Sam Neill, 75, best known for playing paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park/Jurassic World movies, has recently accepted “redesignation” as “a Knight Companion of New Zealand’s Order of Merit”. In other words, the Jurassic Park legend has just been knighted, and as such, is now officially known as “Sir” Sam Neill! Earlier this week, New Zealand Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro presented the actor with the award.
Neill took to Twitter and Instagram to announce the news. Here’s what he said in his message:
“Greatly honoured today by the Governor- General Dame Cindy Kiro at Govt House Auckland. Redesignated Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Dame Cindy was kind enough to tap me with the sword. Big day, very grateful.”
Sam Neill - sorry, Sir Sam Neill (that will take a bit of getting used to, although we’re all used to calling him Dr. Alan Grant anyway) - has appeared in numerous films over the decades.
However, he is of course best known for portraying the aforementioned scientist in the Jurassic Park/Jurassic World movies. He first appeared in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic Jurassic Park (1993).
He returned in Jurassic Park III (2001), but wouldn’t be seen again until Jurassic World Dominion, in which his role is as big as any of his co-stars, such as Laura Dern (Dr. Ellie Sattler) and Jeff Goldblum (Dr. Ian Malcolm).
Jurassic World: Dominion is described as the “epic culmination to the entire series” and the “end to the Jurassic era”. As per the official Jurassic World: Dominion website, here’s the synopsis for the film:
From Jurassic World architect and director Colin Trevorrow, Dominion takes place four years after Isla Nublar has been destroyed. Dinosaurs now live—and hunt—alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures.
Jurassic World Dominion, from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, propels the more than $5 billion franchise into daring, uncharted territory, featuring never-seen dinosaurs, breakneck action and astonishing new visual effects.
Jurassic World: Dominion stars Bryce Dallas Howard (Claire Dearing), Chris Pratt (Owen Grady), Isabella Sermon (Maisie Lockwood), Omar Sy (Barry Sembène), Mamoudou Athie (Ramsay Cole), BD Wong (Henry Wu), Campbell Scott (Lewis Dodgson), DeWanda Sykes (Kayla), Jeff Goldblum (Dr. Ian Malcolm), Sir Sam Neill (Dr. Alan Grant), and Laura Dern (Dr. Ellie Sattler).
The Jurassic World Dominion “Extended Cut” is now available for purchase on DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital. The film will include an additional 14 minutes of never-before-seen footage, while incorporating the Jurassic World Dominion prologue that Universal Pictures released onto YouTube late last year.
