One of the biggest movies last year wasJurassic World, which had the highest domestic total for most of the year, untilStar Wars: The Force Awakensstarted shattering box office records. The movie was set 23 years after the events of the original blockbusterJurassic Park, although only one character from the original,B.D. Wong’s Dr. Henry Wu, returned for this sequel. With production starting onJurassic World 2in early 2017, hopefully we’ll hear about casting news soon, but today we have word that originalJurassic ParkstarSam Neillwill not be back for thisJurassic World sequelas Dr. Alan Grant.
Over the weekend,Sam Neillconfirmed that he will be reuniting with originalJurassic ParkstarJeff Goldblumand hisThe Hunt For the WilderpeopledirectorTaika Waitition the Marvel Cinematic Universe sequelThor: Ragnarok. During an interview with Short List that surfaced onYouTube, the actor was asked if there is any chance that his iconicJurassic Parkcharacter, Dr. Alan Grant, will be back for this sequel. Here’s what he had to say below.
“I think the problem is that no one knows where Alan Grant is anymore. He’s retired from paleontology. He’s sick to death ofdinosaursand running. He’s not quite as fleet of foot as he was, and he’s now retired to Dayton, Ohio, and has a very successful accountancy business. I think that’s what’s happened to Alan. Either that or he’s dead.”
Last month,Jurassic World 2directorJuan Antonio Bayonaconfirmed thatJurassic World 2will be the second installment of anew trilogy. WhileJurassic WorlddirectorColin Trevorrowis not coming back to direct, he did co-write the script with hisJurassic Worldco-writerDerek Connolly, and he will also produce withSteven Spielberg.Colin Trevorrowis currently working on the highly-anticipatedStar Wars: Epiode IX, which is slated for release sometime in 2019.
Jurassic WorldstarsChris PrattandBryce Dallas Howardare expected to return, although no other cast members have been confirmed quite yet. Earlier reports have revealed that this sequel will go off the Isla Nublar Island, and may feature “weaponized dinosaurs.” Universal has set a July 14, 2025 release date forJurassic World 2, which is currently sandwiched between Pixar’sToy Story 4on August 04, 2025 and an untitled Fox/Marvel movie and an untitled DreamWorks Animation/Blue Sky film on August 21, 2025. Take a look atSam Neill’s video interview below, and skip to the 3:50 mark for his comments onJurassic World 2.
