Will the dinosaurs rule the earth... for a fourth time?
Steven Spielberg has apparently been having "exploratory" discussions with screenwriter Mark Protosevich about the possibility of a fourth installment in the "Jurassic Park" series, according to Heat Vision.
We've of course learned over the years to take any "JP4" news with a Tyrannosaurus-sized grain of salt. There's been talk -- of varying degrees of intensity and realism -- of a "Jurassic Park IV" since, well, "Jurassic Park III" came out in 2001.
But there's something about the timing of this latest revival that makes us feel like we might be seeing the big beasties again sooner rather than never...
The original "Jurassic Park" came shortly after James Cameron introduced amazing new special effects technology with "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" -- and took that technology to even grander eye-popping heights (courtesy of ILM).
Now, almost 20 years later, Cameron has revolutionized special effects technology once again with "Avatar" -- so maybe Spielberg needs to step in and take it to the next level with another "Jurassic" yarn?
Either way, Universal is probably hoping this comes to pass. Both "Jurassic Park" (1993) and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" (1997) made about a bajillion dollars each. The Joe Johnston-directed third installment, however, only made about a zillion dollars.
That's not all the news in the land of Spielberg, though. As we prepare for the Spielberg-produced "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" to hit theaters on June 29, the question of a possible "Transformers 4" has naturally come up...
Shia LaBeouf has said that he's pretty much done with the franchise (we don't blame him, really) and director Michael Bay seems to have made it clear that this will be his last roll-out.
But there's no way Paramount will let this cash cow (or, rather, cash car... or plane... or tank...) go. Of course there's going to be a "Transformers 4." But what director would step in to take Bay's place?
Well, take this with a Devastator-sized grain of salt, but "Transformers" cast member Tyrese Gibson has hinted that it might be Spielberg himself who will be calling the shots on the fourth film, according to Examiner.
Steven Spielberg directing a "Transformers" movie? Please, the man could do it in his sleep. And it probably wouldn't have as many shots of the female lead's ass, or as many racist elements (both human- and robot-related), or as many farting robots, or as many cluttered and chaotic action scenes, or as many...
Okay, we're being a little harsh (we love you, Michael Bay!). But sure, a Spielberg-directed "Transformers" movie would probably be just fine.
First things first, though -- Spielberg is currently putting the finishing touches on both "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn," opening Dec. 23, and "War Horse," which opens five days later. He'll then segue into directing "Lincoln," starring Daniel Day-Lewis as the 16th President of the United States.
