Jaws drop as it’s announced Roy Scheider’s final film is to be released

The last film of Jaws actor and two-time Oscar nominee Roy Scheider is now set to be released and finally be seen by film fans, after being completed 14 years after his death.

Variety announced that Beautiful Blue Eyes is seeing the light of day after over a decade since the actor from Steven Spielberg's Jaws, The French Connection, All That Jazz and Blue Thunder passed away at the age of 75 in 2008.

The film is set in Germany with flashbacks to Nazi-occupied Poland. It follows the story of Joseph (Scheider), a retired NYPD cop who visits his estranged son Ronnie and is convinced that his neighbour is the SS Commander, who slaughtered his entire family in 1941. Scheider's character convinces his son to help him kidnap the neighbour.

Scheider passed away before the film was finished, but it has now been able to be completed thanks to advances in CGI and AI technology.

If the film sounds somewhat familiar to Scheider fans, a version of it was released in 2009 under the title of Iron Cross, so it will be interesting to see what they have changed and added to the film – especially in regards to Roy Scheider.

Beautiful Blue Eyes is a reworking of that film, which was completed without Scheider as he passed away whilst it was still in production. He had completed all his scenes for the film, but technical issues meant reshoots, which of course could no longer include Scheider. Due to the advances in technology that has now been made possible, giving us a film closer to its original vision and a reinstated Roy Scheider in his final ever film role.

Distribution veteran Martin Myers, said: "Beautiful Blue Eyes is a gripping thriller...I’m honoured to bring Roy Scheider’s breathtaking final performance to global audiences as Moviefarm’s first release.”

Dean Newman, head of content at The Daily Jaws, the world's number one Jaws fan site, said: "Growing up, Roy Scheider was my hero. Jaws was the catalyst, but I followed his work because of what he always brought to a film, whether it was into space in 2010, the skies of LA in Blue Thunder or the gritty streets of The Seven Ups. Scheider always delivered a great performance and lit up the screen, so to get one last embrace with his final performance is a true unexpected joy.”

Beautiful Blue Eyes will be released worldwide on June 10, following a charity premiere in London on June 6.

Words by Dean Newman

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