How the Rancor from "Star Wars" Became the Ancestor of a New Dinosaur in "Jurassic World: Rebirth"

The connection between the two monsters was confirmed by the director himself.

You're watching the new "Jurassic World: Rebirth" (2025), and a massive creature with a huge head and long limbs appears on screen — and something inside tells you: you've seen this beast somewhere before.

No, it's not a xenomorph or some T-Rex-spider hybrid. This is the D-Rex, and it has completely different roots.

In an interview with Collider, director Gareth Edwards (the same guy who made "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story") confessed: the new dinosaur from the seventh "Jurassic Park" film is a tribute to the Rancor from "Star Wars." That same monster that tried to eat Luke Skywalker in Jabba the Hutt's dungeon in the original trilogy.
Monster with a huge head, with a similar monster sitting behind glass in a laboratory nearby
Rancor from "Star Wars" and D-Rex from "Jurassic World: Rebirth"
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We added a bit of Rancor. Just don't tell anyone, especially those working on the saga, Edwards said in the interview.

What is the D-Rex?

The D-Rex (Distortus Rex) is the result of InGen's insane experiments. It appeared on Isla San Euberto, which was first mentioned in the original "Jurassic Park."

This isn't just a predator — it's a genetically engineered monster that combines traits of T-Rex, primates, and something completely inhuman.
Massive monster with three-fingered claws grips a man in a spacesuit
Posters for "Jurassic World: Rebirth"
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The D-Rex has six powerful limbs, can move quickly on two or four legs, and its long arms let it grab prey on the run. Add the ability to adapt to its environment — and you get the perfect hunting machine, created, as always, "for the good of humanity."

In the end, the D-Rex became more than just another monster on screen. It's a mix of childhood fears and new technology. And if you look at it and suddenly remember Jabba's dungeon and the Rancor's panicked breathing — know that it's no coincidence. Earlier, we at zoomboola.com told you about how one actress changed the movie "Cujo" forever.