20 Mind-Blowing Facts About The Jurassic Park Franchise
17. The Cast Was Almost Very Different
The names of Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum will always be inextricably linked with Jurassic Park, yet the film's cast could have easily had an entirely different complexion. Neill was a perfect fit for palaeontologist and protagonist Dr. Alan Grant, but Spielberg initially envisaged an old collaborator for the lead role. Spielberg and Harrison Ford took part in a Q&A following a 30th anniversary screening of Raiders Of The Lost Ark in 2011, during which Ford gently ribbed the director as someone who only hires me for Indiana Jones. Spielberg seized the opportunity to remind Ford that he was the directors first choice to play Alan Grant, and several other famous names were considered for lead roles. A couple of years ago Sandra Bullock confirmed longstanding rumours that she auditioned for the part of Ellie Sattler, revealing that I came in and read, but alas, no call from Mr. Spielberg. Bullock would make her own major breakthrough when Speed was released in 1994 a year that would also see one Jim Carrey become one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Carrey very nearly played Jurassic Parks kooky mathematician Ian Malcolm, with casting director Janet Hirshenon confirming that his audition was terrific, but he was ultimately overlooked in favour of Jeff Goldblum.
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