The One Part Of Jurassic Park III Sam Neill Would Change

Few would argue that 1993's "Jurassic Park" isn't one of the most groundbreaking and influential films ever made. With Steven Spielberg in the director's chair, a talented troupe of big-screen stars in front of the camera, and the most cutting-edge visual effects technology of the era at the ready, even before it reached the silver screen, it had all the makings of a classic. When it finally did, not only did critics and general audiences love it, but it raked in a ton of cash at the global box office. Therefore, in the eyes of Universal, it was time to kickstart an extensive franchise.

Four years after the premiere of the first "Jurassic Park" film, the second arrived to keep the momentum going. Titled "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," Spielberg returned to direct, though much of the original cast opted not to return, so several fresh faces joined the production in their stead. With such a remarkable predecessor to live up to, however, "The Lost World" struggled to satisfy most viewers and made far less money. Still, that didn't stop the Joe Johnston-directed "Jurassic Park III" from reaching the big screen in 2001 before the franchise went on hiatus.

Much like "The Lost World," "Jurassic Park III" failed to reach the heights of the first film — critically and financially. In the eyes of Dr. Alan Grant himself, Sam Neill, the film could've benefitted from one important change.

Before his exciting return to the role of Alan Grant after over 20 years in "Jurassic World: Dominion," Sam Neill spoke to Den of Geek about "Jurassic Park III." Despite years of reports detailing the threequel's troubled production, Neill doesn't recall having a bad time on set himself. Although, he does agree that the final product isn't perfect, especially in terms of the ending. "It ends abruptly. It didn't really have as satisfactory an end as I would have liked," Neill said, adding that he doesn't feel it's that bad of an action movie even though critics have historically put it through the wringer.

At the end of the day, "Jurassic Park III" is far from a standout installment of the "Jurassic" saga, and it didn't do much to keep fan interest alive. One would have to imagine that its rushed conclusion had something to do with that. Thankfully, it didn't dampen the love for the Alan Grant character, hence why Neill wound up returning for "Dominion." In an interview with Gizmodo, he explained that this fan appreciation — coupled with the chance to hang out with Dern and Goldblum again, who famously played Dr. Ellie Sattler and Dr. Ian Malcolm alongside him — went a long way in making his Dr. Grant comeback a reality.

In the eyes of Sam Neill, the end of "Jurassic Park III" didn't exactly work. One can only hope that "Jurassic World: Dominion" doesn't leave him feeling the same way and can give Alan Grant the sendoff he deserves.