Derek Connolly

Derek Connolly is an American screenwriter and film producer from Miami, Florida, recognized for shaping big, audience-friendly franchise storytelling while also working in inventive genre projects. He is especially associated with filmmaker Colin Trevorrow, a collaboration that helped define a major stretch of modern studio blockbusters.

Connolly broke through with the smart, offbeat science-fiction comedy Safety Not Guaranteed (2012), then moved into tentpole territory as a key writer on Jurassic World (2015). He continued in the series with Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022), contributing to the revival and expansion of one of cinema’s most enduring brands.

Beyond dinosaurs, his credits include the monster-adventure Kong: Skull Island (2017) and the family-friendly mystery Detective Pikachu (2019), both showcasing his range across action, spectacle, and character-driven humor. He also co-wrote an early, unproduced draft for Star Wars titled Duel of the Fates, developed during the franchise’s sequel-era planning.

Among his lesser-known on-screen appearances is The 4th, where he is credited as a partygoer—an interesting footnote to a career best defined by writing.