Could Steven Spielberg and Universal be planning a Jaws reboot?
Director Steven Spielberg has been making the rounds in the news recently for several big items on his plate: He has the Cold War film Bridge of Spies starring Tom Hanks debuting at the New York Film Festival later this month, as well as a burgeoning deal with Universal to take over distribution/financing of DreamWorks film projects after their deal with Disney is over. In an article in The Hollywood Reporter about the possible DreamWorks/Universal merger, they drop a bombshell quote which could have major ramifications.
“[Spielberg] also is key on potential reboots of other Universal franchises such as ‘Jaws’ and ‘Back to the Future.'”
Universal famously went ahead with three panned Jaws sequels in 1978, ’83 and ’87, respectively, after Spielberg flat-out refused to go back in the water after having made the “definitive” shark movie. With Warner Bros. prepping their giant shark tale Meg with director Eli Roth and Sony going the shark survival tale route with In the Deep, it’s possible Universal doesn’t want to let a good fish go to waste.
Unlike Back to the Future, Jaws is a franchise that is not considered untouchable given the three sequels already made, but their failure to capture the public imagination may have already proved Spielberg’s initial hesitation correct. That said, with the right helmer and a fresh approach, a new jaunt with Quint aboard the Orca could be an interesting proposition.
Set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, Bridge of Spies tells the story of James Donovan (Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovans life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life. The film, which co-stars Mark Rylance, Scott Shepherd, Amy Ryan, Sebastian Koch and Alan Alda, will be released in theaters nationwide on October 16, 2015.
