Actor Sam Neill has shared his reaction to a subtle nod to his legendary Jurassic Park character, Dr. Alan Grant, in the latest film of the franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth.
A Respectful Callback
Neill, who first played Grant in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster, admitted he didn’t expect his character to be mentioned in the seventh installment of the series. In the 2025 film, Jonathan Bailey’s palaeontologist Dr. Henry Loomis casually notes that he studied under Grant.
“I was surprised. It’s nice when these things refer to each other, and I thought that was respectful and good,” Neill told Entertainment Weekly.
Director’s Easter Egg
Director Gareth Edwards revealed that the Grant reference was the only character callback in the movie. He even designed a patch for Loomis’s bag featuring Snakewater Canyon, the dig site from the original film’s opening scene. “It was as if Henry had worked there as a kid,” Edwards explained.
A New Generation of Stars
Jurassic World Rebirth introduces a fresh cast, including Bailey, Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend, who play a team sent to a remote island to collect biological materials from the three largest dinosaurs.
Neill also highlighted a personal connection with Johansson, recalling that she played his on-screen daughter in The Horse Whisperer (1998). “It’s a family affair,” he joked, adding, “She’s capable of kicking any a*s… She gets it from me.”
Neill’s Legacy in the Franchise
The actor reprised Alan Grant in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022). Most recently, he reunited with co-stars Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum for a Super Bowl commercial imagining how reliable Wi-Fi could have saved the park from disaster.
Honoring the Past, Building the Future
By weaving in a respectful nod to Grant, Jurassic World Rebirth connects the new generation of characters to the legacy of the original trilogy. For fans, it’s a reminder that the spirit of Jurassic Park continues to shape the franchise’s evolution.
