Life, uh, finds a way! Big news in the world of dinosaurs tonight: Fan favorite Dr. Ian Malcolm will return. While the character was nowhere to be found in Colin Trevorrow’s “Jurassic World,” The Hollywood Reporter reports that the know-it-all mathematician and beloved character, who somehow survived both “Jurassic Park” and its sequel ‘The Lost World,’ will be heading back to the franchise.
READ MORE: The Good, The Bad & The Weird Of ‘Jurassic World’
Yep, Jeff Goldblum will be returning for “Jurassic World 2,” directed this time by J.A. Bayona (“A Monster Calls”). Trevorrow will act as an executive producer, and co-wrote the script with his writing partner Derek Connolly; he’s got a “Star Wars” film to deal with in 2018 as well. No additional details of what happened to Malcolm, his whereabouts or how he will fit into the new story are known as of now.
Goldblum’s character has become so retroactively popular, he’s been the subject of several memes, including the now-famous gif below.
Chris Pratt, obviously returning as the movie’s lead, has already teased a movie that is going to be “darker” and “scarier.” While promoting “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2,” Pratt, talking to EW, hinted at “[d]eep emotions and suspense. I think it’s going to be a scarier version. A little bit darker and will continue to expand and carry the story forward in a way that is really unexpected and you wouldn’t have imagined.”
A bit actor in the movie has also unveiled some upcoming details too. Actor Kevin Layne managed to book a small speaking role and apparently wasn’t afraid to offer up minor spoilers. “I read for two parts, and ended up getting the role of [the] submarine pilot, which was the role I wanted as it is quite an epic scene,” he revealed (via Yahoo). “So I should have a nice cinematic moment on screen in a massive studio film.” What’s the over/under that he still has a job in the morning? Can we get Goldblum on the vessel too?
In 2015, “Jurassic World” became the fourth-highest-grossing film of all time, smashing records and earning a massive $1.67 billion worldwide. The entire series so far has earned $3.6 billion globally, and Universal will be looking to add another billion this next time out. “Jurassic World 2” is scheduled to open in theaters on June 22, 2018. More importantly, fans are stoked. [THR]