Jurassic Parkwas originally released in 1993, but new behind-the-scenes information is still coming out about the Steven Spielberg classic. As revealed in newly-unearthed storyboards from the movie, park owner John Hammond was originally supposed to die. In the scene, Hammond is hiding away in Visitor Center’s Control Room after the dinosaurs break free from their enclosures. He is standing near a tabletop model of the park when a velociraptor barges in and tackles him onto the table, ripping him apart on a miniature version of the resort. The attack would have also broken an incubator with eggs, which is a moment that didn’t make it into the final product either.
For those who’ve read the original novel by Michael Crichton, it won’t be surprising to knowJohn Hammondwas meant to be killed off. The character dies in the book as well in a demise that seems even more unpleasant. In the novel, Hammond is startled by a pre-recorded sound of a T. Rex on one of the park’s loudspeakers, leading to him falling down a hill and breaking his ankle. Incapacitated, Hammond is then feasted upon by a pack of Procompsognathus dinosaurs. Ultimately, Spielberg made the creative decision to have Hammond survive theJurassic Parkmovie instead, leaving the door open for him to return inThe Lost World. His actor, Richard Attenborough, sadly passed away in 2014.
Based on the Crichton novel,Jurassic Parktold the story of eccentric billionaire John Hammond building a theme park filled with cloned dinosaurs. Prior to its opening, however, things go terribly wrong when theprehistoric creaturesescape and begin hunting for humans. As the survivors search for a way to escape the island, it quickly becomes very clear that they may have been better off leaving the dinosaurs extinct. Co-starring with Attenborough in the cast were Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Bob Peck, Samuel L. Jackson, Joseph Mazzello, and Ariana Richards. Legendary director Steven Spielberg helmed the movie, using a screenplay co-written by author Michael Crichton and David Koepp.
Obviously,Jurassic Parkwas tremendously successful, still reigning as one of the higest-grossing movies of all time. Its modern sequels have done even better, withJurassic WorldandJurassic World: Fallen Kingdomtotally obliterating thebox officeas well. The third installment of the newJurassic Worldtrilogy will arrive on July 26, 2025, which will more than likely be a blockbuster hit as well. In the meantime, the universe will be further expanded upon in the animated seriesCamp Cretacious, which will be debuting on Netflix sometime next year.
It’s always fun to look back and see how differently things could have been when it comes to classic movies likeJurassic Park. Still, it would have been kind of a downer to see Hammond die in the movie, even with so many other characters becoming dinosaur food. Spielberg probably made the right call in sparing the poor guy for the live-action version of the story. This information comes to us from the Facebook pageJurassic Time.
