Before Jim Carrey's breakout role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, his name and status were nowhere near the level it is today. Yet, just two years prior to the movie's release, Carrey auditioned for Stephen Spielberg's next big hit: Jurassic Park. Not only did he audition for a big part in the movie, but apparently, his audition was great, making him a strong consideration for the part.
In the original Jurassic Park, John Hammond creates his iconic theme park of cloned dinosaurs. But after a deadly incident with one of the park's Velociraptors, the investors demand that the safety of Jurassic Park be certified. So, paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, palaeobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler and chaos-theorist Ian Malcolm are all flown over to the island to check the park's safety.
Jeff Goldblum's Ian Malcolm is one of his most recognized roles by far. The character's laid-back yet straight-to-the-point attitude makes him incredibly entertaining to watch and a fan favorite for many. However, Jim Carrey also auditioned for Malcolm and could have potentially gotten the part if Goldblum had turned it down.
Jurassic Park was originally a book written by Michael Crichton in 1990 and piqued the interest of Spielberg and his team. During an interview with the film's casting director, Janet Hirshenson said, "I read the book, and I thought of Jeff Goldblum right away." However, just to make sure they were getting the right person, they held numerous other auditions. Janet revealed, "There were several other people we taped for the part, though. Jim Carrey had come in, and he was terrific, too, but I think pretty quickly we all loved the idea of Jeff."
Despite the production team having their hearts set on Goldblum, it's interesting to think how Carrey was "terrific" for the part as well. Especially at the time, Carrey was known for his over-the-top performances and expressive behavior, so it would've been intriguing to see either a more expressive Ian Malcolm or a more serious Jim Carrey.
It's arguable that not getting the Jurassic Park role was for the best. While it would've been a huge boost in his career, Ace Ventura was a perfect demonstration of Carrey's comedic range, even if the film didn't reach the same popularity heights as Jurassic Park. Still, his role in Ace Ventura led him to movies like The Mask and Dumb and Dumber shortly after, which really helped solidify him as a household name.
Plus, it's not like Carry never got the chance to show off his more serious acting, as he eventually starred in movies like The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Both of which are some of his more serious and highly rated performances.
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