The notoriously tumultuous making-of story behind Steven Spielberg’s hit Jaws and the writing of its best-selling source material by Peter Benchley are getting the documentary treatment.
Jaws @ 50 Filmmaker Announcement
Timed to the 50th anniversary of the 1975 film, Nat Geo has greenlit Jaws @ 50 (working title), a documentary feature that will focus on both the Spielberg film and the writing of the horror best-seller by Benchley. A summer 2025 release is planned on National Geographic and for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
Directorial Vision
Laurent Bouzereau is set to direct. The filmmaker just completed the nonfiction project Faye, centering on the career and legacy of Hollywood star Faye Dunaway. Bouzereau wrote the book Spielberg: The First Ten Years, for which he talked to Spielberg about the making of Jaws, and he is also in production on a film about composer John Williams.
Archival Footage Insight
The documentary will include footage and photography from the Benchley and Spielberg archives, also examining how this blockbuster gave rise to a new generation of shark obsessives. It will be created in collaboration with ocean conservation and marine policy advocate Wendy Benchley, the wife of Peter.
Collaborative Production Effort
Spielberg’s Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Media are behind this documentary, set to be produced by Benchley and Laura A. Bowling. Amblin’s Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey will executive produce, alongside Nedland Media’s Laurent Bouzereau and Markus Keith, and National Geographic’s Ted Duvall.
A Defining Union of Art and Science
Jaws the novel by Peter Benchley and the film by Steven Spielberg, defined both popular literature and cinema,
said Frank and Falvey. The idea of diving into the past, present, and future legacy of Jaws, combined with an informed and inspiring discussion about sharks and the ocean in one documentary, is a unique opportunity to explore the perfect union between art and science.
Turbulent Production Challenges
The production of Jaws was famously over budget and over schedule as a 26-year-old Spielberg contended with a constantly malfunctioning shark prop. According to Spielberg in an interview on the Dick Cavett Show, The first mistake with the shark was that they made a big mistake, and they built it for freshwater… We never fixed the shark, and it was a total disaster.
A Struggle Worth Remembering
This arduous making-of story inspired Ian Shaw—son of actor Robert Shaw—to write The Shark Is Broken, which has seen runs both on Broadway and at West End. The play is a sharp reflection of how challenging but memorable cinema history can be.
Reflecting on Cinematic History
I thought it was going to be very bad from beginning to end. I really thought it was going to be a flop.
, admitted Peter Benchley, offering a glimpse into his initial doubts during production. Despite these apprehensions, Jaws became the first ‘summer blockbuster,’ redefined how films would be released thereafter, and established a North American phenomenon.
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