Actor Jeff Goldblum says his Jurassic Park character and his philosophy against playing god is more relevant now than ever before. Goldblum played Dr. Ian Malcolm in the original Jurassic Park, its sequel The Lost World, and also had a small cameo in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Goldblum will also return for Jurassic World: Dominion, which will see the return of Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), and other legacy characters from Jurassic Park.
Based on the Michael Crichton novel, the first Jurassic Park film introduces the skeptical mathematician and chaos theorist Dr. Malcolm who is invited to the park before its grand opening alongside paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern). Right away, Dr. Malcolm is at odds with what he sees and the way he feels. The miracle of witnessing the majestic brachiosaurus firsthand is astonishing but the troubling science and ethical dilemmas Malcolm uncovers foreshadow the park's ultimate demise. After learning what CEO of bioengineering company InGen and park creator Dr. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) is willing to risk with no backup plan, Malcolm famously utters the line, "The lack of humility before nature that is being displayed here is staggering."
In a lighthearted interview with PeopleTV's Couch Surfing, Goldblum shares the same concerns his character did in regards to the ongoing pandemic this year. The actor reads the film as a cautionary tale we can learn from at a time like this when people wish the only destruction happening was limited to the silver screen. Goldblum believes Malcolm's commitment to scientific principles and his awareness of mortality can be applied to our current global situation saying:
"As it happens, there are things that my character talks about, has always talked about. The fragility of our species and the global cooperation that's needed, and the foundation in science that's needed, and the ethical use of science that's needed to unite us in trust and connectiveness as a family. And to reach our potential and do right by ourselves and this glorious planet."
The upcoming sixth film of the series was set to hit theaters later this year before its production, like many, was delayed by COVID-19. Multiple projects were delayed to late 2020, with Jurassic World: Dominion being pushed all the way back to June 2021. Only a few details about the film have been released so far and with the postponed production schedule in place, but fans are eager as ever to see what the next film will have in store with a great opportunity for some additional relevant commentary in a post-COVID-19 world.
While Malcolm's commitment to scientific principles and warnings seemed relevant in the '90s, COVID-19, the current state of the world really does make his character even more relevant today. Through travel bans, quarantines, and facemasks, the world has tried it's best to stop the spread of Coronavirus, while certain countries still recognize the importance of science when it comes to finding a cure for COVID-19. There still isn't a cure for the deadly disease, but Goldblum's Jurassic Park character's words resonate for many feeling the normalcy of COVID-19 set in for the foreseeable future.
Source: PeopleTV's Couch Surfing
