Mike Flanagan wants a scarier Jurassic sequel because he sees dinosaurs as natural horror material and thinks the sequels can improve. He wants a true dinosaur horror film built on dread rather than bigger spectacle. Flanagan is the horror writer-director behind The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass and Doctor Sleep. He floated the idea while promoting his Stephen King series Carrie.
Table of Contents
- What did he actually propose?
- Why did he change his mind on franchises?
- Why does horror fit Jurassic now?
- Is Flanagan directing the next Jurassic?
What did he actually propose?
Flanagan said a Jurassic movie could be fun and that he would go really scary with it. ComingSoon.net reports the exchange in its Reddit AMA coverage. He described the goal as a true dinosaur horror film.
He paired Jurassic with Jaws. Bloody Disgusting reports his view that no one will top the original Jaws, while its sequels leave much room for improvement. The Jurassic pitch follows the same logic.
Why did he change his mind on franchises?
Flanagan once thought he would avoid franchises and sequels. According to The A.V. Club in its AMA summary, he reversed course because he loves playing in a world he knows, respects and adores with his own spin.
That shift matters for Jurassic. It frames his interest as affection for familiar material, not rejection of it. A sequel would let him keep the dinosaurs while changing the tone toward fear.
Why does horror fit Jurassic now?
Jurassic World Rebirth, the seventh film starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali, earned about $869-$872 million worldwide in 2025. The Movie Blog details that result in its sequel report.
The gross gives Universal a commercial reason to continue despite mixed reception. A horror specialist offers a clear alternative to larger-scale destruction. A smaller, suspense-driven entry could restore the tension that made the 1993 original frightening:.
- an isolated location with a small group under threat
- stalking and hiding instead of citywide action
- set pieces recalled from the T. rex attack and raptor kitchen
Is Flanagan directing the next Jurassic?
He is not attached to Jurassic. GeekTyrant explains the status in its sequel update, noting his remarks do not mean involvement and that Universal had not formally dated a Rebirth follow-up as of October 2026.
That distinction guides what readers should watch next. An official Universal announcement is the confirmation point for any sequel. Until then, the practical test is whether the studio pursues a suspense-driven dinosaur story.