While it is set to start a brand-new chapter in theJurassic Parkfranchisewith its new cast,Jurassic World Rebirthhas actor Jonathan Bailey playing a character with strong ties to the original film. Specifically, he supposedly has a history with Dr. Alan Grant, actor Sam Neill’s heroic character from1993’sJurassic Park. In2025’sJurassic World Rebirth, Bailey portrays paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis, who joins Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) and Duncan Kincaid’s (Mahershala Ali) expedition to the island housing the secret Jurassic Park testing facility, now overrun with mutant dinosaurs.
In an interview withVanity Fair,Bailey hinted that his character has a relationship with Alan Grant, saying that he always wanted to make the latter proud. This statement raises questions about who Henry really is and how he knows Alan. Based on Bailey’s comments, Henry could’ve been a student of Grant’s or had some sort of friendly or familial bond with the great paleontologist. WhileHenry seems to act as a new version of Alan Grant inJurassic World Rebirth,there are many ways that he could be connected to Sam Neill’s iconic character.
5Henry Is The Kid Alan Grant Frightened In Jurassic Park
Grant May Have Scared A Kid Into Becoming A Paleontologist
In Dr. Grant’s famous first scene inJurassic Park, he confronts a young boy who mocks a raptor fossil that Alan presents to a group at an excavation site. Though the boy says the fossil looks like a “six-foot turkey,“Grant frightens him with a lesson on how velociraptors hunt and attack their prey. While this boy mainly serves to demonstrate Grant’s initial dislike of children in the film, he could’ve actually been a young Henry Loomis, with his character effectively linkingJurassic World Rebirthto the events of the original film.
It has been theorized thatGrant scared a young Henrystraight about dinosaurs when he was a child inJurassic Park.This wouldn’t be the first time this boy has been the center of popular fan theories, as some also claimed he was a younger version of Chris Pratt’s character, Owen Grady, inJurassic World. While Henry didn’t end up being the latter,Grant could still have succeeded in teaching Henry to have more respect and open-mindedness about dinosaurs to the point that Henry pursued a career studying them,hoping to live up to Grant’s teachings.
4Henry Is One Of Ian Malcolm’s Children
Henry Is The Son Of One Of Jurassic Park’s Original Heroes
IfJurassic World Rebirth’s new cast is supposed to have ties with the original film’s characters,it is possible that Henry is one of the unseen children Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) fathered.Notably, Alan Grant is the only member of the originalJurassic Parktrio who does not have children, and never wanted to have a family, causing friction with his former partner Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), who did want kids. Adhering to the canon established by previous movies, Henry can’t be Alan’s son but could be the child of another legacy character.
Having heard of his father’s exploits at Jurassic Park, Henry could’ve pursued a career as a paleontologist and sought out Dr. Grant to learn more, resulting in the two of them bonding. Though Malcolm didn’t have such a strong bond with Grant, he wasn’t that close to his children either, so Henry could’ve followed his own path and became close friends with Neill’s character.
3Henry’s One Of Alan Grant’s Students
Grant Passed On His Knowledge Of Dinosaurs Directly To Henry
The simplest possible answer to Henry’s identity in relation to Dr. Grant is that he’s one of the latter’s paleontology students. If this is the case,Henry could be one of Alan’s closest protégés, who looked up to the doctor as his idol and mentor in the years leading up toJurassic World Rebirth.
This relationship would explain Bailey’s comments about wanting to make Grant proud, as well as why Henry’s character exudes the kind of wit and sarcasm presented by Grant. While this could be a simple homage to Neill’s character inJurassic Park, it is possible that Grant’s personality rubbed off on an impressionable Henry when the latter was studying under him. Thus, it makes Henry traveling to a dinosaur-filled island like Grant did inJurassic Parkmuch more fitting.
2Henry Is Ellie Sattler’s Son
Henry May Also Be Ellie’s Successor In Rebirth
Following the events ofJurassic Park, Grant actually seemed ready to have kids with Ellie. While this was possible, it doesn’t quite fit with the events of the franchise. After the first film, Ellie broke up with Grant and had two children with Mark Degler (Taylor Nichols), with one child’s name never being revealed to audiences. Henry could actually be the adult version of Ellie Sattler’s youngest son, who changed his name at some point since his childhood.
Since Sattler studied the world of dinosaurs, Henry might have been inspired to follow in her footsteps. Though he may not share a blood connection with Grant, they could’ve still met and bonded at some point and Henry became Grant’s protégé. While Henry might have crossed paths with Grant during his studies,chances are that he could have met Grant after he got back together with Sattler inJurassic World Dominion,bridging the gap between said film andRebirth.
1Henry Is Actually Tim Murphy All Grown Up
One Of Alan Grant’s Biggest Fans May Be Masquerading As Henry
One of John Hammond’s (Richard Attenborough) two grandchildren fromJurassic Park, Tim Murphy (Joseph Mazzello) forms a great bond with his idol, Dr. Alan Grant, during their trip to Isla Nublar, where the latter saves his life and the life of his sister, Lex (Ariana Richards), when the dinosaurs break free. Aside from a cameo inThe Lost World: Jurassic Park, Tim has been absent from the franchise since the first film.Though he isn’t a main character in the franchise,Jurassic World Rebirthcould give Tim the chance to finally returnin a fittingly bigger role, disguised as Henry.
Not only does Henry resemble Tim a great deal, but the latter’s passion for dinosaurs and friendship with Grant could’ve led him to grow up to become the paleontologist seen inJurassic World Rebirth. Concerning Henry’s name,Tim could’ve changed it to keep his connection to John Hammond and the Jurassic Park incident a secret.
