JAWS 2's original director gives verdict on The Shark Is Broken
You can catch The Shark Is Broken until 19th November 2023 at the Golden Theater, New York, NYC.
The troubled production of the movie ‘JAWS’ is the stuff of legend. The open ocean… Filming constantly delayed, a cast and crew at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. They were lucky to get one shot a day… so you’d have to be crazy to take on the sequel, right? Well, John D Hancock was the original writer/director to take on that challenge. Sadly, a month into production of JAWS 2, John was fired and Jeannot Szwarc was brought in to complete the film. However, Hancock had the chance to experience the production hell of Spielberg’s original JAWS when he went to see ‘The Shark Is Broken' earlier this month.
John D Hancock with actor Roy Scheider during production of JAWS 2
“I enjoyed the show enormously. Great set!!! 3 wonderful actors working at the top of their form. Much funnier than I expected. Definitely would recommend people go see it. Besides the set, I suppose the main thing I admire is the courage of doing that subject matter at all. Who would’ve thought it would work so well? But then I’m really fond of inside stuff and gossip.”
John spoke excusively with The Daily Jaws in an interview for the 45th anniversary of JAWS 2. John discusses the pressure and challenges of making a sequel to the most successful movie ever (at the time), his vision for a distopian Amity and his firing from the production.
Watch full JAWS 2 45th Anniversary interview series
John Hancock is not the only JAWS 2 alumini to visit The Shark Is Broken. Jeffrey Kramer (Deputy Hendricks in JAWS and JAWS 2) and Gary Springer (Andy in JAWS 2) not only saw the show (and loved it), they also met the cast and got up close and personal with the Orca set: When shark worlds collide: JAWS actors meet 'The Shark Is Broken' cast
L-R Colin Donnell, Gary Springer, Alex Brightman, Jeffrey Kramer and Ian Shaw
The Shark Is Broken
Directed by Olivier Award winner Guy Masterson, co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, and inspired by Robert Shaw’s experience playing Quint on the notorious shoot, THE SHARK IS BROKEN celebrates movie history and peeks at the choppy waters behind Hollywood’s first blockbuster.
Words by Ross Williams
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