Harsh Vardhan
J.J. Johnson is returning to feature filmmaking after nearly half a decade! Moviedelic has learned that the director will helm ‘The First Dinosaur’ next. The project will start filming in Toronto, Ontario, on an undisclosed date. Johnson is directing from a script he co-wrote with Joan Digba and Christin Simms. The plot and cast details remain under wraps for now.
Johnson has well-established experience in narratives featuring animals, particularly those involving extinct species. His most recent project is Apple TV+’s ‘Jane,’ which follows 10-year-old Jane Garcia and her team as they embark on missions to protect endangered animals. He created Hulu’s ‘Endlings,’ a series set in a near-future world where four foster children learn they are not alone after the last elephant on Earth goes missing. Both shows reflect his focus on incorporating animal conservation themes into engaging storytelling.
Johnson previously delved into the world of dinosaurs through the series ‘Dino Dan,’ which centers on a young boy who embarks on exciting adventures fueled by his passion for dinosaurs. The series was followed by ‘Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures,’ which introduces more prehistoric creatures, a new group of friends, and a new Henderson brother who can see dinosaurs.
Johnson also created the Prime Video series ‘Dino Dana,’ which stars Michela Luci and Saara Chaudry. In the show, 9-year-old Dana receives a Dino Field Guide that expands her knowledge of dinosaurs and enables her to bring them to life through her imagination. The filmmaker’s most recent feature is ‘Dino Dana: The Movie,’ which follows Dana as she embarks on a mission to solve the mystery of the missing young dinosaurs in experiment 901.
Joan Digba and Christin Simms previously collaborated with Johnson on the series ‘Jane.’ Simms has partnered with Johnson on several other projects, including ‘Ghostwriter,’ ‘Dino Dana: The Movie,’ ‘Dino Dana,’ ‘Annedroids,’ ‘Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures,’ and the original ‘Dino Dan’ series.
Johnson has filmed several of his projects in Toronto, including ‘Jane,’ ‘Ghostwriter,’ and ‘Dino Dan.’
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