Jeff Goldblum Tells Me He Was Almost Cut Out Of The First Jurassic Park Movie!
Jeff Goldblum Tells Me He Was Almost Cut Out Of The First Jurassic Park Movie!
Jeff Goldblum (@jeffgoldblum) is an actor and musician known for his roles in films like Jurassic Park, Independence Day, The Fly and many others. He joins Chris Van Vliet to talk about the new movie Jurassic World: Dominion, what his meeting in 1993 with Steven Spielberg for Jurassic Park was like, how his character was almost cut from the original movie, his iconic line "Life finds a way", his thoughts on being considered a national treasure and more!
CVV's Take: Jurassic World: Dominion is an action packed summer blockbuster, but lacks the magic that the first three Jurassic Park movies had. It's fun to see the original cast members return, but it feels like it may be time to give the franchise a rest after this one.
I'm curious, does anyone call you Jeffrey?
“You know, that is on my birth certificate and passport. You may call me Jeffrey, do you know what my middle name is? It starts with L. Lynn”
Do you think Ian Malcolm is the character you know the best since you have played him so many times now?
“I did a TV series, I did characters over and over and I have done plays. But the way we have a chance to get a crack at this over 30 years. I have never done that before, that is unique. It’s been able to simmer like in a crockpot.”
Take me back 30 years to the original meeting with Stephen Spielberg about Jurassic Park.
“Well my agent said that I am going to meet Stephen Spielberg. Well great! I adore him and this is the opportunity of a lifetime. My agent said it’s about the Jurassic Park story by Michael Crichton. I went out and got the book, loved it. I loved my character, then I had this meeting where Spielberg said ‘Jeff it’s nice to meet you. I love your work and I didn’t want to cancel the meeting. But the most recent version of the script, it doesn’t have your character in it, so this may be moot.’ I said ‘Really? Oh my golly. Well I just read the book, here is why that character could be interesting.’ I’m sure it had no impact on the decision, but it got the character back in the script and got me into the movie. They offered me the part and it changed my life.”
What is more famous from the movie. Either your line ‘Life finds a way.’ Or the shirtless meme that is making the rounds?
“I couldn’t compare them. That is apples and oranges. I am shocked that either of them or any part of what I did has struck anybody’s long term interest. I like the ‘Life finds a way’ thing.”
Everyone has said that you are a national treasure. At what point did you think that?
“Maybe they just think the movie that Nicholas Cage has acted in. I don’t know if I am any kind of treasure though.”