Just about all great movies had casts that were carefully assembled, often times passing over equally talented actors because something just wasn’t quite right. Jurassic Park, one of the biggest summer blockbusters of all-time, was no different and had various actors clamoring for nearly all of its main roles, including that of movie’s director.

With Jurassic buzz hitting peak levels this week in anticipation of the Jurassic World opening, there’s no better time than now to look back at the actors who almost had a part in the original movie.



For the part of John Hammond

Steven Spielberg’s first choice to play billionaire philanthropist and owner of the world’s poorest Yelp-rated theme park was Sean Connery. His asking price was reportedly a bit too high for a film where most of the studio’s money was tied up in special effects, so Spielberg went with Sir Richard Attenborough, who did a fine job of allowing all those people to be eaten by his science project.



For the part of Dr. Alan Grant

Don’t get me wrong, Sam Neill did a fine job saving those kids from Velociraptors as Alan Grant, but maybe Harrison Ford could have done it better? I mean, Ford did have lots of experience wearing a fedora in the jungle. During a talk about the Indiana Jones revival, Spielberg reminded Ford that he had the chance to play Alan Grant, but Ford turned it down, saying the project was like “a trip to Mars.”

Spielberg also considered buddy Richard Dreyfuss and actors William Hurt and Kurt Russell before finally deciding that Neill should be the one to sent to dino island.



For the part of Dr. Ellie Sattler

The part of Ellie Sattler was the role that every actress in Hollywood was after in 1993. A huge blockbuster movie with a legendary director and a part that involved more than simply being on-screen eye-candy? A number of leading and up-and-coming actresses auditioned for the part. Spielberg’s first choice was reportedly Sigourney Weaver, who decided she wasn’t interested for whatever reasons, but Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Geena Davis, Daryl Hannah, and Helen Hunt were all considered for the part.