Ian Malcolm (Jurassic Park)

For the politician, see Ian Malcolm (politician).

Dr. Ian Malcolm is a fictional character from the Jurassic Park franchise created by Michael Crichton and portrayed by Jeff Goldblum. Malcolm is a gifted mathematician who specializes in chaos theory. The character was inspired in part by American historian of science James Gleick and French mathematician Ivar Ekeland.^[1] In Crichton's 1990 novel Jurassic Park and its 1993 film adaptation, Malcolm is invited by insurance lawyer Donald Gennaro to notice any problems with John Hammond's dinosaur theme park, Jurassic Park. Malcolm was intended by Crichton to fill in the role of the audience in the scenarios he is put through. Malcolm is a secondary protagonist in the original novel and the main protagonist in the sequel, The Lost World, due to positive fan reception from Goldblum's performance as the character in director Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of the original novel.^[2]

Ian Malcolm
Jurassic Park character
Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park (1993)
First appearance	Jurassic Park (1990)
Last appearance	Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Created by	Michael Crichton
Adapted by	Steven Spielberg David Koepp
Portrayed by	Jeff Goldblum
Voiced by	Fred Young (Jurassic Park Pinball) Jeff Goldblum (The Lost World: Jurassic Park video game, Chaos Island: The Lost World, Jurassic World Evolution, Jurassic World Evolution 2) Bradley Duffy (Lego Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar) Maurice LaMarche (Animaniacs)
In-universe information
Occupation	Mathematician; Chaotician
Family	Dr. Sarah Harding (love interest) Kelly Curtis (daughter in film only)

His role as Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park skyrocketed Goldblum's career. Malcolm has become one of Goldblum's most popular characters and has been depicted in many forms of popular culture. The character's signature line, "Life finds a way", has become synonymous with Goldblum and the Jurassic Park franchise, and Malcolm has been recognized as the franchise's most enduring character.^[3]

Fictional character biography

In Crichton's novel, Dr. Ian Malcolm, along with paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant and paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler, is hired as a consultant by InGen CEO John Hammond to provide opinions on Jurassic Park, a theme park on the remote island of Isla Nublar that features genetically recreated dinosaurs. Malcolm is the most pessimistic about the idea of the park, feeling that Hammond and his scientists have not taken the time or effort to fully understand what they are creating. In particular, he points out that Hammond's assertion that the dinosaurs can be controlled through sterilization and managed breeding is foolish since there are far too many unpredictable variables where biology is concerned.

During a tour of the park, disgruntled computer programmer Dennis Nedry shuts down power to the park to gain access to dinosaur embryos to sell to a rival. Nedry's actions cause the electrified fences to shut down as well, allowing the dinosaurs to escape from their paddocks. Malcolm is attacked by a Tyrannosaurus rex, which breaks his leg. Malcolm is found by game warden Robert Muldoon and Dr. Ellie Sattler and taken back to one of the lodges to be looked after by park veterinarian Gerry Harding. Harding administers morphine to Malcolm, who spends the rest of the incident ranting about science and philosophy while attempting to assist the other survivors. His condition continues to worsen, and by the time the Costa Rica Air Force arrives to Isla Nublar, Malcolm is said to have died from his injuries.^[4][5]

In the sequel, The Lost World, it is revealed that the declaration of his death was premature, and Malcolm was able to be saved. Malcolm is upgraded to the main protagonist of the sequel, which begins with him giving a lecture on extinction and chaos theory. It is also stated that Malcolm used to date Sarah Harding, and they have remained friends. Malcolm and Sarah are approached by paleontologist Richard Levine, who wants him to help find a "Lost World". Though Malcolm refuses the offer many times, he eventually relents and travels to Isla Sorna. Malcolm injures his leg again during an encounter with another Tyrannosaurus, but survives.

Film adaptation

The film adaptation of Crichton's novel directed by Steven Spielberg features actor Jeff Goldblum in the role of Ian Malcolm. Unlike in the book, Malcolm is never declared dead in the film adaptation, but is severely injured by the Tyrannosaurus. In the film, Malcolm's injury comes from attempting to lure the T. rex away from the car carrying Tim and Lex Murphy, where as in the novel Malcolm's injury came out of cowardice (more akin to the death of Donald Gennaro in the film). This change was suggested by Goldblum.^[6] Goldblum reprised his role for the sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in a minor role,^[7][8] and alongside Sam Neill (Alan Grant) and Laura Dern (Ellie Sattler) in Jurassic World Dominion.^[9][10] Some fans found the personality changes of Malcolm from the first movie to the character seen in The Lost World to be somewhat drastic, and some have speculated that the character suffers from PTSD after his trip to Jurassic Park.^[11]

In the first film, it is stated that Malcolm has been married several times and has three children. One of his children, Kelly Curtis, appears in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. By the time of the sixth film, he has had two more.

Production

Before Goldblum was cast, comedic actor Jim Carrey had auditioned for the role of Ian Malcolm. The film's casting director, Janet Hirschenson, believed that Goldblum was the perfect actor for the role, and spoke of Carrey's audition saying Carrey, "was terrific, too, but I think pretty quickly we all loved the idea of Jeff."^[12] Actor Cameron Thor had initially auditioned for Malcolm, before landing the role of Dodgson.^[13] In the novel, Malcolm states that he only ever wears black so he does not have to put much thought towards what he wears. This is a characteristic shared with an earlier Goldblum character, Seth Brundle from The Fly.^[14] Malcolm's line, "must go faster", was reused by another Goldblum character, David Levinson in Independence Day.^[15]

Reception

Goldblum's portrayal as Ian Malcolm was lauded by fans and critics. Malcolm is the most popular character in the franchise,^[16][17] and is one of Goldblum's most popular roles.^[18] Goldblum was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal in Jurassic Park alongside Wayne Knight as Dennis Nedry, but both lost to Lance Henriksen in Hard Target.^[19] Goldblum was also nominated for a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor - SciFi for his role in The Lost World: Jurassic Park.^[20]

Goldblum's lack of screen time and over marketing in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was criticized by fans of the franchise, who had felt like the marketing for the film relied too heavily on featuring Goldblum's return as Ian Malcolm, only for the actor to appear in only two short scenes at the start and very end of the film.^{[21][22][23][24][25]} Timothy Donohoo of Comic Book Resources was critical of Malcolm's characterization in Dominion, calling the film his worst appearance in the series. Donohoo wrote that while the first two films depict Malcolm as "a cynical voice of reason", Dominion "reduces him to a source for inane comedy", opining that Goldblum essentially played himself.^[26]

Legacy

 

Goldblum with his shirt open as Malcolm, commonly recognized as having established the character as a sex symbol.

Ian Malcolm has gone on to become one of Goldblum's most iconic and frequently referenced characters. Malcolm and another character, Dr. Henry Wu, have appeared in four films throughout the series, more than any other characters. Malcolm has been referenced in different dinosaur studies,^[27] as well as his line, "Life finds a way". The quote has become synonymous with the Jurassic Park franchise as well as with Goldblum himself.^[28][29][30] The character also reinvigorated an interest in chaos theory, due to a scene where Malcolm flirts with Ellie Sattler while discussing it.

A scene from the first film where Malcolm appears with his shirt open has been widely noted by Goldblum as the primary reason the character was established as a sex symbol, with the pose serving as the subject of many tattoos, Internet memes, a Funko toy figure, as well as receiving a statue in Potters Fields Park in London.^[31][32][33]

See also

• List of Jurassic Park characters

References

1. "Chaos Effect in Jurassic Park". Study.com. July 14, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
2. Crichton, Michael (September 5, 1995). . Charlie Rose (Interview). New York City: PBS. Archived from the original on January 11, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
3. Chapman, Tom (February 22, 2017). "Jurassic Park's 15 Greatest Characters Of All Time". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
4. Crichton, Michael (2012). Jurassic Park. Random House Publishing. ISBN 9780345538987.
5. "Basic Logic". The New York Times. October 22, 1995. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
6. Holmes, Adam (March 30, 2018). "Why Jurassic Park Almost Didn't Include Ian Malcolm, According To Jeff Goldblum". CinemaBlend. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
7. Ford, Rebecca (April 26, 2017). "Jeff Goldblum Joins 'Jurassic World' Sequel (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
8. Mithaiwala, Mansoor (June 17, 2017). "Ian Malcolm's Jurassic World 2 Dialogue Is Mostly Based On The Original Novel". Screen Rant. from the original on June 17, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
9. Besanvalle, James (November 25, 2019). "Jeff Goldblum teases 'nice part' in Jurassic World 3 and we need the movie to be out already". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
10. Parker, Ryan (February 10, 2022). "'Jurassic World: Dominion' Gives Fans Their Ian Malcolm Due". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
11. Fioriti, Klayton (November 18, 2019). "Why Ian Malcolm Was So Different In The Lost World: Jurassic Park". YouTube. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
12. Stack, Tim; Staskiewicz, Keith (April 4, 2013). . Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
13. de Semlyen, Nick (September 2013). "Jurassic Park 20th Anniversary: When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth" (PDF). Empire. p. 3. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
14. Nevala-Lee, Alec (November 13, 2014). "The Ian Malcolm Rule". Nevalalee. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
15. Heigl, Alex (June 30, 2016). "14 Things You Never Knew About Independence Day on its 20th Anniversary". People. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
16. Dean, Tres (June 22, 2018). . Geek. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
17. Oltermann, Philip (June 12, 2015). "The star of Jurassic World isn't T-Rex. It's Malcolm". The Guardian. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
18. Coyle, Jake (June 7, 2022). "Jeff Goldblum takes one more bite out of 'Jurassic World'". Associated Press. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
19. . Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
20. . PR Newswire. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
21. . Scified. Archived from the original on February 23, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
22. Nugent, John (October 27, 2017). "Empire Podcast Jeff Goldblum Interview Special". Empire. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
23. Pugh, Chris (January 6, 2017). "Jurassic World 2 Director J.A. Bayona on Ian Malcolm: "He's a Great Character!"". Jurassic Outpost. from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
24. Sciretta, Peter (April 25, 2017). "Jeff Goldblum Returns For 'Jurassic World 2'! Life Has Found A Way!". /Film. from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
25. Cotter, Padraig (July 3, 2018). "Why Ian Malcolm Doesn't Have Much Screen Time In Jurassic World 2". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
26. Donohoo, Timothy (June 17, 2022). "Jurassic World Dominion Ruins Ian Malcolm". CBR. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
27. Spry, Jeff (December 23, 2019). "New Study Believes Dinosaurs Were Being Poisoned Before Epic Asteroid Strike". Syfy Wire. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
28. Reilly, Nick (5 September 2018). "Jeff Goldblum responds to the giant statue of himself in London". NME. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
29. "Jeff Goldblum statue marks 25 years of Jurassic Park". BBC News. 18 July 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
30. Marcus, Lilit (19 July 2018). "Giant Jeff Goldblum statue appears in London". CNN. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
31. Romano, Andrea (24 July 2018). "This 25-foot Statue of Jeff Goldblum in London Is Almost As Sultry As the Real Thing". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
32. Stack, Tim (April 19, 2018). "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: Jeff Goldblum says fans have Ian Malcolm butt tattoos". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
33. Cotter, Padraig (July 4, 2019). "How To Buy A Shirtless Ian Malcolm Funko Pop! Figure". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 29, 2019.