieved.
Chris Pratt’s Outlook on Returning to Jurassic World
For Pratt, the decision to revisit Owen Grady also depends on his own career trajectory. With ongoing commitments such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, where his character Star-Lord is guaranteed to return, Pratt might not feel the same necessity to continue in the Jurassic World universe. While he has expressed affection for the character and the team, his focus may lie elsewhere.
The actor’s remarks highlight some unease and thoughtfulness about how any new Jurassic World installment should respect the established narratives, showing a desire to maintain the integrity of the character’s journey if a comeback happens.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
— Chris Pratt, Actor (reference to ongoing franchise commitment)
What the Future Holds for Jurassic World and Pratt’s Role
As Jurassic World 5 moves forward in development without confirmed details, the dynamic between Chris Pratt and Universal remains in flux. Universal is likely weighing the commercial advantages of having Pratt reprise Owen Grady against the creative choices for the franchise’s new direction. Meanwhile, Pratt’s own reluctance to return without the right story context adds another layer of uncertainty.
Whether Pratt’s conditions are met and he reappears alongside the new cast, the franchise will attempt to balance legacy and innovation as it seeks to attract audiences in an evolving cinematic landscape. Fans of Chris Pratt Jurassic World may need to wait for official announcements to see how this relationship unfolds.
