Attenborough Heads `Jurassic Park' Cast

Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment has chosen Sir Richard Attenborough for the starring role in the mammoth film project, "Jurassic Park," expected to be released next summer. The movie is based on American writer Michael Crichton's best-selling novel of the same title.

In the film version of "Jurassic Park," Mr. Attenborough will play the shrewd business tycoon who conceives the idea of a contemporary jungle theme park inhabited by genetically engineered dinosaurs. His plan, however, leads to startling consequences when the dinosaurs get loose and go out of control.

The screenplay is by David Koepp, based on the Crichton thriller and on adaptions by Mr. Crichton and Malia Scotch Marmo. The producers are Kathleen Kennedy and Gerald R. Molen.

Attenborough has, for the last 15 years, been an important directorial force with such films as: "Gandhi," which starred Ben Kingsley and won the American Academy Award and its British equivalent for best picture and director; "A Chorus Line"; "Cry Freedom"; and most recently, "Chaplin," which will be released in late 1992.

Among his most memorable performances in front of the camera were those in such films as "I'm All Right, Jack," "The Great Escape," "The Flight of the Phoenix," and "The Sand Pebbles."