‘Jurassic Park 4’ to be directed by Colin Trevorrow

Universal Studios and Steven Spielberg have picked director Colin Trevorrow to helm Jurassic Park 4.

Deadline first reported the news just moments ago, reporting that the studio will be handing over the franchise, which has grossed $2 billion worldwide, to a new director whose only previous feature experience is Safety Not Guaranteed. That film, which was distributed by FilmDistrict, cost $4 million, so this is a huge step for him.

The news was later confirmed in a Universal press release, posted at The Wrap.

Jurassic Park 4 is the first sequel in the franchise since Jurassic Park III in 2001. Joe Johnston directed that film, replacing Spielberg. It will be written by Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes team Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Spielberg, who directed the 1993 film and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, is executive producing with Patrick Crowley and Frank Marshall as producers.

Deadline notes that Trevorrow met with the studio and shared his love for the franchise growing up. That and the fact that they were looking for a new generation of directors to carry on the franchise convinced them to hire him.

The news also comes just days after it was reported that Universal will be filming in Louisiana later this year.

JP4 will hit theaters in 3D on June 13, 2014. The 1993 film is being released in 3D and IMAX on April 5.