Scarlett Johansson’s Jurassic Fandom Helped Land Her Lead Role in Jurassic World: Rebirth

Scarlett Johansson didn’t hold back when meeting with producer Steven Spielberg about her upcoming lead role in Jurassic World: Rebirth. The actress candidly shared her deep love for the Jurassic Park franchise, a fandom that she believes played a key role in her landing the coveted part.

“I had a meeting with him and I don’t actually know if he knew the depths of my Jurassic fandom,” Johansson told The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m hoping that no one explained it to him too thoroughly because it maybe would’ve come off as being a little too much. Although knowing Steven now, he was excited when I shared how much it would mean to me to play any part in Jurassic. I could’ve played it cooler and maybe I wouldn’t have gotten it.”

Reflecting on the experience, Johansson added, “It taught me that if you are enthusiastic about a project, it is actually good to share your enthusiasm. You don’t have to dumb it down or play it cool.”

Johansson first caught wind of the potential casting for Jurassic World: Rebirth while filming her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great. Balancing her excitement for both projects was a challenge: “When I first heard that there was a new Jurassic movie coming, that it was written with a female lead who was the age that I could fit into, and that it was happening during a time period that I could shoot, it was particularly surreal,” she said. “I was actually in the middle of making Eleanor — we were filming it at the time — so there was a lot happening. I had to compartmentalize my nervous excitement for the job in front of me while also focusing on making it work. I would have these really geeked out, fangirl moments and then be, like, ‘OK, put that away for a second.’”

For Johansson, working on Jurassic World: Rebirth has been nothing short of “unbelievable,” especially as a longtime fan of the original Jurassic Park film. “I’ve been trying to get into a Jurassic movie for, I don’t know, 15 years or something,” she admitted. “I was so stoked that it all came together.”

She also reflected on the monumental impact of watching Jurassic Park in theaters as a collective cultural experience. “It was so thrilling and has stayed with me forever. Those kinds of movies are rare, and I’m here for them. I’m here to be carried away, entertained and thrilled,” Johansson said.

Her passion and authenticity have clearly struck a chord, and fans eagerly await to see Scarlett Johansson bring her longtime fandom to life in the next chapter of the Jurassic saga.