Steven Spielberg has confirmed that Harrison Ford turned down the role of Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park.
The iconic film maker is currently promoting his new movie, Disclosure Day, and during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast he discussed the lore surrounding his classic movies, including E.T. and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.
At one point Josh Horowitz asked if it was true that Harrison Ford, who worked with Spielberg on four Indiana Jones movies, turned down the part of Alan Grant, the lead character in his 1993 dinosaur blockbuster Jurassic Park.
“Yes he did,” the director replied, adding: “He may not remember that, but I sure do!” Disclosure Day star Emily Blunt then asked “Were you cross with him?”, to which Spielberg replied “I wasn’t cross, I was crushed!”
It all worked out for the best, however, as he explained: “But then Sam Neill became available and he’s Alan Grant! It now belongs to him.”
Jurassic Park became the most successful film of all time upon its release, pioneering special effects in movies and creating a franchise that spans seven movies and numerous spin-offs. The role of Dr. Alan Grant would launch Sam Neill to international stardom, with the actor returning to the role in 2001’s Jurassic Park III as well as Jurassic World: Dominion in 2022.
Ford and Spielberg have only ever worked together on Indiana Jones movies, aside from a deleted cameo the actor made in the 1982 movie E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial.
NME’s four-star review of Disclosure Day concluded: “Some will balk at moments in the conclusion which veer too sentimental, while others will wish for a shorter running time. Ultimately, even not-quite-top-tier Spielberg is well worth seeing. It’s big, smart and very satisfying cinema.”