Jeff Goldblum has opened up about passing the Jurassic Park torch on to his Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.

The actor, who played Dr. Ian Malcolm in four of the six Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies, has shared his opinion on the Bridgerton actor leading the next instalment, Jurassic World Rebirth, as palaeontologist Dr. Henry Loomis.

“The hope of the world resides, and I can think of no better baton receiver to carry on the ‘da da da da da,'” Goldblum told Variety, singing John Williams’s iconic Jurassic Park theme. “It’s Jonathan Bailey! It’s like no other!”

Because Goldblum and Bailey share no scenes in Wicked, they didn’t get to discuss the latter’s new role until they promoted the movie musical at CinemaCon earlier this year.

The British star told the outlet that he was thrilled to follow in the footsteps of Goldblum and his Jurassic Park co-stars Sam Neill and Laura Dern.

“I had the invitation to join the Jurassic world, to join the conga line led by Jeff,” Bailey said. “The original film was a seminal cinematic moment, purely because of Jeff, but also, I went with my family, and the multi-sensory experience of going to see a film so perfectly realised.

“There’s so much that I am so proud to join. But obviously, much like with Wicked, there is a sense of responsibility. And if I can match half of what Jeff and Sam Neill and Laura Dern achieved, I’ll be very lucky.”

Jurassic World Rebirth, which is set five years after the events of 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion, also stars Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali. The film is due to be released in July 2025.

Wicked, in which Goldblum plays the Wizard of Oz and Bailey portrays Fiyero, will hit cinemas on 22 November.

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