Jurassic Park is an important film that inspired generations of filmmakers. It was a smash hit commercially, a critical darling, and the start of a much wider franchise. While it took its inspiration from the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, this fictional universe of monstrous dinosaurs has expanded far beyond what the author probably imagined.
Steven Spielberg’s exploration of the hit novel is equally iconic because of how he captures the wonder of seeing these creatures in the modern day, as well as the horror. It’s hard to think of anyone else being able to tackle the movie, and yet one of the names that almost took over was Tim Burton. Though he didn’t get the gig, his mark would’ve been unforgettable and remains a huge missed opportunity.
Tim Burton Was In the Running to Direct Jurassic Park
Dr. Alan Grant stands in the rain in Jurassic ParkImage via Universal Pictures
Steven Spielberg is a director whose work, like Jaws and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, has showcased his vast range and ability to transition from one genre to the next. There is no argument to be made against the fact that Spielberg was a brilliant choice for the movie, and his tone has translated even into the theme park space with Universal’s Jurassic Park attractions.
But when Jurassic Park was being discussed, he wasn’t the only name on the short list. Richard Donner, for instance, could have made quite the career comeback after his take on Superman and other classics like Scrooged. He was a safe pair of hands, albeit ones that would approach the material from a very safe angle.
Then there was Joe Dante, the director of Gremlins, who certainly had the creature effects in his arsenal to pull off something special. Even James Cameron was interested in the property, although that wasn’t meant to be either.
However, one name that continued to pop up was Tim Burton. Known for his unique gothic style, his love for horror, and penchant for taking unusual approaches to seemingly conventional stories, it was Warner Bros. who particularly backed the director due to his past success. At a glance, it’s a bit strange to consider Burton for a movie like Jurassic Park, but he’s explored movies beyond his gothic style with Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, so he’d proven his range already.
Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park Pushed Visuals in a New Direction
The T. Rex from Jurassic Park is killing a Gallimimus.Image via Universal Studios
In the battle for the rights of Jurassic Park, Warner Bros. was one of the top contenders against Universal Pictures until it ultimately put together a better package. From there, Spielberg’s ambition eventually led to CGI shots that have since become iconic. That said, the movie was initially going to use stop motion. In the end, great test footage relegated CGI to a primary focus, with very limited stop motion in use to complement the practical effects.
In the case of Tim Burton, it’s hard to say what the director would’ve done to bring the terrifying dinosaurs to life in Jurassic Park. However, knowing his style, it’s easy to infer that CGI wouldn’t have been on the table. Burton’s vision is always far more practical, and the tragedy of not seeing his take is missing how he could’ve pushed the art of stop motion in a memorable way.
Tim Burton’s Jurassic Park Would’ve Looked and Sounded Completely Different
Shelley the turtle grows to colossal size and attacks a fair in Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie.Image via Walt Disney Pictures
Throughout Burton’s career, he has displayed a deep love for stop-motion animation. While he has also utilized vast CGI worlds, such as in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, it seems he ultimately always comes back to that physical approach to storytelling. Even the most famous stop-motion movie Burton has ever been involved with, The Nightmare Before Christmas, came out in the very same year as Jurassic Park.
Stop-motion is a time-consuming but highly rewarding art form, and it helped bring dinosaurs to life in past films and shows like The Land of the Lost. To that effect, a Tim Burton version of Jurassic Park has the potential to harken back to that era while adding his unique flair. The fiction in science fiction would be prominent and surely be a treat for the eyes. But visuals are only part of why this iteration could’ve been something special.
John Williams’ iconic score is the DNA of Jurassic Park. Yet, being that Danny Elfman is often Burton’s go-to composer, even that would change. However, being that Elfman is a fan of horror and the macabre, the scenes in which the dinosaurs deliver some scary scenes would hit even harder. To that effect, it’s easy to see the fun possibilities of a gothic-looking and sounding dinosaur film.
Of all the ‘what if?’ scenarios in film history, it is maybe the easiest to imagine how Tim Burton would have approached Jurassic Park. That in itself suggests that it was a fantastic idea and one that fans wished they had gotten to see. With more Jurassic World movies on the way, there is always a possibility that Burton is brought back into the mix to finally make the film that he had imagined all those years ago. For now, though, fans will have to look at pictures like Planet of the Apes to perhaps get some semblance of what the final Jurassic Park would look like.
Jurassic Park
Release Date
June 11, 1993
Runtime
127 minutes
Director
Steven Spielberg
Writers
Michael Crichton, David Koepp
