What Exactly Is Scarlett Johansson’s Character Holding?

The makers of Jurassic World: Rebirth have teased fans with a few exclusive images of its main characters (not the dinosaurs) and they seem to be in sync with the information presented in the official synopsis. Most of the images released thus far focus on Scarlett Johansson on a mission in an area with tall grass. In one recent development, her character is seen holding an interesting-looking gun.

Johansson plays Zora Bennett, a covert operations expert tasked with securing the genetic material of the world’s three biggest dinosaurs. The promotional first-look images of Jurassic World: Rebirth all hint at this mission, one of which possibly shows the protagonist on the verge of encountering a dinosaur face-to-face. However, the design of the gun she’s holding has sparked some debate on social media.

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Scarlett Johannson’s Multi-Purpose Gun In Jurassic World: Rebirth

The best guess is that Scarlett Johansson’s Zora Bennett is not holding a traditional lethal weapon. Rather, most fans believe it is a piece of scientific equipment to assist in the mission. The main giveaway in the Empire 2025 Preview exclusive image is the long syringe/needle at the end of the gun. Judging by its appearance, it is most likely designed for extracting blood, tissue samples, or DNA, without having to kill or injure the animals. The gun’s transparent chamber could be used to store the genetic material and protect it from contamination until they reach a safe environment. This aligns with the core premise outlined in the film’s synopsis.

Zora’s gun could also be used for defense and safety purposes. The equipment looks like a custom hybrid of a tranquilizer gun and a vaccine gun, even though the two look much different in real life. Of course, the massive size of the targets must also be factored in. But given that Jurassic World: Rebirth revolves around three of the largest living dinosaurs, does this gun look big enough to subdue them? With that in mind, it’s also possible Zora and her team are pursuing a different dinosaur species here, one that isn’t the crux of the film.

Either way, the gun in the first-look image of Jurassic World: Rebirth seems multifunctional. It could be used both as an extraction tool and as a tranquilizer for delivering sedatives, depending on the situation. It might even go beyond these two uses, considering that there’s also a mounted scope or targeting system to help Zora aim more accurately. This could help with fast-moving targets, or perhaps the dinosaurs are so humongous that the scientists must aim for the right body parts to extract samples.

Scarlett Johansson and her team of covert ops experts will spend much of their time in isolated equatorial habitats where these creatures now live. For this purpose, the design of the gun looks rugged enough to withstand harsh jungle environments. It makes sense, since the planet’s ecology (five years after Jurassic World: Dominion) has become mostly inhospitable to dinosaurs. The gun/equipment could be standard issue. Audiences may see it used by every team member, such as Mahershala Ali’s Duncan Kincaid, who is Zora’s team leader, or even the paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis, played by Jonathan Bailey. Both of these characters appeared in separate first-look stills.

Gun Redesign Hints At Shift In Jurassic World Vision

From a fan perspective, it has to be said that this gun in Jurassic World: Rebirth does look a little strange. While it suits the futuristic science-fiction setting, its utility as a weapon, tranquilizer, or extraction tool seems confusing. This is especially due to the conflicting sizes of the needle, scope, and chamber. Obviously, this may not be the final weapon seen in the film, or even hold much significance in the broader context of the story. But the props department still needs to up their game. The previous Jurassic World films boasted some cool-looking weapons, even if the films didn’t live up to expectations, and fans hope to see more impressive props onscreen.

In a behind-the-scenes featurette, property master Guillaume Delouche discussed his team’s work in Jurassic World and how they were able to create the fantasy weapons that the asset containment team is using in the park.

There is no such thing as a multiple-shot tranquilizer dart gun. So we designed this from scratch entirely, and with any action prop, in order to sell that it’s the real thing, we have to have some movement. So, every time you squeeze the trigger, this mechanism is powered by a nitrogen cartridge which gives us about 200 shots. So it gave us a very dynamic, very heroic looking weapon and yet completely fake. It doesn’t exist, we invented this.

But that’s where filmmaker Gareth Edwards’ vision might differ. By trading ultra-sleek futuristic weapons for a more realistic, grounded approach, the Godzilla director might bring back the soul of the original Jurassic Park films. If Rebirth successfully returns to the franchise’s original core theme of “science vs. ethics,” it might be able to undo the damage from recent cash grab attempts like Jurassic World: Dominion.

Release Date

June 10, 2015

Director

Colin Trevorrow

Runtime

124 minutes