Steven Spielberg Confirms Harrison Ford Turned Down Role of Dr. Adam Grant in “Jurassic Park”

Virginia ChamleeFri, June 12, 2026 at 5:45 PM UTC

0

Sam Neill, Harrison FordCredit: Alamy; ARNAL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty -

Steven Spielberg is confirming a long-rumored piece of casting history: Harrison Ford was offered a leading role in Jurassic Park

Spielberg said he was "crushed" when Ford turned down the role of Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 film

Ultimately, it went to Sam Neill, which the director noted was for the best

Before Sam Neill became synonymous with Dr. Alan Grant in the 1993 film Jurassic Park, another Hollywood icon nearly stepped into the role.

During an appearance on theHappy Sad Confused podcast, filmmaker Steven Spielberg confirmed a long-rumored piece of casting history: Harrison Ford was offered a leading role in the movie, but ultimately passed.

Host Josh Horowitz asked Spielberg directly whether Ford had turned down the part of paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, prompting the 79-year-old director to respond, "Yes, he did."

Spielberg added that Ford may not even recall the offer. "He may not remember that, but I sure do," Spielberg said.

When fellow guest Emily Blunt (who appears in Spielberg's latest project, Disclosure Day) jokingly asked whether he was upset by Ford's decision, Spielberg admitted the rejection stung. "I wasn't cross," he said. "I was crushed."

Harrison Ford, Steven SpielbergCredit: Michael Kovac/Getty

The role ultimately went to Neill, with Spielberg remarking that the casting change ultimately worked out exactly as it should have.

"But then Sam Neill came available and ... And he's Alan Grant, and it now belongs to him," Spielberg said.

Advertisement

Jurassic Park became a cultural phenomenon and one of the highest-grossing films of all time upon its release. Adapted from the eponymous book by Michael Crichton, the film followed a group of scientists and visitors trapped on an island theme park populated by genetically engineered dinosaurs.

Neill starred alongside Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough.

Ford, meanwhile, was already one of Hollywood's biggest stars thanks to his portrayals of Han Solo and Indiana Jones.

As Spielberg recently recounted, the role of Jones nearly went to a different actor: Tom Selleck.

Speaking on a recent episode of IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, the director said he and George Lucas (who wrote and executive produced the Indiana Jones films and developed the character) "both discovered and decided that Tom Selleck should play Indiana Jones" in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark.

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

But Selleck had an outstanding contract with CBS to do Magnum P.I., prompting Spielberg to look in a new direction. After he saw a screening of Empire Strikes Back, he decided to ask Ford.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”