"My dream has come true," said Scarlett Johansson as she visited Korea for the second time with the "Jurassic World" team.
On the afternoon of the 1st, a press conference for the movie "Jurassic World: New Beginnings" was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul. Director Gareth Edwards and actors Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Rupert Friend attended.
"Jurassic World: New Beginnings" tells the story of Zora (Scarlett Johansson) and Dr. Henry (Jonathan Bailey) who enter the most dangerous island on Earth, home to the secret research facility of the original Jurassic Park, to uncover shocking truths that have been hidden and must survive amidst the threats of dinosaurs.
"Jurassic World: New Beginnings" is the seventh installment in the "Jurassic Park" series and the fourth film in the "Jurassic World" franchise. The series has accumulated a box office revenue of $6 billion (approximately 8.4 trillion won). Hollywood master Steven Spielberg, who created the "Jurassic" universe, participated as a producer, and Gareth Edwards, known for "Godzilla," "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," and "The Creator," directed the film.
Director Gareth Edwards stated, "My first film was 'Monsters,' and I received an award at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. At that time, I realized that Korean fans have the best taste in audiences. As a cinephile, I was happy to see the filming locations of 'Monsters.'
He continued about directing, "You have to be a fan of the movie. You have to make hundreds of decisions every day. You can't just replicate the original 'Jurassic Park,' but it also can't stray too far from it. You have to find a balance. Within that, you need to find the perfect path," adding, "I created a love letter to Steven Spielberg."
Scarlett Johansson plays Zora, Jonathan Bailey plays Dr. Henry, and Rupert Friend plays Martin, an executive at a pharmaceutical company.
Scarlett Johansson has received much love from Korean fans for her role as Black Widow in the Marvel series. She returned to Korea for the first time in eight years since the 2017 film "Ghost in the Shell." Jonathan Bailey has appeared in the Netflix series "Bridgerton" and the film "Wicked," while Rupert Friend has appeared in "Asteroid City" and "The Penitent Thief."
Scarlett Johansson expressed, "I'm happy to be back. I wish I had more time. I bought a lot of skincare products in Myeongdong since this morning. I had to go there first thing in the morning. I had seven types of kimchi for breakfast," she joked, adding, "I'm looking forward to meeting Korean fans tonight. They always welcome me and show me a lot of love, so I'm excited."
When asked about her experience in "Jurassic World," Scarlett Johansson said, "I was lucky," revealing, "My childhood dream has come true." She continued, "I am a huge fan of this movie. Please watch the film that I participated in with pride."
She also mentioned, "The most challenging part was having to act while looking at a tennis ball on a stick instead of seeing real dinosaurs," adding, "It was difficult to maintain our stamina and keep the fear alive. Even in scenes of wonder or surprise, we had to act while looking at a tennis ball. The actors were really great, so it was important to maintain immersion and trust my fellow actors. I believed everyone would do well."
Regarding the action in the film, she said, "I've done a lot of action scenes, but this time there was a lot of running towards or away from dinosaurs. Jonathan and I had to learn sailing, which was fun," she explained. "I also had to wear a harness under my clothes, and I had to use the harness shown in the movie. So, I had two harnesses. It was uncomfortable but fun."
Jonathan Bailey, who visited Korea for the first time, said, "I'm so excited. I've heard that Korean fans are the best in the world. There are many movie lovers in Korea, and I know 'Jurassic World' is very popular here. So, I'm happy. I have to leave tomorrow morning, but I want to enjoy as much as I can."
He also shared, "I watched the first series of 'Jurassic Park' when I was five years old. It stimulates the imagination. What surprised me is that even with such a large production, you can change the camera without a script and play music to make it beautiful."
He added, "Scarlett Johansson brought her honed skills to the set. We relied on each other during filming. We created things that weren't in the script. It was a great and grateful moment to create it together with the director and Scarlett Johansson."
Rupert Friend said, "I had a fun time when I came to Seoul with my wife to give a speech. I met politicians and Korean fans. It was a veterans' association, and I remember eating gochujang, which remains a beautiful memory." He described "Jurassic World" as "a work that stimulates the imagination."
The director and cast of "Jurassic World" will hold a red carpet event at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo starting at 7 PM to meet with Korean fans.
"Jurassic World: New Beginnings" will be released on the 2nd.
