Jurassic World Dominion features one of Hollywood's greatest casts, with director Colin Trevorrow choosing to reunite Jurassic Park stars old and new for his latest film. These major names in the dinosaur franchise have lived some truly fascinating lives, which have seen them make some surprising decisions.
Despite their considerably high profile within the Film Industry, there are still many aspects of these celebrities' careers and lifestyles that audiences may not know. The behind-the-scenes stories of Jurassic World Dominion's starry ensemble have taken some unexpected turns, with the stars' past circumstances having proven wildly unpredictable.
The Unreleased Chris Pratt Movie
Since his breakout film roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and The LEGO Movie, Chris Pratt has become one of cinema's biggest names, with the former Parks And Recreation actor appearing in some of the industry's biggest franchises. Chris Pratt's first attempts to crack Hollywood proved significantly less successful, however, as he appeared in the unreleased RaeDawn Chong movie Cursed Part 3 (Via Nicki Swift).
This long-forgotten movie part saw Chris Pratt play a young teen named Devon, who helps a group of determined amateur filmmakers create a Blair Witch-style movie. Unfortunately, the film's questionable quality saw it scrapped before its planned release, with Pratt himself describing it as "the worst movie I'd ever seen (Via Yahoo)."
Jeff Goldblum's Pet Fly
Released in 1986, David Cronenberg's version of The Fly has developed a considerable fan base, with many believing the Cronenberg remake to be better than the original. One major reason for the 1986 release's gigantic success is arguably Jeff Goldblum, who delivers a somewhat unnerving portrayal of half-human and half-fly scientist Seth Brundle, and the star's devotion to the role saw him decide to keep a pet fly during the shoot (Via Rolling Stone).
Co-star Geena Davis discovered the fly hovering around his trailer with Goldblum and helped the eccentric actor capture the insect in a plastic bag. Jeff Goldblum planned to use the fly to study its movements, and his observations in regards to his new pet's behavior helped to inform his memorable turn in the Cronenberg classic, resulting in one of the horror genre's most chilling performances.
High Heels Training
Claire Dearing's high heels chase from the Indominus Rex in Jurassic World is one of the movie's most iconic moments, with many viewers impressed by the park CEO's ability to escape the vicious dinosaur while in wildly inappropriate footwear. The tense action sequence is a major highlight of the dinosaur flick, however, what some may not realize is that the stunt required Bryce Dallas Howard to undergo some intense Bootcamp training (Via People).
To prepare for the highly dangerous sequence, the film star built a wooden platform, which she used to exercise her feet in-between takes. Speaking to People, Bryce Dallas Howard recalled how she wanted "the strongest ankles imaginable," ensuring that she would be able to complete the ambitious stunt without obtaining a serious injury.
Sam Neill's Doctor Octopus
Released in 2002, Spider-Man 2 is one of the most beloved Spider-Man entries. Sam Raimi's entertaining superhero caper features arguably the best version of Doctor Octopus, portrayed by Alfred Molina. This take on the Web Slinger's nefarious foe was once very different, however, with Sam Neill originally approached to play the role (Via 10 Facts About).
Sam Neill was the producers' first choice for the part, and fans proved so enthusiastic about his potential casting that they updated Spider-Man 2's IMDb page to include him among the cast (Via WhatCulture). Unfortunately, however, Sam Neill opted to turn it down for "personal reasons." This paved the way for Alfred Molina to be cast in one of his greatest roles to date, giving Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man a truly worthy opponent for his second outing.
Laura Dern Sued Her Parents At The Age Of 15
Laura Dern's acting career has seen her achieve a considerable amount of success within the movie industry, but her personal life is somewhat less fortunate. The star has had a tenuous relationship with her parents, and this difficult dynamic between Laura Dern and her family resulted in her taking her parents to court at only 15 years of age (Via EightiesKids).
The 15-year-old Laura Dern planned to sue her parents for emancipation, believing the pair to hold too much control over her life choices. Dern was unhappy with her parents' constant influence over her career, including their decision to ban her from international travel, which resulted in the young actor losing a major film role. Her court case proved a resounding success, ending her parents' dominance over her movie lifestyle, and granting the star greater freedom over her acting decisions.
Chris Pratt Initially Turned Down Peter Quill
Chris Pratt’s witty and engaging portrayal of Peter Quill is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s greatest performances, with the actor having helped to establish many of Peter Quill’s core traits in the MCU films. While Chris Pratt has since become synonymous with the nerdy intergalactic hero, the star originally turned down the role, with casting director Sarah Finn having recalled to Variety how Pratt initially refused to audition (Via CinemaBlend).
Speaking on the Avengers Endgame red carpet, Sarah Finn recounts how she “kept insisting that Chris Pratt was the guy” to James Gunn, despite the Parks And Recreation actor’s repeated refusals to try for the part. Gunn was also reluctant to cast Chris Pratt and was hesitant to see him for the role. Fortunately, Chris Pratt’s audition impressed the Scooby-Doo director, landing Pratt one of Marvel Studios’ greatest characters to date.
Sam Neill Was Nearly James Bond
Sam Neill’s depiction of Alan Grant has become a particularly big highlight of the Jurassic Park films, with the strong and determined paleontologist capturing the interests of audiences worldwide. The Northern Ireland-born actor also came close to portraying another iconic film hero, however, with Neill nearly landing the role of James Bond (Via MSN).
Auditioning for the part in 1986, Sam Neill was hoping to succeed Roger Moore, with The Living Daylights becoming his potential debut within the spy franchise. Had he been successful, Neill would have been the first New Zealand actor to play the secret agent, with the film star having moved with his family to the country in 1954. Ultimately, Timothy Dalton was cast as MI6’s most famous agent, becoming one of the most popular stars to play the spy thus far.
Bryce Dallas Howard’s Babysitter Was Tom Cruise
Known mostly as Mission Impossible’s Ethan Hawke, Tom Cruise has most recently dominated the box office with the legacy sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. But the Hollywood icon also has a fascinating connection to Bryce Dallas Howard, acting as her babysitter during her childhood (Via Bravo TV).
Tom Cruise proved a lively babysitter for the young child, as he carried out various tricks for the youngster while her parents were away. Speaking to Andy Cohen, Bryce Dallas Howard has described how the fearless action star would perform cartwheels and showcase some impressive acrobatic abilities, offering the young Bryce a night to remember.
Jeff Goldblum Was In Columbo
Jeff Goldblum has appeared in some of the biggest film releases, with the eccentric media personality having featured in movies including Thor Ragnarok and Independence Day. One of his lesser-known roles concerns his bit part in the long-running detective series Columbo, in the episode “A Case Of Immunity” (Via Columbophile).
In this highly thrilling installment in the mystery drama, Jeff Goldblum appears among a group of Saurian student protestors, who are being tackled by the police. The Hollywood legend’s role is brief within the episode, but it provides a fun moment for eagle-eyed viewers nonetheless, with his small appearance acting as a nice surprise for Columbo’s dedicated audience.
Laura Dern Had A Brief Role In Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
The film industry has played a key role in Laura Dern’s life, with the actor having begun her career at a young age. One of her earliest screen appearances can be seen in the Martin Scorsese movie Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, which stars Ellen Burstyn as a troubled housewife who searches for a more fulfilling life with her son across the United States, after losing her husband in a horrific car accident (Via E News).
Laura Dern can be glimpsed within the film as a girl eating an ice cream cone. Her inclusion may be small, but her irresistible cuteness as a young child is adorable to witness. Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore also sees Laura Dern’s mother Diane Ladd play the foul-mouthed waitress Flo, with her colorful language providing some of the movie’s biggest laughs.