Thank god, Jeff Goldblum changed this iconic 'Jurassic Park' scene
Steven Spielberg and Jeff Goldblum made a significant change in the 1993 film Jurassic Park that turned mathematician Ian Malcolm into a more heroic character. This alteration from the original book was revealed by Goldblum in a recent video for Vanity Fair. The actor shared how he and Spielberg decided to modify a scene involving his character and a T. rex at the last minute.
The scene that was changed
The scene in question involves the character of lawyer Donald Gennaro, played by Martin Ferrero, who runs away in fear from a T. rex and eventually gets eaten while hiding in a toilet. In the original book, Goldblum's character was supposed to react similarly by fleeing the scene. However, Spielberg and Goldblum decided to change Ian's response to this situation.
Goldblum's idea for a more heroic Ian
Goldblum explained the thought process behind the change, saying, "I think it came up in discussion where we said, 'Hey, what if instead of being repetitive with the lawyer - not that these guys aren't scary, the dinosaurs aren't scary - but maybe my character is a little bit, has a little bit of gumption and self-sacrificing heroism in him, and goes, gets that flare, lights it, and purposely distracts the dinosaur.' We all thought that was a good idea."
The change made Ian a stronger character
This modification in the movie made Ian a more appealing character among Jurassic Park fans. It showcased him as a selfless hero, differentiating him from the other characters. This was particularly significant given Ian's introduction in the film as a rebellious figure who challenges the idea of a dinosaur theme park. The change ensured that his actions during the T. rex encounter aligned with his established persona.
Goldblum's understanding of his characters
The change from Ian running away to deliberately distracting the T. rex was a small but significant one for his character. It demonstrated the collaborative environment on the Jurassic Park set and highlighted Goldblum's understanding of his characters. The actor's input on his character in this iconic film raises questions about how many other roles he may have tweaked to make them more memorable.
