Summary
Jurassic Parkfans will not be seeing one of the original cast members in the upcoming movieJurassic World Rebirth. The actor spoke about his fate in the franchise and hinted they were seemingly done with his character.
Jurassic World Rebirthwas announced early in 2024, and they wrapped up filming in September 2024, giving the production enough time for post-production work, including visual effects, as the movie heavily features dinosaurs. The upcoming film will feature fresh faces, including Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. Johansson will play Zora Bennett, an expert who leads covert operations in extracting genetic material from three dinosaurs that could be key to developing a life-saving drug. However, during the dangerous mission, Bennett and her group will encounter a civilian family stranded following an attack by an aquatic dinosaur and that will lead to uncovering more shocking secrets. Several originalJurassic Parkstars appeared inJurassic World Dominion(2022). However, one said they were unlikely to return to the upcoming film.
Jeff Goldblum is a key figure in the franchise. He debuted in the original movieJurassic Park,released in 1993, where he portrayed Dr. Ian Malcolm, a charismatic mathematician specializing in chaos theory. Goldblum effectively portrayed the character and his wit and dry humor instantly made him a fan favorite. He reprised his role inThe Lost World: Jurassic Park(1997) and made an appearance inJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom(2018) andJurassic World Dominion(2022). In a recent interview withGames Radar’s Total Film, he was asked about his fate in the franchise since his name was noticeably not mentioned in the cast list forRebirth.“I think Ian Malcolm may have ridden off into the sunset. Maybe,“Goldblum told Games Radar’s Total Film, suggesting fans might not see him in the new movie. He clarified that there were no hard feelings and even showed his support and promoted the movie that his friend Johansson would headline. “Because this next one [Jurassic World Rebirth] – my friend Scarlett Johansson and my new friend Jonathan Bailey from Wicked, I think, are taking up the reins. And I can’t wait to see what they do. I think that’s a good idea,” Goldblum added.
In the same interview, he was also asked aboutthe backlashJurassic World: Dominionreceived.The film picked up four years after the events ofFallen Kingdom, but fans were not satisfied, and many even found it confusing due to its overstuffed and convoluted plot, resulting in a vague story where fans were not sure where to focus and where it was going. Some also felt that there were not enough dinosaurs for a movie that should have focused on those creatures. Goldblum dismissed the issue and instead shared how he enjoyed filming it. “I enjoyed working on it and enjoyed trying to make it good. I think it sold a bunch of tickets. But, you know…” he said while laughing. “Everybody’s got an opinion about it. It’s tough to make a good movie.“Jurassic World: Dominiongrossed over $1 billion worldwide but only scored 29% onRotten Tomatoes.
Goldblum is an icon in theJurassic Parkfranchise. Whether he has a long or short screen time, his attendance is a huge contribution to the film. So, it’s expected that fans will be disappointed by his absence. The audience loves his cleverness, skepticism of science’s overreach and snarky lines. For instance, he said inJurassic Park(1993), “Genetic power’s the most awesome force the planet’s ever seen, but you wield it like a kid who’s found his dad’s gun.“So yes, his absence will feel like a missed opportunity. However, the new movie’s title also suggests they could be heading in a new direction. Thus, it’s understandable forJurassic World Rebirthto bring new faces, characters, and storylines.
