You have used all your credits for this month. Please add more credits to continue.

If the original plan for “Jaws 2” had been executed, the movie would have taken a completely different form. The immense success of the 1975 “Jaws,” which earned $260 million domestically ($1.1 billion adjusted for inflation), left Universal Pictures yearning for another blockbuster hit. In fact, they invested an estimated $20 million into the sequel of “Jaws,” making it their most expensive production at that time.

In the terrifying waters of Amity Island once more, Jaws 2 saw only one of the original three leading characters return, namely Roy Scheider as Brody. Unlike director Steven Spielberg, who opted out of another shark-themed project. Critics largely panned the first sequel, but audiences still showed interest, taking it to a $77 million domestic box office. However, things might have been different if Universal had followed through with early plans for a sequel from the producers.

Jaws 2 Was Initially Going To Be Much Darker

The First Script Was Pretty Wild

After Spielberg focused excessively on shark films, Universal Studios decided to work with John D. Hancock instead, who had received positive critic reviews for his 1973 baseball drama “Bang the Drum Slowly“. Hancock collaborated with his wife Dorothy Tristan to write the script, which revolved around events on Amity Island following the chaos caused by the shark in the original movie.

In the original script, Hancock and Tristan envisioned Chief Brody suffering from PTSD following his harrowing sea encounter in the first movie. They also introduced Robert Shaw’s gruff sea captain Quint’s son, Sideburns, who appears in Amity to claim his father’s reward money left behind. However, unlike Brody, Sideburns does not take on a leading role but rather interacts with the chief. Instead, two new characters are introduced: a businessman named Boyle, who intends to capitalize on Quint’s shack’s infamy to attract tourists, and a developer named Len Petersen, who has ulterior motives for revitalizing the economically struggling Amity.

In a similar vein to the theatrical release of Jaws 2, an early draft of the script penned by Hancock and Tristan presents a chilling scenario where a group of youngsters, including Mike Brody, find themselves under siege by a shark in the waters surrounding Amity. This time around, the menacing creature is not just any ordinary shark; it’s expecting! The plot thickens as Brody, Boyle, and Petersen band together to annihilate the impending threat. Unfortunately, it’s Boyle who meets his grisly end at the hands of this monstrous beast before Brody and Petersen can put an end to its terror, using their boat’s propeller to dismember the pregnant shark and bring a close to the chaos it had wreaked.

Why The Jaws 2 Plans Were Changed

Universal Wanted A Lighter Take On Sharks Attacking Teens

In the pre-production phase and during filming of “Jaws 2”, Hancock was let go due to creative disagreements. Insiders suggest that the studio felt Hancock’s vision for the sequel was veering too far from the original, and it was becoming excessively gloomy. Contrarily, Hancock asserted he was dismissed because he couldn’t manage such a large-scale production, pinning much of his troubles on a malfunctioning mechanical shark.

Universal’s latest plans involve bringing in Carl Gottlieb, co-writer of Jaws, to infuse comedy into the script. Initially considering Steven Spielberg for the director role, they eventually chose Jeannot Szwarc, who was relatively unknown at the time. The completed film preserved the plotline about endangered teens from Hancock and Tristan’s draft but reimagined Brody as a lone shark hunter with Boyle being written out completely, while Petersen’s role was diminished to a supporting character. The iconic sideburns and organized crime subplot were also dropped from the final version of the film.

Would This Have Been The Best Jaws Sequel?

It’s Not A Loaded Field

The follow-up movie to “Jaws,” commonly known as “Jaws 2,” is often seen as a decent but forgettable sequel. If Universal had chosen to go with the script by Hancock and Tristan, audiences might have experienced a more impactful and potentially darker film. However, considering the challenges Hancock faced during production, especially with the mechanical shark, it’s possible that his vision for a grittier “Jaws 2” could have resulted in a disaster instead.

Despite the fact that Jaws 2 could potentially be a complete disaster, it might still hold the title of the best sequel within the series. Originally intended as a parody named Jaws 3, People 0, the third movie, Jaws 3-D, ended up being a mostly serious horror film. This film centers around a shark causing terror in an amusement park where Mike Brody, played by Dennis Quaid, happens to work. The Brody family’s shark-related issues continue in 1987’s Jaws: The Revenge, the final installment of the series, and is often mentioned as a strong candidate for the worst film ever produced.

Jaws Movies	Domestic Box Office Gross	Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Rating	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating
Jaws	$260 million	97%	91%
Jaws 2	$77 million	58%	40%
Jaws 3-D	$45 million	11%	7%
Jaws: The Revenge	$20 million	2%	15%

In terms of box office revenue and critical acclaim, Jaws 2 currently stands as the superior Jaws sequel, although some might argue for Jaws 3-D due to its attempt at a fresh setting and its peculiarity bordering on fun. If the unseen version of Jaws 2 had been produced, it likely would have been darker, introducing characters like Quint’s son and adding a touch of quirkiness. It may not have rivaled the success or quality of the original Jaws, but it could have established its own distinctive niche and surpassed being just a well-made rehash.

2025-05-28 21:40