Before the roar of Godzilla or the chest-thumping of Kong ever reached the big screen in the MonsterVerse, another roar echoed through cinema history: the sound of a Tyrannosaurus Rex tearing through a collapsed fence in Jurassic Park. Now, one of the actors who stood in the eye of that prehistoric storm is heading into a different kind of monster mayhem. Sam Neill, best known as Dr. Alan Grant, is joining the cast of the next instalment in Legendary’s MonsterVerse, per THR. From raptors to radioactive reptiles, Neill seems determined to spend his screen time grappling with creatures that could swallow a man whole.
Following the box office success of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, it was only a matter of time before another sequel clawed its way into production. The upcoming project, which remains untitled, continues the studio’s lucrative kaiju franchise but appears to be bringing in a mostly new ensemble. This time, Neill joins a cast that already includes Kaitlyn Dever (The Last of Us) and Jack O’Connell (Unbroken) as siblings, alongside returning MonsterVerse favourite Dan Stevens, who will reprise his role as Trapper from the previous film. Also joining the lineup are Delroy Lindo (Sinners), Alycia Debnam-Carey (Apple Cider Vinegar), and Matthew Modine (Stranger Things).
Details about Neill’s character remain tightly guarded, but his addition brings nostalgic weight and credibility to the franchise, especially for fans who first met him sprinting away from dinosaurs in 1993. Though he recently reprised his iconic role in Jurassic World: Dominion, Neill will not appear in the upcoming Jurassic reboot, which is opting for an entirely new cast. Instead, he’ll now face a fresh kind of extinction-level event under the direction of Grant Sputore, best known for his work on I Am Mother. The screenplay is penned by Dave Callaham, who has previously written for action-heavy titles like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Wonder Woman 1984.
Meanwhile, the MonsterVerse is thriving beyond the silver screen. Apple TV+ renewed its tie-in series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters for a second season following strong reception in late 2023.
The untitled MonsterVerse film is slated for release on 26 March 2027.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
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Kevin Low
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