Sam Neill calls ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ ‘a family affair’; recalls his fond memories with ‘daughter’ Scarlett Johansson

Sam Neill’s got a real soft spot for 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' and it’s not just because he’s suiting up as Dr. Alan Grant once again. For him, this “circling back” feels like “family,” and quite literally so. But why?

Turns out, Neil first worked with Scarlett Johansson way back in 1998, when she played his daughter in the movie, ‘The Horse Whisperer’. Now, decades later, when she’s headlining the new ‘Jurassic Park’ film of the franchise, that old connection adds a little extra magic to the whole thing.

In fact, Neil recently opened up about this “proud nostalgic” feeling in an interview.

Sam Neil’s ‘bond’ with ‘daughter’ Scarlett Johansson

Sam Neill recently talked to Entertainment Weekly about his tie with the ‘Jurassic Park’ franchise, and his connection with Scarlett Johansson, who helmed the new film of the franchise along with the ensemble cast. And the ‘Jurassic Park’ veteran clearly is still charmed by his on-screen “daughter.”

"I'm very fond of Scarlett," the actor, who returns as Alan Grant for a new Xfinity Super Bowl commercial, said during the interview.

Neil opened up about filming ‘The Horse Whisperer’ in Montana, acting alongside Johansson, who was only 12 at the time. "We were with Kristin Scott Thomas and Robert Redford, and we were out in Montana, and I was playing her dad," the star recalled. "So I feel like my daughter, she's capable of kicking any ass. She gets it from me."

Johansson is now a Hollywood heavyweight, and Neill’s both proud and a little amused by the idea that she picked up a thing or two from their earlier movie. "I feel like it's a family affair here," Neill shared in the interview.

‘Jurassic World Rebirth’: What is it all about?

This new chapter, which is featured in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ and landed in 2025, picks up five years after ‘Jurassic World Dominion’. As for the plot of the film, it starts with stating that dinosaurs are nearly gone, surviving only in the warmest parts of the globe. In the film, Johansson plays Zora Bennett, a covert ops pro sent to an abandoned island research base, one of those old Jurassic Park outposts. She’s set to lead a mission to collect DNA from three of the biggest dinosaur species, hoping to help create new medical treatments. Of course, nothing goes smoothly. The team runs into danger, wild prehistoric creatures, and some unexpected allies. Alongside Johansson, the cast includes Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey, giving the film a real punch. Safe to say, it’s a mix of action, sci-fi, and big emotions.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”