When Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was released in 2018, you may recall there being reports that lead star Bryce Dallas Howard had been paid roughly $2 million less than her male co-star Chris Pratt (who earned $8 million for the sequel). Now, the actor and director has spoken out about that pay disparity, revealing it was much larger than first revealed.
"The reports were so interesting because I was paid so much less than the reports even said, so much less," Howard, who has also directed episodes of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, tells Insider. "When I started negotiating for Jurassic, it was 2014, and it was a different world, and I was at a great disadvantage."
"And, unfortunately, you have to sign up for three movies, and so your deals are set."
However, while there was nothing Howard could do about what she would be paid for the Jurassic World trilogy, Pratt stepped in to ensure that she would at least be able to earn the same as him for any ancillary revenue such as theme park rides and merchandise.
"What I will say is that Chris and I have discussed it, and whenever there was an opportunity to move the needle on stuff that hadn’t been already negotiated, like a game or a ride, he literally told me: 'You guys don’t even have to do anything. I’m gonna do all the negotiating. We’re gonna be paid the same, and you don’t have to think about this, Bryce.'"
"And I love him so much for doing that," she continued. "I really do, because I’ve been paid more for those kinds of things than I ever was for the movie."
Jurassic World grossed $1.6 billion at the worldwide box office, while Fallen Kingdom earned $1.3 billion. The latest instalment, Dominion, brought in $974 million, so there's really no excuse for Howard being paid so much less than Pratt over the course of the trilogy. Yes, he was a hot commodity after Guardians of the Galaxy, but she too was vital to the franchise's success.
Universal Pictures hasn't responded to Howard's comments, but this feels like yet more proof that Pratt is a good guy (despite the way some social media users seem determined to portray him).
Jurassic World Dominion is still playing in theaters and has started rolling on Digital and physical media platforms.