In this Sept. 9, 2012 file photo, director J.A. Bayona arrives at "The Impossible" premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) --
Universal Pictures has announced J.A. Bayona will direct the sequel to "Jurassic World."
Bayona will be taking up the mantle from Colin Trevorrow, who relaunched the "Jurassic" franchise in 2015. "Jurassic World" earned over $1.7 billion worldwide.
Trevorrow will still co-write and executive produce the sequel, but is stepping aside from directing as he'll be busy in a galaxy far, far away shooting "Star Wars: Episode IX" for 2019.
Stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will return for the sequel, set for a June 2018 release, but little else is known about the film.
Bayona, a native of Spain, previously directed "The Impossible," which earned star Naomi Watts an Oscar nomination. The film revolved around the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
