Director Steven Spielberg recalled the selection of Sam Neill for the role of Dr. Alan Grant in the film ‘Jurassic Park,’ stating: ‘It was incredible, he saved me.’
The death of Sam Neill on Monday, July 13, at the age of 78, has once again drawn attention to the story of one of cinema’s most famous characters. The New Zealand actor made history with his portrayal of paleontologist Alan Grant in ‘Jurassic Park,’ although he came very close to not being in the film at all.
Before choosing Sam Neill, Steven Spielberg considered other Hollywood stars and faced multiple rejections. One of those rejections, as he admitted years later, left him completely ‘devastated,’ although it ultimately changed the fate of the film.
Spielberg’s First Choice
In an interview for the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, Spielberg revealed that his first choice for the role of the famous paleontologist was Harrison Ford. The director offered the role to the star of ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘Star Wars,’ but the actor turned it down.
‘Maybe he doesn’t remember, but I assure you, I remember,’ Spielberg recalled about that conversation with American entertainment host Josh Horowitz. Far from being angry about the refusal, he confessed that the impact was much stronger. ‘I wasn’t angry. I was devastated,’ he said. Over time, however, this refusal turned out to be an unexpected benefit for the film.
‘But Sam Neill was available, and it was incredible,’ the filmmaker stated, convinced that the New Zealand actor was the perfect choice to embody Alan Grant. The character, a paleontologist specializing in dinosaurs who ultimately becomes one of the heroes of the story, marked Sam Neill’s career and turned him into one of the most recognizable faces of the franchise.
Other Actors Who Turned Down ‘Jurassic Park’
Harrison Ford was not the only one to decline the opportunity to play the lead role in the 1993 film. Another name on the list was Kurt Russell. According to available information, the actor received an offer of two million dollars to join the project but chose the lead role in the film ‘Stargate,’ for which he reportedly received seven million dollars.
Another candidate was Richard Dreyfuss. According to biographer Joseph McBride, author of the book ‘Steven Spielberg: A Biography,’ the actor was one of the two finalists for the role of Dr. Alan Grant before the producers settled on Sam Neill.
William Hurt was also very close to becoming the protagonist of ‘Jurassic Park.’ In fact, he was one of Spielberg’s favorites for the role of the paleontologist. However, the actor declined the offer without even reading the script. In the book ‘The Making of Jurassic Park,’ Hurt explained that the project did not interest him, and he chose the lead role in the romantic comedy ‘Mr. Wonderful,’ directed by Anthony Minghella.
Ultimately, after a series of rejections and just weeks before filming began, Spielberg chose Sam Neill. This decision proved to be one of the most successful for the film, as his portrayal of Dr. Alan Grant became one of the most iconic in film history and a fundamental pillar of the saga’s success.
Source: Clarín
