For Sam Neill, known for his iconic role as Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park franchise, the upcoming installment, Jurassic World Rebirth, feels like a homecoming. In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, Neill expressed his fondness for Scarlett Johansson, the lead of the new film, highlighting their prior collaboration in the 1998 movie The Horse Whisperer.
In The Horse Whisperer, Neill portrayed Robert MacLean, whose daughter Grace, played by a young Johansson, faced a life-altering injury. Reflecting on their past, Neill shared, “I feel like it’s a family affair here,” referencing their time working with Robert Redford and Kristin Scott Thomas in Montana, where he played her father. “She gets it from me,” he added, playfully asserting Johansson’s capabilities.
In Jurassic World Rebirth, Johansson takes on the role of Zora Bennett, a special operations expert tasked by a pharmaceutical company to infiltrate a sanctuary for the last known dinosaurs and extract DNA from the world’s largest creatures. This film continues the legacy initiated by Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, all reprising their iconic roles in a new Xfinity Super Bowl commercial. The ad, directed by Taika Waititi, puts a modern spin on the Jurassic Park plot, presenting a world where reliable wifi ensures the dinosaurs stay secured within their pens, allowing visitors to enjoy the experience worry-free.
Neill noted that while the costumes and set pieces for the Xfinity ad were crafted to resemble the originals, he did not keep any items this time around, having auctioned off his previous memorabilia for charity. “They made me a new uniform. I did not keep it this time, just in case they want another reunion,” he remarked.
Fans of the franchise can look forward to seeing Neill, Dern, and Goldblum back on screen together in the ad, which will air during this Sunday’s Super Bowl, adding an exciting layer of nostalgia to the event.