The Real Reason A Jaws Reboot Doesn't Exist
Thanks to the current state of the movie industry, it seems like practically every film is a sequel, a remake, a reboot, or a superhero movie. And one reason for that trend is because established movie franchises are much safer bets than an unknown.
When it comes to movies from the 1970s, there are countless examples of classics that have received the reboot treatment — everything from horror staples like "Dawn of the Dead" and "Halloween" to comedies like "Freaky Friday" and "Charlie's Angels." So it might seem curious that we haven't seen "Jaws: The Remake." Calling "Jaws" one of the most successful film franchises doesn't really do it justice, because it arguably created the template for the summer blockbuster. But it's still worth noting that the "Jaws" franchise has taken in almost $750 million worldwide (via The Numbers).
Sharks are still just as scary to people in 2021 as they were in 1975. But there's a reason why we probably won't get a "Jaws" remake any time soon.
Jaws doesn't have a reboot because of Steven Spielberg
In a report about a deal between Netflix and Amblin Entertainment on June 21, 2021, Deadline also shared Steven Spielberg's position on a potential "Jaws" remake. To put it briefly, he's not interested. During the Netflix-Amblin negotiations, Universal reportedly asked Spielberg to produce, but not direct a remake. Spielberg said "No," but this has been his position for quite some time.
Part of Spielberg's reluctance may be due to the difficulties of filming the first "Jaws." In a 2011 interview with Ain't It Cool News, Spielberg explained why he turned down a chance to direct "Jaws 2." "I knew that when I was walking away from the sequel I was walking away from a huge piece of my life that I had helped to create, but it wasn't a hard decision to walk away from it," he said. "I just could not imagine going back out to the ocean and sitting in a boat for 9 months. I just couldn't imagine it."
But the bigger obstacle is Spielberg's policy against remaking his own films. In 2015, Spielberg told Deadline (via Bloody Disgusting) that he would "never remake" one of his own films, and he specified that he especially would not work on a remake of "Jaws." It's an understandable position for a filmmaker of Spielberg's caliber. And for people who want to preserve the sanctity of the original "Jaws" — not to mention fans of the legendary director's other classics — Spielberg's position is surely a relief.