Juan Antonio Bayona isn't satisfied enough with being one of the most successful Spanish directors. For him, breaking records with productions like 'A Monster Calls', 'The Orphanage' and 'The Impossible' simply isn't enough, and so now, the director has set his sights on Hollywood. In fact, Bayona has been working on the sequel to the 4th best-selling film of all time: 'Jurassic World'.
The upcoming flick, 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' is set for UK release on 8th June 2018, just under a year away, which in the film industry is very little time at all, for us fans however, it feels like an eternity. In an interview with Bayona we managed to squeeze some of the details out of him.
The director was in Madrid this week promoting his latest project 'Marrowbone' in which his colleague Sergio G. Sánchez, who also wrote 'The Orphanage' and ' The Impossible', made his directorial debut. Bayona worked as executive producer on 'Marrowbone' which is one of the most anticipated films of 2018.
The Interview
Movie'n'Co: Jumping right in, how long remains before we'll get to see the 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' trailer?
Juan Antonio Bayona: No
MnC: No?
J.A.B: No, let's start again, I've already seen the trailer, we're in it.
MnC: So what's it like?
J.A.B: Really good...
MnC: Having read all the buzz surrounding the film, it seems as though it's a horror film about animal abuse.
J.A.B: Yeah, you could say that
MnC: You could say that?
J.A.B: Yeah
MnC: Ok, so what's the overall mood of the film?
J.A.B: Well it's really original, as you'll see. I don't want to... If I'm honest, I'm not sure what I'm allowed to tell you.
MnC: In case you land yourself with a lawsuit?
J.A.B: Exactly (laughing). I can tell you a bit. The film really surprised me when Colin Treverrow first told me about it, and that was one of the reasons why I wanted to work on it.
MnC: Do you feel you brought a lot to the film?
J.A.B: Well it's...
MnC: A film that deals with themes you tend to tackle in your own films?
J.A.B: Well I was working with Spielberg and Trevorrow, it's like the 2nd 'Jurassic World' film, and the 5th in the 'Jurassic Park' saga... so I couldn't really take the film for myself.
MnC: You couldn't do that to Spielberg! I wouldn't.
J.A.B: Yeah, I couldn't rob his creation, his baby... but it's been a nice experience being able to work together on the film.
MnC: What's it like, working with Spielberg?
J.A.B: Wonderful, as you'd expect. He was the reason I wanted to do this film. And it was so nice, having the opportunity to sit with him, and look at the storyboards and being able to talk about the script with him. It's truly been one of the best experiences for me.
MnC: I've read that you wanted to make 'Fallen Kingdom' a much darker film, maybe a bit more violent, more like the first films, the blockbusters from 10 to 12 years ago.
J.A.B: Well, as you'll see, it's a film that builds on the one before it, there's a lot more danger, the threats are bigger, everything's a bit bigger, it's a... I'm not even sure I'm allowed to tell you this... I'm here like 'what can I tell them?'
MnC: You're doing a good job, giving us hints without giving everything away. Finally, the last question, 'Fallen Kingdom' isn't your own production, but not everything is foreign to you, you've worked with Geraldine Chaplin before, and your producer, and photography director. Is Geraldine Chaplin (d/o Charlie) your good luck charm?
J.A.B: I think they asked me to do 'Jurassic World' because they really liked some of my other films, so it's been pretty easy getting along with Óscar Faura, the director of photography, and working on production with Belén Atienza and Jaume Martí and Bernat Vilaplana, who worked on editing. It's gone so smoothly. Fortunately, there was a role that fit Geraldine Chaplin perfectly.
MnC: So you didn't say, we're going to cast her in this role?
J.A.B: Well, I suggested that the role was perfect for her, and now she's in the film.
MnC: Thank you J, I hope the premiere of 'Marrowbone' goes well, and we'll see you soon in 'Jurassic World'.
