Actor Jonathan Bailey is set to star in the next Jurassic World film (Picture: Instagram/rikmellingfitness/Getty)
Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey is putting in his hours in the gym ahead of making his action blockbuster debut in Jurassic World – but his bulging biceps have left fans feeling rather baffled.
The British actor, 36, who is also set to appear in the Wicked musical big screen adaptation later this year opposite Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, has been busy getting into peak shape.
His trainer Rik Melling showed off the evidence of the Broadchurch actor’s hard work on Instagram over the weekend as Bailey prepped for his Hollywood lead role in a picture that quickly spread online.
Bailey was shown sweating in the gym as he lifted two chunky dumbbells in a vest top, with his arms on display.
However, fans couldn’t help but reflect on the intense fitness standards now expected of actors in the film industry compared with 20 to 30 years ago as they commented on his ‘unnecessary’ fitness regime.
‘The dinosaurs are CGI he doesn’t need to do all that,’ joked @aidanthereup on X, while Rickey Wax asked: ‘Are they about to have fight the damn dinosaurs one on one?’
The star’s photo in the gym has sparked an online discussion about the gruelling male body standards in movies today (Picture: Instagram/rikmellingfitness)
Jonathan’s completely overhauled his look for the blockbuster role (Picture: Getty Images)
Jonathan stars as Anthony Bridgerton in hit Netflix series Bridgerton (Picture: Liam Daniel, Netflix)
‘Why is this needed… is he going to wrestle a T-rex?’ asked @1MrPapi, alongside @ZeroFromTheSpot who insisted: ‘Jurassic World don’t have a single movie where he needs to pull this off.’
‘Remember before the MCU when male protagonists were just normal guys? Why does the Jurassic Park franchise need superhero level beefcakes?’ wondered @UlyssesVentura as he shared photos of previous male actors in the franchise, including Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Vince Vaughn, Richard Schiff and the late Pete Postlethwaite.
Neill and Goldblum played palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant and mathematician Dr Ian Malcolm, who specialises in chaos theory – and famously did have his own unbuttoned shirt moment – but their physiques were not a defining part of their characters in the franchise’s earlier movies.
This seemed to be the argument taking place on Reddit too, as @wailot commented: ‘In my opinion we need more scientists, mathematicians, palaeontologists and palaeobotanists in JP and less people who can beat up mercenaries and manhandle velociraptors.
Previous Jurassic Park star Sam Neill was not expected to be ripped (Picture: Murray Close/Getty Images)
Chris Pratt took on the mantle playing the lead in Jurassic World (Picture: Rex Features)
But, is Hollywood expecting too much physically from their leading men these days? (Picture: Rex Features)
‘In other words, more realism and immersion.’
Of course, others pointed out that ‘scientists can be fit too’ when discussing the possible job Bailey’s character might have.
When the original Jurassic Park trilogy was revived and revisited in 2015 with Jurassic World – and follow ups Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) – Chris Pratt became on of the franchise’s protagonists.
An ex-Marvel superhero himself from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, he played raptor trainer Owen Grady opposite Bryce Dallas Howard park operations manager.
Bailey confirmed his Jurassic World involvement in May, calling the opportunity ‘mind-blowing’.
Of course, fans most recently saw Bailey on-screen in the latest season of Netflix’s Bridgerton, with the second part of season 3 debuting this month.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.