🦖 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' Roars into NYC with Mahershala Ali and More on the Red Carpet

Black Film Wire Staff| June 2025

Mahershala Ali, from left, Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Rupert Friend attend the "Jurassic World Rebirth" premiere on Monday, June 23, 2025, at Lincoln Center in New York. Evan Agostini - Invision.

Today, June 23, Jurassic World: Rebirth stomped into New York City with a premiere event that blended nostalgia, spectacle, and a fresh injection of star power — most notably from Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali. Audiences around the world tuned in via a live broadcast on E! News, eager to witness the next evolution of this $6 billion dinosaur dynasty.

Red Carpet Style & Who Was There

On the red carpet, Ali wowed in a textured Etro suit paired with a T. rex claw brooch. Scarlett Johansson dazzled in custom Versace, (twinning with Ali) while Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Tom Hiddleston kept things cool and classic. The fashion was a perfect blend of post-apocalyptic explorer meets summer elegance. Also spotted: Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, and David Iacono, all celebrating the return of one of Hollywood’s most beloved franchises.

Mahershala Ali’s Commanding Role

Ali plays Duncan Kincaid, a former military tactician turned moral compass of the expedition. There’s grit, charm, and wisdom in his performance — a welcome expansion of action-hero terrain for the two-time Oscar winner. While the character is new to the franchise, Ali’s portrayal gives Kincaid a gravitas worthy of franchise mainstays like Dr. Malcolm or Owen Grady.

Mahershala Ali, Rupert Friend, Bechir Sylvain | Photo by Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures - © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Plot & Franchise Context

This is the seventh installment in the iconic franchise, first launched in 1993 by Steven Spielberg. His original Jurassic Park film redefined sci-fi cinema, followed by The Lost World (1997), Jurassic Park III (2001), and the Jurassic World trilogy (2015–2022). Spielberg’s world was known for its mix of awe, chaos, and morality wrapped in prehistoric thrills. Jurassic World: Rebirth, directed by Gareth Edwards, continues that legacy while pivoting to a new narrative frontier.

Set in a near-future world where Earth is again threatened by genetically-engineered species, the film follows covert operative Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) and her second-in-command Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali) on a perilous mission to retrieve dinosaur DNA from Isla Saint-Hubert. What follows is a jungle-bound rescue operation that raises questions about extinction, legacy, and the danger of playing god.

Steven Speilberg in Jurassic Park. Universal/Amblin/Kobal/Shutterstock

🦕 So… Will People Show Up?

That’s the question. While the franchise has faced dino-fatigue in recent years, Rebirth might just spark a new wave of excitement, especially with this diverse cast and timely plot. The film officially hits U.S. theaters Friday, June 28, with global rollouts to follow.

As for us and the dinos? We’re not bringing them back — but if we were, Mahershala Ali would definitely be leading the mission.