When it comes to run-ins with genetically engineered creatures, Samuel L. Jackson seems to have the worst luck. If he’s not being torn apart by raptors in Jurassic Park (1993), he’s becoming shark bait in Deep Blue Sea (1998). Though both are memorable, it’s his demise in Jurassic Park that still lingers with fans, despite happening off-screen.
Jackson plays Ray Arnold, the park’s chain-smoking chief computer engineer, and while many characters meet their gruesome ends in full view, Ray’s death is suggested in a way that’s no less chilling. When paleobotanist Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) heads to the maintenance shed to restore power, she’s greeted by a severed arm—Ray’s—just before a Velociraptor makes its appearance. It’s a shocking moment, but it leaves fans wondering: could Ray have somehow survived?
Could Ray Arnold Have Survived?
It’s a fun idea to consider—maybe Ray Arnold did survive that initial raptor attack and was left stranded on Isla Nublar. The speculation is similar to another of Jackson’s famous characters, Mace Windu from Star Wars. Fans have debated for years whether Mace, after losing an arm and being thrown out of a window, could still be alive somewhere in the galaxy.
Interestingly, even Samuel L. Jackson has entertained the possibility of Ray’s survival. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Jackson shared some behind-the-scenes trivia about Jurassic Park, revealing that a hurricane changed the original plan for his character’s on-screen death. “I was supposed to shoot a death scene [in Jurassic Park], but there was a big hurricane that tore up all the sets. So I didn’t get to go to Hawaii. So they just decided to stick my arm on a fall or floor or whatever,” he said. Jackson then joked, “So now I figured, like Mace Windu, he [Ray Arnold] got out there in the park and made friends with the Velociraptors. He got a couple of them that he could ride.”
Of course, Jackson’s comments were all in good fun, but the idea of Ray escaping his initial encounter with the raptor and facing other challenges on Isla Nublar is a theory that some fans like to entertain. With the upcoming video game “Jurassic Park: Survival,” there might even be a chance for that speculation to play out.
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Will Ray Arnold Make a Comeback in Jurassic Park: Survival?
Set to continue the story right after the 1993 film, the video game “Jurassic Park: Survival” invites players back to Isla Nublar, promising more action, danger, and familiar faces. According to the game’s synopsis: “Return to Isla Nublar the day after the events of the beloved 1993 Jurassic Park film in an original adventure 65 million years in the making.” It’s a tantalizing concept for fans who want to relive the suspense of the first movie and maybe even see some loose ends tied up.
The game has already teased the return of a character that seemed long gone—the Velociraptor that Lex Murphy (Ariana Richards) trapped in the kitchen freezer. If a raptor can make a comeback, could Ray Arnold appear as well? It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility, especially given the game’s focus on surprises.
But let’s face it, if Ray Arnold were to show up anywhere, “Jurassic Park: Survival” would make more sense than the upcoming film, Jurassic World Rebirth. Scheduled for release in 2025, Rebirth is set several decades after the events of the original movie, making it less likely that Ray would appear—unless, of course, they decide to throw in a flashback for old times’ sake.
Whether or not Ray Arnold makes a comeback, it’s clear that his character remains a fan favorite. That unforgettable scene with the severed arm, the lurking raptor, and Ellie’s shocked expression is burned into the minds of Jurassic Park enthusiasts everywhere. It’s the kind of moment that keeps fans coming back, speculating about what might have been.
So, do you think Ray Arnold is out there somewhere, surviving among the dinosaurs on Isla Nublar? Or should this theory stay in the realm of Star Wars? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!