How a DARPA program inspired the ecological crisis in Jurassic World Dominion

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 2022 film Jurassic World Dominion, giant locusts threaten global food supplies. This plot was not mere fiction; it was inspired by a real DARPA initiative called Insect Allies, which explored using insects to spread pesticides. The film uses this concept to ground its prehistoric premise in modern scientific anxiety.

Jurassic World Dominion, directed by Colin Trevorrow, serves as the finale to the Jurassic World trilogy and the sixth installment in the Jurassic Park franchise. Released in 2022, the film explores a world where dinosaurs have integrated into human society four years after the events of Fallen Kingdom. Rather than depicting dinosaurs rampaging through cities, Trevorrow aimed for a grounded approach, comparing human-dinosaur interactions to how we currently coexist with dangerous animals like sharks or bears.

The narrative centers on a conspiracy involving the genomics corporation Biosyn, led by CEO Lewis Dodgson. To create a credible ecological threat, Trevorrow consulted with scientists and drew inspiration from the DARPA program Insect Allies, which investigated the use of insects to deliver genetic modifications to crops. In the film, Dr. Ellie Sattler discovers that Biosyn is using genetically engineered locusts to corner the global food supply, a development that forces the original Jurassic Park cast—Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill—to reunite and expose the corporation.

Development of the film began as early as 2014, with Trevorrow planning the trilogy's arc from the start to avoid the episodic nature of earlier entries. The production faced significant challenges, including a months-long suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a one-year release delay. Despite mixed critical reception, the film was a major financial success, grossing $1 billion worldwide. It stands as a notable entry in the franchise for its attempt to blend Michael Crichton’s original novel concepts with contemporary concerns about genetic tampering and corporate overreach.

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