Jurᴀssic World 5 almost seems like a certainty after the huge box office success of Jurᴀssic World Rebirth, which cemented itself as one of this summer’s most popular blockbusters. The film effectively rebooted this franchise for a new era while keeping some tangible connections to the old movies, striking an excellent balance of old and new that rewards audiences of all kinds.

If the Jurᴀssic World franchise really is going to continue with this storyline, it’s safe to ᴀssume that lead actors Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey will be returning to play Zora, Duncan, and Henry, respectively. If this is the case, the next most important thing for Jurᴀssic World 5 to settle is its director.

Jeremy Saulnier

Best known for his work on projects such as Rebel Ridge and Green Room, Jeremy Saulnier would be a hugely exciting pick for Jurᴀssic World 5. Although his filmography doesn’t lean as heavily towards studio blockbusters as other candidates’, he’s proven time and time again that he’s capable of putting together compelling, engaging movies that blend fierce action with equally fierce storytelling.

Saulnier brings a very fluid and dynamic action style to each of his projects, and while Jurᴀssic World is typically known for its larger-scale set pieces, his unique flair could be the much-needed change that finally gets this franchise back to its full potential. It would be a mᴀssive undertaking, but one that Saulnier is more than capable of.

Cate Shortland

Cate Shortland is most famous for directing the MCU’s 2021 spy thriller Black Widow, which also starred Johansson in the lead role. This immediately gives Shortland a useful connection to the Jurᴀssic World franchise, particularly if Johansson and Bailey decide to come back for the next sequel.

Although Black Widow is rarely considered among the MCU’s best movies, the character-driven storytelling and intimate family dynamic is something that could translate very effectively to the Jurᴀssic franchise. Although it’s the action set pieces that everybody remembers, the character arcs and relationships are just as crucial to making these films work.

Jon Turteltaub

Another outside pick for Jurᴀssic World 5’s director, Jon Turteltaub is best known as the director of projects such as National Treasure and The Meg. He may not bring the same level of name recognition as some of the other popular candidates, but his previous body of work is exactly what Jurᴀssic World 5 should be looking for.

Movies like The Meg prove that he’s comfortable with CGI-heavy action movies and giant creatures, while National Treasure has the same sense of grand adventure that made Spielberg’s Jurᴀssic Park such a worldwide hit. If he could bring the same energy to Jurᴀssic World 5, there’s no way the film could fail.

Paul Greengrᴀss

While Paul Greengrᴀss’ filmography may not be full of the family-friendly adventure movies that make up the Jurᴀssic World franchise, he is still a very acclaimed filmmaker whose name could bring a lot of prestige to the potential sequel. Greengrᴀss is best known for his work within the Jason Bourne series, alongside his acclaimed thrillers United 93 and Captain Phillips.

Greengrᴀss often displays a masterful command of tension that makes his films exhilarating to watch, and this is something that would blend very effectively with the Jurᴀssic franchise’s typical formula. His work on Jason Bourne proves that he’s clearly comfortable working on big studio blockbusters, so there’s no reason he couldn’t get involved with Jurᴀssic World 5.

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Gina Prince-Bythewood is one of the most exciting rising talents within the action genre, having recently helmed projects such as The Old Guard and The Woman King. Both of these movies are recognized for their dynamic action set pieces and strong female leads, which could lend themselves perfectly to Jurᴀssic World 5.

There’s no clear lead in Jurᴀssic World Rebirth—Henry, Zora, and Duncan all fulfill that role—but if the next movie is going to focus on Johansson’s character, this would be a really exciting film to add to Bythewood’s collection of female-led action projects. And even if not, it’s exactly the kind of big-name blockbuster that could finally make her a household name.

Martin Campbell

Best known for rebooting the James Bond franchise with 2001’s Casino Royale, Martin Campbell is often hailed as one of the most exciting and energetic filmmakers of his generation. And not only did he make the best James Bond film of all, but he was also responsible for modern classics such as The Mask of Zorro and its direct sequel.

There are many scenes in Zorro that feel directly inspired by Spielberg’s work on Jurᴀssic Park, from the claustrophobic set pieces to the sprawling sense of wonder and adventure, so it would be very fitting to see Campbell get his sH๏τ at the Jurᴀssic franchise after three decades.

Patty Jenkins

Patty Jenkins’ breakthrough project was 2003’s Monster, but it wasn’t until 2017 that she really made a name for herself within the action genre after directing the DCEU’s Wonder Woman. While that cinematic universe may not have aged too well, Wonder Woman is widely regarded as one of the best projects from the superhero franchise.

Jenkins was also supposedly attached to a third Wonder Woman movie in James Gunn’s new DC Universe, but that’s seemingly been scrapped following a total creative overhaul of ideas. Her Star Wars project is also indefinitely delayed, so there’s never been a better time for Jenkins to get involved with another major Hollywood franchise like Jurᴀssic Park.

Joseph Kosinski

There are very few directors who’ve had a more successful couple of years than Joseph Kosinski, the man behind Top Gun: Maverick and F1: The Movie. Both projects have been mᴀssive critical and commercial successes, and the director’s career only seems to be climbing higher. While Kosinski seems to be focused on original projects for now, Jurᴀssic World 5 would be a very interesting career pivot.

The aspect of Kosinski’s films that’s so immediately striking is the immense scale and visual weight of his stories. Whether it’s flying through canyons in Top Gun: Maverick or darting around racetracks in F1, Kosinski is always pushing the boundaries of what the action genre can look like. This bold reinvention is exactly what Jurᴀssic Park needs going into its next phase.

Ridley Scott

If Jurᴀssic World 5 really wants to raise the stakes and bring a big-name director on board, somebody like Ridley Scott feels like the perfect candidate. Scott’s filmography is a very diverse and versatile one, but he’s certainly no stranger to the action genre. Projects like Black Hawk Down and Kingdom of Heaven should be more than enough evidence that he’s capable of great action storytelling.

Though it’s hard to imagine somebody as high-profile as Scott stepping into such a long-running series, the director has a history with franchise filmmaking that makes his potential involvement more likely than one would think. Whether it’s sci-fi adventures like Alien or long-awaited sequels like Gladiator 2, Scott isn’t above lending his talents to multi-million-dollar franchises.

Gareth Edwards

Gareth Edwards has neither confirmed nor denied whether he’d come back for another Jurᴀssic World movie, but he’s definitely the best candidate to build upon the ideas and themes that he established in Rebirth. Edwards’ movies have such a staggering sense of scope and grandeur that he really took advantage of in Rebirth, and nobody understands these new characters quite as intimately as him.

It’s been proven time and time again that Jurᴀssic Park works best when the sequels are bound together by one director’s shared vision. It’s no coincidence that Spielberg’s two original movies are the best of the franchise, and it’s equally true that Colin Trevorrow’s Jurᴀssic World movies felt much more cohesive than J.A. Bayona’s work on Fallen Kingdom.

Replacing Gareth Edwards for Jurᴀssic World 5 is just too much of an unnecessary dice roll that could end up disrupting the strong momentum that he created with Rebirth. If the director is willing to come back, letting him complete his vision for this franchise is the safest way to ensure that Jurᴀssic World 5 is a success.