Peter Benchley’s JAWS book is set to be changed so that it matches the Steven Spielberg film

What if JAWS the book was more like JAWS the film?

In the wake of the text of Roald Dahl, RL Stine and Ian Fleming’s James Bond books set to be revised and updated, it has been announced that Peter Benchley's JAWS will be changed in order to match the classic 1975 film adaptation by Steven Spielberg.

The decision to alter the original text has sparked controversy among fans of the book, many of whom feel that changing the author's words is a disservice to the integrity of the best-selling novel.

Many see the blockbuster film as a rare example where the movie is better than the book it is based on, so will such a revision of the book be such a bad thing?

Those changes will include alterations to several key scenes in the book, including the removing of – spoiler alert – the affair between Matt Hooper and Ellen Brody, the mafia subplot and the death of Matt Hooper. All things which most would argue would have weighed the film down more than the yellow barrels used by Quint to bring the great white shark to the surface.

Additionally, the relationship between police chief Martin Brody and marine biologist Matt Hooper will be altered to more closely resemble the dynamic between the characters in the film. Even Steven Spielberg said of the book that none of the characters were likeable and you ended up rooting for the shark.

Critics of the changes argue that altering the original text in this way is a disservice to the author's intent and creative vision.

Many have been quick to point out that the novel was already a bestseller before the release of the film and argue that the changes are unnecessary and potentially harmful to the legacy of the novel. Not to mention both entities have quite happily co-existed for almost the last 50 years, so why bother to change it at all?

But those changes will mean that we will – for the very first time – get to see Quint’s powerful USS Indianapolis speech feature in the book and also get a far more dynamic ending, where the shark blows up rather than just dying of exhaustion. Famously, Benchley wasn’t a huge fan of Spielberg changing the book ending for the one we know and love in the film.

It's no surprise then that fans of the forthcoming changes argue that the film adaptation of JAWS has become a cultural touchstone and that aligning the text of the novel with the film will only serve to increase its popularity and relevance in contemporary culture. And, no doubt renew interest and sales of the book – just think of all those summer dollars it will make.

One of the most famous quotes from the film, "You're gonna need a bigger boat," is not actually present in the original text of the novel, however, it has become such an iconic line that it has been referenced and parodied in countless other films and TV shows.

The decision to align the text of the novel with the film will help capitalise on the popularity of such cultural touchstones and bring the story of JAWS to the surface for a new generation of readers – as well as those who want to read the book version of the film.

Do you think that the changes to JAWS the book will help to preserve the legacy of the story and bring it to a new audience?

Or do you feel that altering the original text is a disservice to Peter Benchley’s original intent and creative vision?

Only time – and sales - will tell whether the changes will sink or swim.

Words by Dean Newman

If you would like to write for The Daily Jaws, please visit our ‘work with us’ page

For all the latest Jaws, shark and shark movie news, follow The Daily Jaws on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.