Still, that got me thinking – and this is solely based on idea that I think this “reboot” rumor is rubbish – if Universal wanted to revisit Jaws, if it wanted to revisit one of its biggest, most cherish and iconic properties, it could do it on television.
In this ever-changing climate of reboots and remakes, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jaws eventually was groomed as a television series. It’s not an insane idea. We all scratched our heads at the notion of a Bates Motel series. Or even a Hannibal series. But, the showrunners behind those respective shows made it work and were able to contemporize the ideas and make it their own without tarnishing the existing feature films they are based upon.
The quality of television has gone up and, based on increasing ratings, viewers are accepting the idea of these re-imaginings on the small screen whereas they might not have been so open-minded had we received another big screen Hannibal film or a theatrical prequel about Norman Bates. Thus, it’s now prompting other companies and networks to see what rests in and what they can revisit in their libraries.
So now, Rosemary’s Baby is being groomed as a mini-series, The Exorcist may become a television show, MTV is developing a Scream show and Robert Rodriguez is somehow exploring the world of From Dusk Till Dawn for his company El Rey and Univision.
Television is becoming the haven for reboots and, somehow, it feels slightly less insulting when we see a title determined a “classic” make the leap to a small screen series. And maybe that’s because we’re seeing more successes than failures. Of course, I’m going on my own personal taste and affinity for the aforementioned Bates Motel and Hannibal (the latter I hold more dearly than the former).
Further, have you noticed that the properties being selected are the horror big guns considered too sacred to be thrust into the feature film remake pipeline? Norman Bates (although already re-imagined in Gus Van Sant’s film, but you get what I mean), Hannibal Lecter, Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist… These are all widely recognizable names and titles and all of them have been at the center of the remake rumor mill at one time or another. To me, it feels like it’s a less risky endeavor to reboot a franchise on television. It will certainly cost less to knock out a pilot, and if it doesn’t work, the network can scrap it. No harm done. But if it works, then it works and everyone involved in the series wins, including the audience.
With all of that said, do I think a Jaws series could work? Maybe. I’ve learned, in the many years I’ve been writing about horror films, that I shouldn’t frown on any idea until I see it play out on a screen in front of me. Do I think a Jaws series could happen? Indeed I do and I would not be surprised if it was considered now more than ever.
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