You’d think when two stars of somewhat equal footing star in a film, they would get the same pay. Sadly, that just isn’t true, especially in big Hollywood films. Today, we’ve learned that its even affected Hollywood royalty like Bryce Dallas Howard and her leading role in the Jurassic World films.
In 2018, Variety reported that Howard was paid $2 million less than Chris Pratt for the second Jurassic World film, Fallen Kingdom, earning $8 million, while Pratt took home $10 million. The pay gap wasn’t shocking, though a bit disheartening. Now, the actress is opening up about the situation and how it was a bit bleaker than initially reported.
While promoting the home video release of Jurassic World Dominion in a recent interview with Insider, Bryce Dallas Howard spoke on the pay gap and how Pratt came to her aid.
“The reports were so interesting because I was paid so much less than the reports even said, so much less,” Howard told 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.”
In what turned out to be a lovely surprise for this story, Howard discussed how her co-star took a stand and helped her with pay in other departments.
“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,'” Howard said. “And I love him so much for doing that. I really do because I’ve been paid more for those kinds of things than I ever was for the movie.”
The Hollywood pay gap is still an issue actors face, but with performers unafraid to speak out and co-stars willing to extend their power to others, we could see the slow shift needed in the industry.
From Jurassic World architect and director Colin Trevorrow, 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 sees the return of Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, BD Wong, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, and Omar Sy, alongside franchise newcomers DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, Dichen Lachman, Scott Haze, and Campbell Scott.
