Dinosaur Carnage Returns: Primitive War 2 Set for 2027

The prehistoric onslaught is far from over. The action-horror franchise that first pitted Vietnam-era soldiers against rampaging dinosaurs is gearing up for a second round. The original film, adapted from Ethan Pettus’s novels, followed a squad dispatched to locate a vanished unit, only to stumble into a nightmare of tooth and claw. Now, the next instalment is officially in the works, with a release eyed for 2027.

Luke Sparke, who wore several hats on the first outing—director, writer, editor, production designer, and VFX lead—returns to helm the sequel. The producing team remains unchanged, ensuring continuity for fans who relished the blend of military grit and monstrous mayhem. Pettus himself seems rather chuffed, remarking,

“I had a blast watching the first Primitive War film, and I'm excited to see how the sequel goes!”

Escalation in the Jungle

While the first film was all about the shock of discovery, the follow-up is set to crank up the tension. Sparke has hinted at a shift in focus:

“The first film was about discovery. This is about escalation — what happens when control is lost, when nature adapts faster than military doctrine and when the war itself becomes secondary to what's been unleashed.”

The sequel will introduce a fresh platoon, so don’t expect familiar faces like Ryan Kwanten’s Baker to take centre stage this time.

The official synopsis teases a descent into chaos: “Primitive War 2 expands the scope and mythology of the franchise, pushing deeper into the Vietnam conflict zone where 1960’s warfare collides with prehistoric predators. The sequel is positioned as a darker, more intense escalation — and more grounded war epic — continuing the series' distinctive blend of military realism and survival horror. Set in the aftermath of the original film, Primitive War 2 follows a new U.S. platoon sent into an increasingly unstable valley, where competing kill zones, rival apex predators and secret Cold War agendas converge. As containment collapses, the mission becomes one of survival — and the cost of failure threatens to extend far beyond the battlefield.”

From Cult Favourite to Wider Ambitions

The first film didn’t exactly set the box office alight, pulling in a modest $1.2 million globally against a $7 million budget. Still, it found its audience through VOD and streaming, carving out a niche with its unusual genre mash-up. The hope is that the sequel, with its darker tone and expanded scope, might claw its way to a broader release and a larger following.

It’s a tall order to match the colossal success of the Jurassic World franchise, which, despite mixed reviews, has repeatedly raked in eye-watering sums—Jurassic World Rebirth alone managed $869 million worldwide, and its predecessors all broke the billion-dollar barrier. Primitive War 2 isn’t expected to reach those heights, but its grimmer, more violent approach could be just the ticket for viewers after something a bit different.

Survival at Any Cost

With the action shifting to an even more unstable valley, the new platoon faces not only the threat of rival predators but also the shadowy machinations of Cold War politics. As the situation spirals, the mission’s original objectives quickly become irrelevant. Survival, rather than victory, becomes the only thing that matters, and the consequences of failure threaten to spill far beyond the jungle’s edge.

With a loyal fanbase already in place and the promise of a more intense, grounded war epic, Primitive War 2 looks set to leave a sizeable mark—if it can break out of its cult status and into the mainstream.