2015's Jurassic World was by no means perfect, but it was a huge financial success and the fresh start the franchise needed. However, one element critics really zeroed in on for some reason was the fact Bryce Dallas Howard's Claire spent the vast majority of her screentime wearing heels.
That led to her running from a T-Rex in stilettos, though it was hard to escape the feeling that there was an element of sexism to the complaints levelled at these scenes in Colin Trevorrow's reboot/sequel.
Talking to Variety, Howard decided to address the critics head-on. "Stepping into the shoes of Claire was also a little challenging because they were heeled, but nobody noticed," she jokes. "It has everything to do with what the experience is like while you’re making the movie and how either empowered or disempowered you feel.
"I always felt empowered, every single minute of 'Jurassic,' by Colin Trevorrow. And that experience, no comment or observation or analysis can ever take that away from me."
That's fair, and it actually sounds like the decision to put Claire in heels was one that the actor played a role in. As this franchise's female lead, Howard received some big moments in the first two Jurassic World movies and it would be a real shame to boil her role down to some unexpected footwear.
Hopefully, we'll get to see her kick some ass in Trevorrow's upcoming threequel. If what we've seen in the trailers is any indication, though, Claire will be thrust into the thick of the action.
Jurassic World Dominion takes place four years after Isla Nublar has been destroyed. Dinosaurs now live - and hunt - alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures.
Jurassic World Dominion will roar into theaters worldwide on June 10.