With Jurassic World Rebirth now in theaters, fans are unpacking the origins of its terrifying new dinosaur. One standout detail is the unexpected Star Wars connection behind the design of the film’s D-Rex, a genetically-engineered predator central to the story.
This Star Wars creature was used to create Jurassic World Rebirth’s D-Rex
Jurassic World Rebirth introduced a new dinosaur villain called the D-Rex (Distortus Rex), a genetically-engineered mutant based on the T-Rex genome. Director Gareth Edwards confirmed the D-Rex’s design drew partial inspiration from the Rancor, Boba Fett’s ride and a creature from Star Wars. During a Collider Q&A, Edwards stated, “We put in a little bit of the Rancor from Star Wars. Don’t tell people who work on Star Wars.”
The D-Rex features an oversized head, six limbs, and an ape-like movement style that allows it to walk and catch prey simultaneously. While visually compared by fans to the Xenomorph from Alien, Edwards clarified that the Rancor specifically influenced the design process. The D-Rex debuted on Ile Saint-Hubert, an InGen site for early cross-species experiments first introduced in Jurassic Park.
Universal Pictures’ promotional materials emphasized the terrifying appearance of the D-Rex. According to Edwards, the challenge was to “come up with a monster idea,” which led the design team to blend multiple influences, including the Star Wars creature. The connection adds a cross-franchise creative layer, especially given that Edwards previously directed Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
In Jurassic World Rebirth, the D-Rex plays a central role as the primary threat encountered by a covert expedition led by Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson). A covert team sets out to collect dinosaur DNA for a medical cure, but mutant creatures on the island derail their mission. Alongside Johansson, the film stars Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Luna Blaise, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.
The movie premiered in U.S. theaters on July 2, 2025.
