JURASSIC PARK Writer David Koepp Finally Explains Why That T-Rex Raft Scene Didn't Make The Final Cut

JURASSIC PARK Writer David Koepp Finally Explains Why That T-Rex Raft Scene Didn't Make The Final Cut

After nearly thirty years, Jurassic Park writer David Koepp has finally revealed why director Steven Spielberg decided to leave the famous T-Rex raft scene from the novel out of the movie.

By RohanPatel - Jun 18, 2020 10:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Jurassic Park
Source: CinemaBlend

If you've read the Jurassic Park novel, then you're probably well aware that the Steven Spielberg-directed blockbuster leaves out quite a bit from Michael Crichton's original book, including a key sequence that involves the fan-favorite Tyrannosaurus chasing Alan Grant and the kids down a jungle river. 

There are mild spoilers to follow, but in the novel, there comes a point near the end where Alan Grant, Tim, and Lex all have to sneak past a sleeping T-Rex and make their way down a river. In the time it takes Grant to successfully inflate a nearby life raft, the T-Rex awakens and begins to chase him and the children down a turbulent river where they do their best to escape with their lives intact. 

While the storyboards have been available online since at least 2017, it's remained somewhat of a mystery as to what ultimately led to the scene being nixed, although many have more or less correctly assumed it was due to cost and the logistics behind actually realizing the massive sequence.

Speaking with CinemaBlend, the film's co-writer David Koepp (Spider-Man; Mission: Impossible) revealed how quickly Spielberg actually decided against even attempting to film the sequence and it sounds like there wasn't much of a debate as the ace director almost immediately said no.

"I think when I got there he was showing me a bunch of boards he’d done. Some of which were more or less exactly as you see them in the movie. There was a sequence with the river and the Rex and the kids. But he thumbs past it and said ‘Oh we’re not gonna do this.’ It was cut very early on. There was so much that was going to be challenging and difficult, and had yet to be figured out technologically in that movie. That the idea of adding water to that made Mr. Jaws… it was gonna be hard enough."

Considering the difficulties he faced filming Jaws nearly two decades prior combined with the already immense task of bringing realistic dinosaurs to the big screen, it's understandable that the 3x Academy Award-winner didn't want to add another incredibly difficult task to his to-do list. 

While it would've only enhanced an already epic film, the scene will now go down in history as one of the franchise's greatest what-ifs, however, with Jurassic World: Dominion just around the corner and more sequels expected down the line, there's always a possibility someone could resurrect the concept for a future film.

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BlackIceJoe
BlackIceJoe - 6/18/2020, 10:26 AM
Jurassic Park is a really great franchise, I just wish Jurassic World was too.

I loved those movies back in the 90s and it is crazy to think Universal hasn't done more with the Jurassic Park IP in video game form.

Just imagine a game like Uncharted, but with dinosaurs and instead of Nate trying to survive a car crash, he also has to make sure he doesn't get eaten too.
newhire13
newhire13 - 6/18/2020, 10:42 AM
Jurassic Park 3 was at least able to do an interpretation of it with the Spinosauraus.
santoanderson
santoanderson - 6/18/2020, 10:43 AM
In 1993 VFX companies were still 10 years away from being able to produce semi-convincing CG water. Technologically there was no way they could’ve pulled off the raft sequence with existing computer graphics. I guess they could’ve used animatronics for the scene, but IIRC the animatronic T-rex shook like crazy during the road attack sequence, due to all the rainwater the rubber skin was absorbing during shooting.
dragon316
dragon316 - 6/18/2020, 1:40 PM
I like it when I’m reading this shit happens

Page is skipping I need scroll up and down find my place again from shipping page

Stinkor1
Stinkor1 - 6/18/2020, 6:06 PM
One of the few cases where the movie is better than the book. I found this is the case for a number of Crightons books. They start out with a cool, interesting scientific premise, but once the characters are introduced and the main plot line is established it quickly turns into a “one Ridiculous thing after another” action trope.
neuromonitor
neuromonitor - 6/18/2020, 8:36 PM
Wilding, the ads on your site are making it completely impossible to enjoy the content of the articles.. seriously, WTF???? Are you guys that hard up for money that you're willing to make your site undigestable. I'm gonna statt bringing this up on every thread until something is done
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