Jeff Goldblum Reflects on Dr. Ian Malcolm’s Journey After ‘Jurassic World Dominion’
Jeff Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm has long been a beloved figure in the Jurassic Park franchise, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and intellect. He first appeared in Steven Spielberg’s original 1993 film as the cynical and quick-witted mathematician who frequently warned against humanity’s meddling with nature.
Goldblum reprised his role as the fan-favorite chaos theorist in 1997’s The Lost World: Jurassic Park. After a two-decade break, he returned to the franchise with a brief appearance in 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and a bigger role in Jurassic World Dominion (2022), alongside original cast members Sam Neill and Laura Dern, who play Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler, respectively.
Coupled with the concept of dinosaurs living on the mainland, the return of these legacy actors in Dominion sparked plenty of excitement. However, despite grossing over $1 billion worldwide, the movie wound up facing overwhelmingly negative reviews upon release.
Related: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ May Force Several Fans To Exit Movie Theaters in Blind Rage
Now, the upcoming sequel Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) is set to launch a new era for the series, with an entirely new cast featuring Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett, Jonathan Bailey as Dr. Henry Loomis, and Mahershala Ali as Duncan Kincaid. As the film shifts its focus to new characters and a new storyline, it marks a clear departure from the previous films, leaving no space for returning characters like Malcolm, Grant, or Sattler.
And, despite his lasting connection to the Jurassic Park series, Goldblum recently revealed that it’s unlikely fans will see him in the new film. In an interview with Total Film, Goldblum said, “I think Ian Malcolm may have ridden off into the sunset” after Jurassic World Dominion. He also expressed his excitement for the new stars Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey taking center stage, saying, “And I can’t wait to see what they do.”
Related: ‘Jurassic Park’ Releasing Official Never-Before-Seen Version of 1993 Film
Reflecting on his time working on Dominion, Goldblum acknowledged the challenges that come with filmmaking: “I had such a good time on it… I think it sold a bunch of tickets. But, you know… [laughs] Everybody’s got an opinion about it. It’s tough to make a good movie.”
With an all-new team of characters now gearing up to take the reins and lead the next chapter of the Jurassic saga, only time will tell if Jurassic World Rebirth can win over fans and critics alike. But one thing’s for sure: this franchise won’t ever go extinct.
When Can I Watch Jurassic World Rebirth?
Jurassic World Rebirth will be released in theaters worldwide on July 2, 2025.
Check out the film’s new logo below, per the official Jurassic World X (Twitter) account:
Jurassic World Rebirth. In theaters July 2025.
Jurassic World Rebirth. In theaters July 2025. pic.twitter.com/CLUdLQPPfO
— Jurassic World (@JurassicWorld) August 29, 2024
Jurassic World Rebirth stars Scarlett Johansson (Avengers: Endgame), Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer), Rupert Friend (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Mahershala Ali (The Green Book), Luna Blaise (Manifest), David Iacono (Dead Boy Detectives), Audrina Miranda (Lopez vs Lopez), Philippine Velge (Station Eleven), Bechir Sylvain (BMF), and Ed Skrein (Deadpool).
Will you still watch Jurassic World Rebirth without Jeff Goldblum? Let Disney Dining know your thoughts in the comments down below!
