Sam Neill has had plenty of experience fighting dinosaurs and gangsters throughout his iconic Hollywood career. From portraying the role of Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise to Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders, Neill is known as a versatile actor for a reason.
In recent reports, the actor sided alongside another Hollywood veteran Tom Cruise in the fight for theaters vs. streaming services. Talking about his own experience in theater screens, Sam Neill recalled the experience and the thrill of hearing the people shout wildly during the screening of Jurassic Park.
Sam Neill Sides Alongside Tom Cruise In His Backing For Theaters!
After the pandemic, the theater footfall of people around the world fell drastically. Choosing to stream the movie from the comforts of their home, Hollywood changed after streaming services saw an increase in subscribers and a decrease in box office collections.
Tom Cruise essentially saved theaters when he released his iconic 2022 movie Top Gun: Maverick and James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water also helped Cruise along the way. Now, in an interview, iconic actor Sam Neill talked about his theater experience to The Telegraph. Recalling the days when theater screens were packed with people shouting wildly at the screen, Neill told the tale of when he couldn’t hear the dinosaurs roar in a theater in Harlem.
“Jurassic Park was a really good example of why there is no substitute for going out to the movies. It was like an immersive experience. I remember going to a screening in Harlem where people made so much noise, whooping and hollering, that you could hardly hear the dinosaurs roar.”
The Peaky Blinders star further continued,
“And then another one in Tokyo a week later, in absolute silence. The curious thing was that both audiences enjoyed the movie equally.”
As per the actor, he had also auditioned for the role of James Bond but was glad that he did not get selected for the iconic 007 role!
Sam Neill Is Glad He Is Not An Ex-Bond Actor
After Neill found success in his role as Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park back in 1993, he received appreciation that he could take on the role of the next James Bond. Before Pierce Brosnan was hired for the role, Sam Neill did audition for the role but revealed in his chat with The Telegraph that it was a very different audition.
“It was one rather excruciating moment in a long career but people keep asking me about the Bond thing. And I can only say I’m very glad I’m not an ex-Bond.”
Neill found success by starring in Jurassic Park (1993) and in recent times by reprising his role in Jurassic World Dominion. The movie that started it all is available to rent on Apple TV+ in the U.S.
Source: The Telegraph
