The Jurassic Park franchise is as teeming with iconic characters as it is dinosaurs, with Jeff Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm among the most memorable. In the original 1993 film by Steven Spielberg, Malcolm brings a sharp wit and a skeptical view of InGen’s attempts to control nature, quickly establishing himself as the voice of reason amidst the chaos of Jurassic Park.
Goldblum returned in 1997’s The Lost World: Jurassic Park before stepping away from the series for two decades. He briefly reappeared in 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but it wasn’t until 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion that he reunited with fellow original cast members Sam Neill and Laura Dern (Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler, respectively). The trio’s return brought a wave of nostalgia for long-time fans and officially connected the Jurassic World films with the original Jurassic Park trilogy.
However, as fans look ahead to the upcoming sequel Jurassic World Rebirth, which is scheduled for release in 2025, the next chapter won’t feature any beloved legacy characters. And, in a recent interview with Total Film, Goldblum hinted that his time as Dr. Ian Malcolm may have come to an end. “I think Ian Malcolm may have ridden off into the sunset. Maybe,” Goldblum said while expressing his excitement for the new cast, which includes Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, who will take the franchise in a brand-new direction.
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Jurassic World Rebirth is being promoted as the start of a “new Jurassic era,” with Johansson playing covert operations expert Zora Bennett and Bailey stepping into the role of paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis. With a new cast leading the charge, characters like Dr. Malcolm, Dr. Alan Grant, and Dr. Ellie Sattler, along with Jurassic World heroes Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), won’t be making a return.
Looking back on his time with the series, Goldblum reflected positively, even though Jurassic World Dominion received a mixed to negative reception from fans and critics. “I had such a good time on it. I enjoyed working on it and enjoyed trying to make it good,” he said. “It’s tough to make a good movie.” Despite its polarizing reviews, Dominion grossed over $1 billion worldwide, proving the enduring appeal of the Jurassic brand, even as it faced criticism for not delivering enough focus on dinosaurs living among humans—a storyline that was heavily promoted for four years before the film’s release.
Now, as Jurassic World Rebirth prepares to take the series in “an ingenious new direction” (according to the official synopsis from Universal Pictures), the absence of familiar faces like Dr. Ian Malcolm may be felt by fans. But, as Goldblum himself acknowledges, it’s time for new blood to carry the series forward.
Related: ‘Jurassic Park’ Releasing Official Never-Before-Seen Version of 1993 Film
When Can I Watch Jurassic World Rebirth?
Jurassic World Rebirth will be released in theaters worldwide on July 2, 2025.
Check out the film’s new logo below, per the official Jurassic World X (Twitter) account:
Jurassic World Rebirth. In theaters July 2025.
Jurassic World Rebirth. In theaters July 2025. pic.twitter.com/CLUdLQPPfO
— Jurassic World (@JurassicWorld) August 29, 2024
Jurassic World Rebirth stars Scarlett Johansson (Avengers: Endgame), Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer), Rupert Friend (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Mahershala Ali (The Green Book), Luna Blaise (Manifest), David Iacono (Dead Boy Detectives), Audrina Miranda (Lopez vs Lopez), Philippine Velge (Station Eleven), Bechir Sylvain (BMF), and Ed Skrein (Deadpool).
Will you still watch Jurassic World Rebirth without Jeff Goldblum? Let Disney Fanatic know your thoughts in the comments down below!
