Steven Spielberg & Jeff Goldblum Changed 1 Jurassic Park Book Detail To Make Ian More Heroic
Steven Spielberg and Jeff Goldblum made a key change in Jurassic Park that turned Ian Malcolm into a hero. Starring Goldblum, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Richard Attenborough, and Ariana Richards, Jurassic Park follows paleontologists Alan Grant (Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Dern) and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Goldblum) as they tour a new island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. The park’s owner, billionaire John Hammond (Attenborough), assures the group that the park is safe, but they quickly learn otherwise.
In a recent video for Vanity Fair, Goldblum talks about a Jurassic Park scene that he and Spielberg changed “at the 11th hour” that deviated from the book. The scene Goldblum references is the one where lawyer Donald Gennaro (Martin Ferrero) runs from the T. rex in fear, eventually getting eaten off the toilet. Originally, Goldblum’s character was supposed to have a similar response by fleeing the scene, but Spielberg and Goldblum decided to change Ian’s reaction. The actor recalled:
I think it came up in discussion where we said, ‘Hey, what if instead of being repetitive with the lawyer – not that these guys aren’t scary, the dinosaurs aren’t scary – but maybe my character is a little bit, has a little bit of gumption and self-sacrificing heroism in him, and goes, gets that flare, lights it, and purposely distracts the dinosaur.’ We all that that was a good idea.
What Jeff Goldblum’s Script Change Means For Jurassic Park
Ian Became A Stronger, More Heroic Character
Goldblum’s character Ian is a favorite among Jurassic Park fans. While it might seem like a small difference from the book, especially with much bigger changes in mind, like the roles of Tim and Lex being swapped and there being no romance between Ellie and Alan in the source material, the move greatly affects how the audience views Ian. He’s seen as a selfless hero rather than another Donald.
This is especially important considering how Ian is introduced in the movie. Sporting a leather jacket and pants, Ian comes across as a rebel who isn’t afraid to challenge Hammond’s rosy view of a theme park with dinosaurs. If he had simply run away when the time came, it would’ve clashed with the impression viewers had already gotten. By letting him take a more defiant stand, Jurassic Park turned Ian into a hero who manages to differentiate himself from the other protagonists.
Our Take On Jurassic Park’s Script Change
Jurassic Park Was A Collaborative Set, And Goldblum Knows His Characters Well
The change from Ian running away in fear from the T. rex to purposefully distracting the dinosaur isn’t a big change, but it was a significant one for his character. Additionally, the conversation the actor describes between himself and Spielberg speaks to the kind of relationship they had. There was clearly some room for collaboration on the set, which likely made for a more enriching creative experience.
Goldblum has had a storied career full of iconic characters, like Seth Brundle in The Fly, George Gorton in Spinning Boris, David Levinson in Independence Day, and Michael Gold in The Big Chill. The fact that the actor spoke up with input about his Jurassic Park character makes me wonder how many other roles he tweaked to make them the memorable Goldblum parts we know and love. It seems he has a knack for understanding his characters and seeking out small ways to make them memorable.
Source: Vanity Fair
