In 2015, Jurassic World finally gave us a realized and fully functional dinosaur park, and proved that people still very much like dinosaurs, and nostalgia for Jurassic Park has only grown over the years. One of the highlights of Steven Spielberg's 1993 film was Jeff Goldblum's Dr. Ian Malcolm. The character hasn't been seen in the franchise since The Lost World and he has been missed. Well, much like life, Jeff Goldblum finds a way, and he will reprise his iconic role in this summer's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The actor recently spoke about what he enjoyed about returning to the franchise, saying:
I enjoyed getting a chance to dress up in black again and say a couple of things about science and being a proponent of science. The human curiosity and investigation and fact-based storehouse that we have is deeply valuable and must be esteemed and celebrated, but those who would use the animal kingdom and our scientific achievement and knowledge for profit or cheap entertainment or ticket sales or, heaven forbid, militaristic power or leverage, 'woe be to them.' So I liked getting another crack at that.
Man, Jeff Goldblum is really channeling both his inner Ian Malcolm and his inner Neil deGrasse Tyson here. What an inspiring monologue; I would totally drop everything and take up science if I wasn't so mediocre at it. Based on the trailer, Ian Malcolm will again be dressed in his trademark black, being right all the time and saying science-y things. Speaking with Variety's Playback podcast, you get the sense that Jeff Goldblum really identifies with Ian Malcolm and his belief in the power and importance of science.
It also sounds like Jeff Goldblum's part in Fallen Kingdom is rather small, but speaks to the overall theme that this new movie will have. The ethical implications of scientific achievement have in some ways always been at the core of the Jurassic Park franchise, and they look to be taking center stage here with Claire Dearing's attempt to champion animal rights and save the dinosaurs from extinction. The first trailer for the new film made it seem like Ian Malcolm may be arguing for allowing the dinosaurs to die, but perhaps he is just warning against using them for entertainment or military application, as has been hinted at.
Even if it is just a small part, it will be great to see Jeff Goldblum back as Ian Malcolm in Fallen Kingdom, spouting wisdom in his own unique way. The brilliant cast was a huge part of what made the original Jurassic Park film so great, and having them any of them back in any capacity is a boon to this franchise. With Jurassic World 3 already on the way, I'm still hoping that somehow we will get another chance to see the big three of Ian Malcolm, Ellie Sattler and Alan Grant on screen together again. Jeff Goldblum even teased Laura Dern's return recently, so perhaps this is a realistic possibility. I don't know whether or not the studio could do this, but I am certain that it should.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom hits theaters on June 22nd. Always remember to wash your hands before you eat anything, and for all the latest in Chaos Theory, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.
