Universal Pictures just announced that Jurassic Park IV will open in 3D on June 13, 2014.  While many are quick to speculate that Steven Spielberg will direct, having just shelved the  sci-fi adaptation Robopocalypse for an indefinite period of time, no director is attached as of yet.  Spielberg will return as a producer, however.  Screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, both of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, just turned in a fresh draft of the film earlier this week.  For those of you keeping score at home, that gives Universal less than 18 months to do all the pre-production, shooting and post-production visual effects (these are dinosaurs in 3D after all).  You can get a glimpse at what the original Jurassic Park looks like in 3D when it opens on April 5th, including a one-week IMAX run.  Hit the jump for more on Jurassic Park IV.jurassic-park-4 imageDeadline broke the news that Jurassic Park IV will roar into theaters in the summer of 2014.  Here's what we know so far.  Producer Kathleen Kennedy previously spoke about the project in an interview with Steve at the end of 2011.  Back then she said that Jurassic Park IV would take a "great script" to get off the ground, since the property was not originally intended to be a franchise.  It seems like the execs are happy with Jaffa and Silver's latest draft since a release date announcement is a strong showing of support.As recently as last summer, producer Frank Marshall also commented on Jurassic Park IV, saying:

“I would say that it will be on the screen within two years.”

Spot on, Mr. Marshall.  The producer also commented on his anticipation for the what they're going to be able to do with visual effects on this picture:

“That’s what’s gonna be great about it, technology’s taken a leap now that we can really do some great things."

Although Jurassic Park IV is definitely going to be released in 3D, Marshall had previously commented that practical effects still resonate better with audiences and helps the actors perform, so there is hope that the entire thing won't be green-screened.  That same year, Spielberg declined taking the director's chair for the sequel, but we'll see where he stands this year.

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