Jurassic Park 4 on the way? Steven Spielberg and Mark Protosevich considering a dino comeback

Speaking of sequels that don't need to happen, Jurassic Park 4. Frankly I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet, since rumors of it have been whispered about for years. There have been fake scripts, real scripts, and whatever leadng one to believe the film might happen anytime. But here we are in 2011 and the last Jurassic Park film was in 2001. And it was awful. Basically the movies have stunk ever since they veered from the Michael Crichton novelizations, of which there were only a couple. If Jurassic Park III was as bad as it was, how terrible would a fourth be?

We could be at the cusp of finding out. THR reports that Steven Spielberg, who directed the first two dino flicks, is meeting with screenwriter Mark Protosevich about the possibility of a fourth film. This is very early in the process, with no creative development taking place yet. If Protosevich's name sounds familiar it's probably because you've read me whining on this site about the remake of Oldboy he was helping Spielberg put together starring Will Smith. Why is Universal suddenly so interested in going back to Jurassic Park? They need a franchise, and Jurassic Park has earned nearly $2B worldwide.

Y'know what I remember most about Jurassic Park 3? How suck ass the ending was. It couldn't have had a lamer, more incomplete finale if it was written by schoolchildren. At one point last year Joe Johnston said that the next film would be the start of a whole new trilogy. I could get excited for that only if Spielberg promises to be at the helm. Otherwise let the whole thing go.