Jurassic World Rebirth Director on “Nerve Wracking” Wait for Steven Spielberg’s Notes

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Picture a scenario where you were raised on the captivating tales of a particular filmmaker. These extraordinary stories inspired you so much that you chose to follow in their footsteps and become a filmmaker yourself. Remarkably, your journey led you to creating a movie for this cinematic idol, giving you the priceless opportunity to learn directly from the master themselves.

As a gamer, I found myself in an identical situation to Gareth Edwards when he took on the task of directing “Jurassic World Rebirth.” Frank Marshall, my producer, extended the offer to helm the seventh installment of the Jurassic Park/Jurassic World series, under the watchful eye of executive producer Steven Spielberg.

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Edwards had the exciting and nerve-wracking opportunity to hand over a brand new Jurassic movie to the creator of the entire Jurassic Park franchise, Spielberg himself (and written by David Koepp, the original scribe of Jurassic Park).

With “Jurassic World: Dominion” now playing in cinemas (grab your tickets here!), SYFY WIRE recently had a virtual chat with Edwards, where we inquired about receiving feedback from Spielberg and if any particular advice he offered helped improve the movie.

Jurassic World Rebirth director Gareth Edwards on waiting for notes from Steven Spielberg

By the close of 2024, Edwards initiated post-production on the movie “Rebirth” alongside his seasoned editor, Jabez Olssen. When asked about receiving feedback from Spielberg, the director vividly recalled that experience.

Edwards described a tense situation when he knew Steven was going to call with feedback on a movie he had shown him. It’s similar to the moment you’ve imagined and dreaded since childhood. I recall the phone sitting on the coffee table in the edit suite, and my editor and I were both staring at it, eagerly waiting for it to ring.

Edwards found it extraordinary to get Spielberg’s feedback since typical discussions with executives during notes calls are often rather tense. In his own words, “When someone offers suggestions, there’s this instinctive thought in the back of your mind, ‘But what qualifications do you have? What accomplishments can you boast about?'” This is a common reaction to feedback meetings.

When asked about Steven’s actions, the response is essentially every renowned masterpiece you cherish. So, in essence, you find yourself inclined to follow his lead completely and meticulously execute each guidance he provides.

Edwards spoke honestly, expressing his hope that he would find agreement and affection for all of the tasks, as he knew he was going to perform them regardless. Later, when reviewing them, he found himself thinking, “Ah, that’s a smart idea. Makes perfect sense. Thank goodness you mentioned that! What a great thought, I completely concur with it!

Let me tell you, having Steven Spielberg as an ally, especially when it comes to critical decisions, is nothing short of invaluable. In my own words, expressing a strong preference might only take me so far with the studio. But when Spielberg echoes those same thoughts or simply says, ‘I’m doing this, as Steven suggested…’, it’s like a powerful force in the movie industry, a bulldozer that clears the way and makes things happen. As a filmmaker, there’s no denying the immense benefit of having him on my side.

Steven Spielberg’s ultimate Jurassic World Rebirth advice: “The audience has to leave hungry”

What particular guidance did Spielberg offer Edwards that significantly improved “Rebirth”? Edwards mentioned there was plenty of valuable advice, but more specifically, Spielberg provided him with an enduring metaphor. He stated, “Spielberg likened filmmaking for the cinema to being a chef preparing a meal. The only difference is that as a chef for the cinema, you want your audience to leave feeling hungry. If they leave satisfied, then in a way, you’ve failed.

Edwards elaborated: “It turned out to be intriguing, as it goes against your initial feelings. You strive to delight the audience and make them content. However, in a test screening, they’ll guide you on what would make them happier. But it’s not about that. It’s about fostering anticipation and surprise, and in an unusual manner, leaving them eager to return and rewatch it. Success, as he has demonstrated, often lies there. This insight was incredibly valuable to me. It was thought-provoking. And upon reflection, it seems so evident. However, I had never considered it in that light before. Thus, yes, that piece of advice was extremely helpful.

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2025-07-02 21:31