Jurassic III: Hell on Earth for Star

Jurassic Park III, the eagerly anticipated third installment of Universal's popular dinosaur franchise (due in theaters next summer), has been rocked by numerous production hassles — and one of the film's stars is as mad as a caged Raptor.

"There have been all the problems that one thinks of," says Oscar-nominated Fargo star William H. Macy, who plays the father of a 12-year-old boy stranded on a remote island populated by a new breed of beast: the spinosaurus. "The script has been evolving and being rewritten as we go, and what you want to say is, 'Who launched a $100 million ship without a rudder, and who's getting fired for this?' But that's the way it goes. That's the way they make these movies... big deal. I think someone should be shot, but I'm not in charge."

Script revisions are just one frustration for Macy, whose latest film, the David Mamet-directed showbiz satire State and Main, opens in wide release Jan. 12. He also complains that shooting on the big budget, effects-laden pic is moving along at a snail's pace — roughly a quarter of a page of script per day — and all the waiting is taking its toll on the actors.

"We make all these jokes about it, that we're acting like puppets and that it's all computer and that sooner or later they're going to replace even us with computers," says Macy, whose co-stars include Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Tea Leoni. Despite all the difficulties, however, Macy admits he's impressed with the footage director Joe Johnston (Jumanji) has assembled thus far. "We've seen about 45 minutes of cut footage," he says, "and it rocks.

"So, we get all kinda cynical about it, and then there will be a moment that will bring all of us to our knees and it suddenly turns into a Frank Capra moment, where we all literally can't sit still," Macy adds. "We're so childishly delighted in the magic that just happened, so it's this combination of things. Hollywood is corrupt — there's no question about it — but every once in a while it turns out these movies that are just pure joy."