‘Jaws' doc director proclaims he never wants to see another sequel

New York Post

2 days ago

He doesn't want any bigger boats.
Laurent Bouzereau, director of the new National Geographic documentary 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story,' exclusively spoke to The Post about if he thinks there will be more sequels made to Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic.
'I hope not,' said Bouzereau, 63. 'You look at Mona Lisa and you go, 'Oh, will we ever see a copy of the same person seen by someone else?' I sure as hope not. So I apply the same thing to something as perfect as 'Jaws.''
10 Laurent Bouzereau in his interview with The Post.
New York Post
Describing the iconic shark movie as 'a piece of art that stands the test of time,' Bouzereau said he thinks the film 'should be re-examined constantly or discovered even by new generations.'
'Which is in fact one of the goals of this documentary film is to get people to watch 'Jaws' again,' the French-American filmmaker added, 'or to watch it for the first time.'
10 A crew member works on the mechanical shark on the set of 'Jaws.'
Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC
10 Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws.'
Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC
'Jaws,' based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel, was followed by three sequels that didn't involve Spielberg, 78, or Benchley.
The new documentary gives a behind-the-scenes look at 'Jaws' with rare archival footage and interviews with conservationists and directors, including Spielberg himself.
'I was thrilled to be able to tell the story of a true masterpiece and a true auteur in Mr. Spielberg,' Bouzereau told The Post. 'And I found myself really rediscovering it in a way way that actually I had never suspected.'
10 Steven Spielberg and Laurent Bouzerea during an interview for 'Jaws @ 50.'
National Geographic/Chris Johnson
'It is a love letter,' Bouzereau added about the doc, 'but I hope that it's also a very inspirational film for people who may never have seen 'Jaws,' because it's a story of persistence and perseverance and overcoming the odds and the triumph of the human spirit when you're faced with a situation like Steven was.'
10 Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws.'
Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC
10 Steven Spielberg on the set of 'Jaws.'
Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC
Bouzereau said it wasn't difficult to get famed directors James Cameron, J.J. Abrams, Guillermo del Toro, George Lucas, Jordan Peele, Robert Zemeckis and more to participate in the doc.
'People were really wanting to talk about 'Jaws.' The only thing that was in the way was my very, very fast production schedule,' he explained. 'Even though we didn't compromise over anything, those great directors are extremely busy and to match up with everybody's schedule is definitely a challenge.'
'However, the list was very carefully put together and had nothing to do really with the profile of the people as much as it had to do with what they represent in culture today and how great it is that from Jim Cameron to Guillermo del Toro to J.J., Jordan Peele, Bob Zemeckis, all of them own a part of 'Jaws' in a very unique and specific way,' Bouzereau added.
10 Laurent Bouzereau in his interview with The Post.
New York Post
10 Steven Spielberg, Bill Butler, and crew on the set of 'Jaws' in 1974.
Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC
The filmmaker also spoke to how the success of 'Jaws' impacted the 'Star Wars' franchise, which debuted two years later.
'I think it does sort of continue what 'Jaws' has started as far as merchandising, for example,' said Bouzereau. 'I think there is a realization, although much more from George's point of view, because the studio didn't get the rights to all of the merchandising.'
10 People line up outside of the Rivoli Theater in New York City to see 'Jaws' in 1975.
Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC
10 Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in 'Star Wars – A New Hope' (1977).
©Lucasfilm Ltd./courtesy Everett / Everett Collection
'So that realization that when a film has a cultural impact, like 'Jaws,' people want to own it, they want to wear it, they want to listen to it constantly. You are part of a movement of people who loved something and you want the world to know it,' he continued. 'And you want them to know that you're part of the culture and you belong in the 'Jaws' culture and you belong in the 'Star Wars' culture.'
'Jaws @ 50' premieres July 10 on National Geographic and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu.