Here’s Who Sean Connery Could Have Played in the Original ‘Jurassic Park’

Sean Connery may have passed away in 2020, but he left his fans nearly 60 years of movie work ranging from international spies to FBI agents and domestic terrorists. While he is, to many, the quintessential Bond, Connery’s legacy goes above and beyond any singular role he took.

However, had he taken one part in Jurassic Park, his legacy may have gotten even stronger.

Sean Connery’s Career

Connery made his screen debut with an uncredited role in the 1954 film Let’s Make Up. He worked on film and television, mostly in smaller parts, for the next several years. From movies of the week to season-long guest spots on hit television shows, Connery was not a household name, but he was putting in the work to become one.

Everything changed in 1962. This was the year that Connery made his on-screen debut as James Bond in Dr. No and appeared in the film The Longest Day. However, despite more success in other franchises, Bond was the most steady job he held for nearly a decade. However, roles in films like Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie showed that he had range beyond the suave superspy, who remains resonant to this day.

After hanging up the Bond suit in 1971, Connery got a steady stream of work in genre movies like Time Bandits, Zardoz, and Murder on the Orient Express. He made a strange return to 007 in the unofficial one-off film Never Say Never Again in 1983. However, Connery’s most significant role away from Bond came as Jim Malone in 1987’s The Untouchables, in which he played Jim Malone, a role which garnered him his first and only Oscar. 

From Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade to The Hunt for Red October and The Rock, Connery had a career resurgence after his acclaimed turn in The Untouchables. After 2003’s notorious disaster, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen in 2003, Connery retired from appearing on the screen. Save for a few voice roles. He remained there until his death on Halloween, 2020. 

However, in the middle of his 1990s rebirth, Connery nearly had a franchise that was arguably bigger than Bond fell into his lap.

Connery vs. Carnivores

Steven Spielberg always wanted a superstar cast when working on Jurassic Park, but sometimes this meant swinging for the fences and striking out. This was the case with Sean Connery. When thinking about John Hammond, the character whose actions kick off the films’ entire plot, Spielberg pictured Connery in the iconic role. 

Connery reportedly passed on the rule after asking for too much money. However, from Harrison Ford to Jim Carrey, Connery’s name is part of a long list of stars and future stars who almost got a break, resurgence, or bolstered legacy from appearing in one of the most successful blockbusters of all time.

However, after getting the late Richard Attenborough to come out of a long on-screen hiatus to focus on directing. Spielberg created a role that still resonates as the series prepares for its sixth installment. 

Attenborough steals the role

Attenborough was once a well-known actor in films like The Great Escape, but after a string of successful directing projects, including Gandhi, he switched full-time to behind the scenes work.

When Spielberg came calling, however, he decided to dust off the old acting muscles. This led to more memorable work in films like 1994’s remake of Miracle on 34th Street. He passed away in 2014. 

Jurassic Park was all the better for his inclusion. His comforting present made Hammond a three-dimensional character who, despite his flaws and oversight, sincerely wanted to do something magical and failed.

Now, Jurassic Park is poised to continue its three-decade domination at the box office with Jurassic World: Dominion, a film that may not have been possible had Attenborough not helped reel in the original.