One of the original stars of Jurassic Park finally has the opportunity to share his thoughts on the tribute to his character in the latest installment. Jurassic World Rebirth introduces a fresh ensemble of characters embarking on a journey to a secluded island close to the equator, aiming to collect dinosaur DNA samples for groundbreaking medical advancements.
The leading roles feature mercenary Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), her partner Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), and their paleontologist advisor Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey). Bailey’s character serves as the conduit for this connection, as he notes during the expedition that he completed his postdoctoral research under the guidance of Dr. Alan Grant, a role famously portrayed by Sam Neill in the original Jurassic Park (1993).
In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly while promoting his Xfinity Super Bowl commercial, Neill expressed his delight in the Easter egg.
According to Sam Neill, “I was taken aback. It’s wonderful when these elements connect with one another, and I found that to be both respectful and commendable.”
Neill came together again with his Jurassic Park co-stars Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum for one of the standout commercials during the 2026 Super Bowl, where the humorous twist is that with Xfinity Wi-Fi, the incidents of the original film could have been averted, allowing them all to enjoy a peaceful holiday.
The original trio from Jurassic Park reunited in 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion, joining forces with the cast of the legacy sequel Jurassic World trilogy. Prior to this, Neill returned to his role in 2001’s Jurassic Park III, which includes a cameo by Dern, while Goldblum took center stage as the lead in 1997’s The Lost World – Jurassic Park.
Jurassic World Rebirth is set five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion. Despite dinosaurs being released into the wild, they are facing extinction once more due to the Earth’s unsuitable climate. As a result, only those dinosaurs that inhabit equatorial regions continue to thrive, while the majority of people have largely shifted their focus away from the wonder of living dinosaurs.
In this setting, Henry Loomis offers a unique viewpoint on several of the series’ foundational themes. He shows greater respect for the dinosaurs compared to some other characters, reflects on humanity’s mortality, and engages in a debate with Zora, asserting that scientific progress ought to benefit society as a whole instead of being driven by profit.
Similar to many films in the franchise that followed Jurassic Park, Jurassic World Rebirth was not hailed as a critical success, holding a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it achieved impressive Box Office results, earning close to $870 million globally, positioning it among the top films of the year.
Despite it’s flaws, the 2025 release managed to captivate audiences by connecting with the franchise’s legacy. You can stream Jurassic World Rebirth on Peacock.