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Parker Finn’s highly anticipated remake of Possession finally has a release date. Paramount has announced that the new take on Andrzej Żuławski’s 1981 psychological horror classic will hit theaters on June 11, 2027, putting Possession on the big screen next summer.

The film stars Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner as the central married couple, with Diego Calva, Madeline Brewer, Emory Cohen, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, and Paul Dano also appearing in currently undisclosed roles. And for those curious about what the remake actually looks like, we’ve got you covered: we’re including several set photos of Margaret Qualley and some of Callum Turner below, offering an early glimpse at the stars during production.

The new Possession will open against some significant competition, arriving the same day as Universal’s live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2.

Margaret Qualley filming a rain scene for the Possession remake
pics by backgrid_usa pic.twitter.com/e8Qb881Y9a

— Motion Archive (@archivingmotion) July 30, 2026

Margaret Qualley filming the remake of Possession pic.twitter.com/77Zsgtogst

— ScarahScrewdriveR-Sawyer (@scary_scarah) July 23, 2026

Parker Finn is remaking Possession

Finn, the filmmaker behind the hit horror movies Smile and Smile 2, is writing and directing the new Possession. The original film was written and directed by Polish filmmaker Andrzej Żuławski and starred Sam Neill and Isabelle Adjani as Mark and Anna, a married couple whose already troubled relationship takes an increasingly horrifying turn.

Set against the backdrop of Cold War-era West Berlin, Possession begins as a story about a marriage falling apart before descending into infidelity, paranoia, psychological breakdown, murder, body horror, and supernatural madness.

The film earned Adjani the Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

O diretor Parker Finn nos bastidores do remake de "POSSESSION", estrelado por Margaret Qualley & Callum Turner.

: Vanity Fair pic.twitter.com/gnSh9FtTu9

— Close Cine (@closecine) April 24, 2026

Parker Finn’s ‘POSSESSION’ remake starring Margaret Qualley is set to release in theaters on June 11, 2027. pic.twitter.com/nSl8rgjUtZ

— Margaret Qualley Updates (@mqupdates) August 11, 2026

Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner lead the remake

Qualley and Turner will take on the roles of the husband and wife at the center of Finn’s story. Qualley has become one of the most acclaimed young actresses working today, with roles in The Substance, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Poor Things among her recent credits. She’ll next appear in Ridley Scott’s apocalyptic science-fiction thriller The Dog Stars, as well as the romantic drama Love of Your Life and Jeff Nichols’ King Snake.

Turner’s credits include Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Boys in the Boat, and Eternity. He also appears with Monica Barbaro in the romantic comedy One Night Only.

Robert Pattinson is producing Possession

Finn is producing the remake alongside Jonathan Fass through Finn’s Bad Feeling banner. The producing team also includes Roy Lee and Andrew Childs through Vertigo Entertainment, with Robert Pattinson also serving as a producer. Marc Bienstock is executive producing.

The project therefore reunites some major names from contemporary genre filmmaking with a filmmaker who has quickly established himself as one of the biggest new names in horror.

Paramount’s remake of ‘POSSESSION’ will release in theaters on June 11, 2027.

• From writer & director Parker Finn (‘Smile’)

• Starring Margaret Qualley, Callum Turner, Paul Dano and Diego Calva pic.twitter.com/QvsizMJzF5

— Cinema Wire (@CinemaWireNews) August 11, 2026

Possession is one of horror’s toughest movies to remake

There is an obvious question hanging over the project: How do you remake Possession? Żuławski’s film is notoriously intense, strange, and personal. Its story of a marriage collapsing into madness is already disturbing enough, but the filmmaker pushes the material into increasingly surreal territory, culminating in imagery and performances that have become legendary among horror fans. The original is also deeply connected to Żuławski’s own life, including his divorce and experiences of exile from Poland. That has made the prospect of a remake controversial among fans since Finn’s project was first announced.

But the new movie has received an important vote of confidence from the actress who originally played Anna. Isabelle Adjani has given Margaret Qualley her blessing to take on the role. Adjani previously praised Qualley as an exceptionally talented actress and said she understood why a new generation of filmmakers would want to revisit the material.

Not everyone is convinced that Possession needs to be remade, however. JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray has previously argued that the original’s Cold War setting, emotional intensity, and unforgettable finale make it a difficult film to recreate. That debate will likely continue until audiences finally get to see Finn’s version.

When will Parker Finn’s Possession be released?

Possession will be released exclusively in theaters on June 11, 2027. Will you be watching? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Margaret Qualley on the set of the Possession remake pic.twitter.com/ZaT2i5rqjS

— Motion Archive (@archivingmotion) July 23, 2026

The post Parker Finn’s Possession remake, starring Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner, sets 2027 release date appeared first on JoBlo.

Fans hoping Crystal Lake will unleash the kind of bloody slasher mayhem associated with the Friday the 13th movies can breathe a sigh of relief. Showrunner Brad Caleb Kane has promised that Pamela Voorhees eventually goes “full Friday the 13th” in Peacock’s upcoming prequel series.

Kane made the comments alongside star Linda Cardellini during NBC’s backlot promotional event on August 10, where the pair discussed what fans can expect from the highly anticipated series.

Crystal Lake premieres all eight episodes on Peacock on October 15, 2026, telling the story of Pamela Voorhees and her young son Jason years before the events of the original Friday the 13th. And while Kane is deliberately taking the series in a different direction from a traditional Friday the 13th movie, he promises that the bloodshed is coming.

Pamela Voorhees Goes “Full Friday the 13th”

The first episodes of Crystal Lake won’t necessarily resemble the Friday the 13th movies fans grew up watching. Kane explained that the series is intentionally taking a broader approach to the mythology, focusing on the town of Crystal Lake and Pamela Voorhees rather than simply recreating the familiar formula of teenagers arriving at a summer camp and being picked off one by one.

“You watch the first four episodes, and you go ‘Okay. They are telling a story, and there’s a little bit of paranoid conspiracy thriller here, and it’s a psychological devolution or evolution, however you want to put it; but where’s Friday the 13th?’ Pam goes full Friday the 13th in this season, and you will see it.“

Kane also promised that the series will deliver the kind of kills longtime fans are expecting. “There are a series of kills that are everything the movies do, and, hopefully, it will satisfy the real hunt hack-and-slash fans, too; we build to it, but it’s coming.“

So Crystal Lake may take its time getting there, but the showrunner doesn’t want anyone thinking this is a Friday the 13th project without the slasher component.

Why Crystal Lake Is Different From Friday the 13th

Kane knows that fans already have a very specific idea of what a Friday the 13th movie should look like. “I think the biggest conceptual issue was people know what to expect from a Friday the 13th — or at least they know what a Friday the 13th movie should be. It’s a teens go out to a place, they are having sex and doing drugs, and then they are hunted by Mrs. Voorhees or Jason in the subsequent films — or Roy in [movie] number five, for those die-hards. But, thankfully, we weren’t making a Friday the 13th movie. This was called Crystal Lake, and we were doing a story about the town and a prequel about Jason’s mom, and it was really fresh snow. We could build it however we wanted.“

That freedom allowed Kane to bring other cinematic influences into a franchise he has loved since he was young. “And feeling ownership for the franchise as a long-time fan and a lover of it, truly die-hard lover, I knew what I wanted to see as a grown-up Friday the 13th fan. But I also grew up a little bit and became interested in other films and other themes in films, and I wanted to bring all of that cinema love to my love for Friday the 13th. So I was really given carte blanche.“

Kane also previously helped create the It prequel series It: Welcome to Derry, making Crystal Lake another major opportunity for him to put his own spin on established horror mythology.

Crystal Lake Will Be Packed With Friday the 13th Easter Eggs

Although Kane is deliberately doing something different with the series, he doesn’t want longtime fans to feel left behind. He promised that Crystal Lake will contain plenty of Easter eggs and references to the original movies. “I wanted also to honor the fans of those original movies and myself as an original fan of those movies by giving as many Easter eggs as made sense within the context of this story as possible, and I think we did that a lot.“

And apparently, some of those references go further than a familiar name or background detail. “We do more than give you Easter eggs going into [Episodes] 5 to 6. We re-create things, which I won’t spoil here.“

Linda Cardellini Pays Tribute to Betsy Palmer’s Pamela

Cardellini also discussed the challenge of playing a younger version of Pamela Voorhees, a character made iconic by Betsy Palmer in the original 1980 Friday the 13th. Cardellini has obviously studied Palmer’s performance, but she wasn’t interested in simply imitating it.

“I have, of course, seen what Betsy Palmer did,” Cardellini said. “You can’t duplicate what Betsy did, but what she did is play this devoted mother, and so, for that, I can take that and sort of bring that to the early childhood years of Jason’s life. I also think that you don’t get to where Betsy is without really truly loving Jason and getting to know him. So that was really important to us, too, going in.“

Cardellini even revealed that fans should keep an eye out for a familiar piece of Pamela’s wardrobe. “I do a little bit of an homage to a certain sweater, I think, that makes an appearance.“

“Oh, it’s in there,” Kane confirmed.

What Is Crystal Lake About?

Crystal Lake is a prequel to the Friday the 13th franchise, exploring Pamela Voorhees’ life before the events of the original movie. The series follows single mother Pam Voorhees, who is struggling with grief nearly a year after her young, sickly son Jason tragically drowned in Crystal Lake. When two strangers arrive at Pam’s door investigating her past, a disturbing chain of events begins. The people of Crystal Lake are soon left wondering exactly who Pamela Voorhees really is.

Linda Cardellini stars as Pamela, while Callum Vinson (Chucky) plays young Jason Voorhees.

The cast also includes William Catlett as Police Chief Levon Brooks, along with Devin Kessler, Cameron Scoggins, and Gwendolyn Sundstrom.

The series was originally ordered by Peacock in 2022, with Bryan Fuller attached as writer and showrunner. Fuller departed the project in 2024, after which Kane took over creative duties.

When Does Crystal Lake Premiere?

All eight episodes of Crystal Lake premiere October 15, 2026, on Peacock. The series has also been selected for the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, while Warner Bros. Discovery has acquired the show for HBO Max across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Sky and its streaming service Now will be bringing the series to the UK and Ireland.

Are you looking forward to watching Linda Cardellini’s Pamela Voorhees go “full Friday the 13th” in Crystal Lake? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Crystal Lake showrunner promises Pamela Voorhees goes “full Friday the 13th” in Peacock prequel appeared first on JoBlo.

Chris Carter is revisiting the past while Ryan Coogler prepares to take The X-Files into the future. Nearly 20 years after The X-Files: I Want to Believe arrived in theaters, Carter’s new cut of the 2008 supernatural thriller, The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn, is set to premiere on August 14, 2026, on Hulu and Disney+. The release comes at an interesting time for the franchise, as Coogler is developing a new X-Files series for Hulu.

Carter directed the original movie and co-wrote it with Fran Spotnitz. The film reunited David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, with Mitch Pileggi returning as Walter Skinner. While the new Vrach Frankenshteyn cut restores and intensifies horror elements that were removed from the theatrical version to achieve a PG-13 rating, the timing of its release also offers fans a chance to revisit Mulder and Scully just as a new generation of X-Files investigators is taking shape.

What Is The X-Files: I Want to Believe About?

When a group of women is mysteriously abducted, it becomes a case right out of The X-Files. Years after walking away from the FBI, Fox Mulder and Dr. Dana Scully are pulled back from the shadows when a federal agent vanishes without a trace. In a case you’d never see on TV, their only lead is a disgraced, defrocked priest claiming to have horrific psychic visions of the crime. Forced to confront the ghosts of their past, the partners must navigate a chilling winter landscape and an even darker human monstrosity. The truth of these crimes is out there somewhere … and it will take Mulder and Scully to find it.

The film is a contemporary take on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which is reflected in the new Vrach Frankenshteyn title. The new cut also gives Carter the opportunity to restore material that was considered too frightening for the theatrical movie’s PG-13 rating.

Carter has previously explained that the original version was significantly scarier before studio and ratings concerns led to the horror being toned down. The director’s cut therefore isn’t simply an extended version of the movie (it’s actually shorter than the theatrical cut): it represents Carter’s opportunity to bring more of the horror he originally intended back to the screen.

Why Is the New X-Files Cut Arriving Now?

The timing of Vrach Frankenshteyn is particularly interesting because The X-Files is preparing for another major reinvention. Ryan Coogler is developing a new X-Files series for Hulu, with the filmmaker writing and directing the pilot. Rather than continuing the adventures of Mulder and Scully, the reboot will introduce two new FBI agents played by Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel. The pair will portray highly decorated but vastly different agents who form an unlikely partnership when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division dedicated to cases involving unexplained phenomena.

The new X-Files series is also building an impressive supporting cast. Amy Madigan, Steve Buscemi, Ben Foster, Devery Jacobs, Lochlyn Munro, Tantoo Cardinal, Joel D. Montgrand, and Sofia Grace Clifton have all been announced for the project.

Reports indicate that filming on the two-hour pilot (which was apparently shot on 65mm) wrapped a couple of months ago.

Will Mulder and Scully Return?

For now, Coogler‘s reboot is centered on Deadwyler and Patel rather than Duchovny and Anderson. The new series is being positioned as a fresh take on The X-Files, with its own characters and mythology. Whether that eventually leaves room for appearances from the original cast remains to be seen, but it is known that Coogler has been in contact with both Duchovny and Anderson.

Carter told The Hollywood Reporter that while he wants to “continue to tell and finish the story arc” he had in mind for The X-Files, he also doesn’t want to get in the way of Coogler’s take on the concept. “I don’t want to do anything to compete with that. I don’t want to do anything to get in the way of that. I don’t want to play off of that. That said, I’m anxiously awaiting his version. My name is on it as executive producer, but I have done exactly nothing. I am, like everyone else out there, excited about what it may be. … My choice was not to read the script, because I wanted to watch it like everyone else.“

For fans of the original series, Vrach Frankenshteyn offers an opportunity to return to Mulder and Scully in a version of their second feature film adventure that is intended to be closer to Carter’s original vision.

When Does The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn Premiere?

The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Vrach Frankenshteyn premieres August 14 on Hulu and Disney+.

Nearly two decades after I Want to Believe first reached theaters, Chris Carter is finally getting the opportunity to release his darker cut of the movie. And as that version of the past arrives, Ryan Coogler’s new X-Files is preparing to introduce the franchise to an entirely new generation. The truth is still out there.

The post Chris Carter’s X-Files Movie Returns as Ryan Coogler’s Reboot Moves Forward at Hulu appeared first on JoBlo.

Caitríona Balfe is returning to television in a new horror thriller from Oscar-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón. Apple TV has officially ordered Ascension, a one-hour psychological horror thriller series starring Balfe, who will also executive produce. The series comes from Cuarón and the creative team behind Relic and Apartment 7A, with Natalie Erika James and Christian White serving as co-showrunners. James will also direct the series.

Inspired by Adam Nevill’s novel Last Days, Ascension follows a documentary filmmaker who becomes involved with a mysterious cult and discovers something much more sinister hiding beneath its teachings.

The series comes from Apple Studios and Cuarón’s Esperanto Filmoj, with Anonymous Content also producing.

What Is Ascension About?

Ascension follows Rose, played by Balfe, a relentless documentary filmmaker and recently divorced mother who has built a career uncovering other people’s secrets while struggling to resolve problems in her own life. Rose begins working on a project about a mysterious 20th-century cult known as the Church of Ascension. At first, the teachings of the group unexpectedly provide Rose with a sense of refuge. But the deeper she gets into the Church of Ascension, the more she discovers that something far more sinister is hiding beneath its beliefs.

The series explores questions of evil, innocence and how far people are willing to go and what they are willing to sacrifice to protect the people they love, even when the greatest threat may ultimately come from within themselves.

Alfonso Cuarón Is Behind Ascension

Cuarón is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers working today, with credits including Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Gravity. and Roma. He won Academy Awards for directing and editing Gravity and later won Best Director and Best Cinematography Oscars for Roma.

Cuarón previously made the Apple TV+ limited series Disclaimer, which starred Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. He is writing Ascension alongside his brother Carlos Cuarón, Natalie Erika James, and Christian White. James and White will serve as co-showrunners, with James directing the series.

Cuarón will executive produce through Esperanto Filmoj alongside Gabriela Rodriguez and Richard Schwartz. Steve Golin, David Levine, and Zack Hayden will executive produce for Anonymous Content.

Caitríona Balfe Returns to Television

Ascension marks Balfe’s return to television following the conclusion of Outlander, the Starz series in which she played Claire Fraser for eight seasons. Balfe received four Golden Globe nominations for her work on Outlander and also earned another Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast. Her other film credits include Ford v Ferrari, Super 8, and Now You See Me. She will also appear in Apple’s upcoming film Tenzing.

Balfe will both star in and executive produce Ascension.

Ascension Is Based on Adam Nevill’s Last Days

As mentioned, the series is inspired by Adam Nevill’s 2012 horror novel Last Days. The book follows a documentary filmmaker investigating the mysterious and increasingly disturbing history of the Sisterhood of the Radiant Light, a cult led by a woman named Sister Katherine. What begins as a documentary assignment becomes a terrifying investigation into the group’s beliefs, its history and the supernatural forces surrounding it.

Ascension uses the novel as its inspiration while shifting the focus to Rose and the mysterious Church of Ascension.

Alfonso Cuarón Was Up for the New James Bond movie?

Interestingly, Ascension arrives after Cuarón came surprisingly close to being involved with another major franchise. In 2025, Jeff Sneider reported that producer David Heyman was interested in bringing Cuarón aboard the new James Bond movie if Heyman himself ended up producing the project. The two had previously worked together on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Gravity. That didn’t happen. Denis Villeneuve ultimately landed the job of directing the next James Bond movie for Amazon MGM, with Amy Pascal and Heyman serving as producers.

But Cuarón’s connection to Bond goes back even further. In 2024, the filmmaker revealed that he had previously been offered the opportunity to direct a James Bond movie. He initially considered doing it, but became uncomfortable with the production structure after learning that another team would handle the action sequences. A conversation with filmmaker Joel Coen helped convince him to walk away.

So while Cuarón won’t be going on an adventure with James Bond, he is now digging into psychological horror with Ascension.

When Will Ascension Premiere?

Apple TV has not yet announced a premiere date for Ascension, but we’ll have more information on the project as it becomes available.

The post Caitríona Balfe to star in Alfonso Cuarón’s horror thriller series Ascension at Apple TV appeared first on JoBlo.

If you’re a fan of ’80s horror and physical media, Warner Bros. has a new 4K SteelBook collection that should be worth keeping an eye on. The 80s Horror SteelBook Collection is scheduled to arrive in the UK on October 5, 2026, bringing together five beloved genre movies: A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining, The Lost Boys, Poltergeist, and Little Shop of Horrors. The collection packages the movies in a retro VHS-inspired library case and includes each film on both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray.

What Is Included in the 80s Horror SteelBook Collection?

The collection comes in a Retro ’80s SteelBook Library Case and includes five SteelBooks, each containing its respective movie on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. The set also includes:

• 5x SteelBooks with each film on 4K UHD and Blu-ray
• 5x Mini VHS Sleeves
• 5x Mini Retro Posters
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Stickers
• Video Store Sign

The package is clearly designed to recreate the experience of browsing through a classic video store, with the mini VHS sleeves and retro accessories giving the collection a nostalgic presentation.

What Special Features Are Included?

The discs are also set to include a selection of bonus material, including:

• Talent commentaries
• Featurettes
• Deleted scenes
• Trailers

The exact bonus features may vary from movie to movie.

Which Movies Are Included?

The collection brings together five major ’80s horror titles, ranging from supernatural slashers and haunted house movies to vampire horror and a very unusual musical comedy.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street introduced audiences to Freddy Krueger, one of horror cinema’s most recognizable villains. The movie follows Nancy Thompson and a group of teenagers who begin experiencing terrifying nightmares involving a horribly burned man with a bladed glove. The problem is that these aren’t ordinary dreams. Freddy can kill his victims while they’re asleep, forcing Nancy to find a way to fight back against an enemy who exists in the world of dreams.

The film became a landmark of 1980s horror and launched one of the genre’s most enduring franchises. It also marked Johnny Depp’s feature film debut.

The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining stars Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, a writer who takes a job as the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado. Jack arrives at the hotel with his wife, Wendy, and their young son, Danny, intending to use the isolation to work on his writing. But the Overlook has a terrifying history, and Danny possesses a mysterious psychic ability known as “the shining.” As the winter wears on, the hotel begins to exert an increasingly disturbing influence over Jack, pushing him toward madness and violence.

Based on Stephen King‘s novel, The Shining has become one of the most influential psychological horror movies ever made. Warner Bros.’ official home entertainment material describes the film as a landmark of horror built around Kubrick’s unsettling setting, striking performances, and hypnotic tracking shots.

The Lost Boys (1987)

Joel Schumacher’s The Lost Boys follows brothers Michael and Sam after they move with their mother to the California coastal town of Santa Carla. Michael soon becomes fascinated by a mysterious group of young men led by David, while Sam discovers that the town has a much darker secret: its seemingly carefree teenage residents include a gang of vampires. As Michael is drawn deeper into their world, Sam joins forces with the eccentric Frog Brothers to figure out how to save his brother before it’s too late.

Combining vampire horror, teen comedy, music, and the unmistakable style of late-1980s cinema, The Lost Boys went on to become one of the decade’s most beloved cult horror movies. The film was directed by Schumacher and features Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, and Dianne Wiest.

Poltergeist (1982)

Poltergeist follows the Freeling family, whose seemingly ordinary suburban home becomes the center of a terrifying supernatural disturbance. The strange activity initially seems harmless, but the family’s young daughter, Carol Anne, eventually disappears into another realm. Her parents are forced to seek help from paranormal investigators and a spiritual medium as they attempt to rescue their daughter from the entities occupying their home.

Directed by Tobe Hooper from a story by Steven Spielberg, Poltergeist became one of the most popular supernatural horror films of the 1980s.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Little Shop of Horrors is the wild card in the collection, blending horror, comedy, romance, and musical theatre. Rick Moranis stars as Seymour Krelborn, a shy florist working in a struggling shop who discovers a strange plant and names it Audrey II. The plant quickly becomes Seymour’s ticket to fame and success… but Audrey II has an unusual appetite. It wants blood. And as the plant grows larger and more demanding, Seymour finds himself forced to choose between his newfound success, his relationship with Audrey, and the increasingly dangerous creature he has brought into his life.

Directed by Frank Oz and written by Howard Ashman, the 1986 movie was adapted from the stage musical that Ashman created with composer Alan Menken, which itself was based on Roger Corman’s 1960 film. Warner Bros.’ describes it as a bizarre combination of comedy, romance, and a singing giant plant from outer space.

When Is the 80s Horror SteelBook Collection Released?

The 80s Horror SteelBook Collection is scheduled for release in the UK on October 5, 2026. For horror fans who grew up with VHS tapes and video stores, the retro presentation may be almost as appealing as the movies themselves. Five major ’80s genre titles, five SteelBooks, mini VHS sleeves, retro posters, and a video store sign make this a particularly nostalgia-heavy physical media release. And considering the movies included, there’s a pretty impressive amount of horror history packed into one box.

Will you be buying the 80s Horror SteelBook Collection? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Lost Boys, and more join new 4K ’80s horror collection appeared first on JoBlo.

Tyler

There’s no task greater than creating a sequel to the biggest blockbuster of all time. Yet Universal wanted to do just that. Jaws 2 would eventually become a massive hit, but getting the sequel to theaters was anything but smooth. Steven Spielberg briefly considered directing it. The first director was fired after just 18 days of filming. Production moved from Martha’s Vineyard to Florida, Roy Scheider nearly fought with the replacement director, and real hammerhead sharks unexpectedly showed up during filming.

So, how did this movie go from being a potential prequel about the USS Indianapolis to what practically amounts to a slasher on the water? Why did the film’s first director get fired after nearly a month of filming? Why did they move the production to Florida?

Let’s find out how this movie became Universal’s most expensive movie ever, and so much more, as we look at what happened to Jaws 2.

How Jaws 2 Came Together

It can’t be overstated just how big of a deal Jaws was when it came out back in 1975. It completely changed the landscape of cinema by creating the summer blockbuster. And it was very early in its box office run that Universal demanded a sequel. While it seemed like a massive task, producers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown knew that the film would get made with or without them, so they figured they may as well do it themselves.

Spielberg had a much different mindset, calling a potential sequel just a cheap carnival trick. Hilariously, he didn’t actually return the producers’ calls when they initially reached out about directing, which made sense. Spielberg had already made the definitive shark movie. How would he possibly top himself?

It didn’t help that his memories of the production were plagued with miserable conditions, so he didn’t want to put himself through that again.

But what would the story even be? The shark was blown up in quite magnificent fashion after eating Quint and taking out the Orca. Well, there were multiple ideas for where Jaws 2 could go. Peter Benchley, the original writer of the novel, had some ideas on where to take the story, but there wasn’t much interest. Science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke even reached out with an idea about a mysterious object deep in the Indian Ocean, but the producers had difficulty even grasping the concept. So, they were rightfully worried that audiences wouldn’t be able to understand it either.

The USS Indianapolis Story

Howard Sackler, who had assisted in writing Quint’s USS Indianapolis speech in the first film, as well as an uncredited pass on the full script, wanted to make a movie out of that story. But there was concern that the iconography would be too different given the World War II setting and wouldn’t resemble Jaws.

At one point, there was a story about the sons of Quint and Brody hunting a new shark.

Eventually, Sackler was hired to write a draft that resembled the story we’d see in the finished film.

But what’s most shocking is that Spielberg actually considered making the movie himself. He even went so far as to write a draft of the script in July of 1976 based on Quint’s Indianapolis speech, which would have been so awesome. Unfortunately, he’d already signed a deal to make Close Encounters of the Third Kind, meaning he wouldn’t be able to work on Jaws 2 for another year. The producers had a timeline they had to make and simply couldn’t wait for his schedule to clear. So, they looked elsewhere.

Roy Scheider Didn’t Want to Make Jaws 2

Eventually, Universal landed on John D. Hancock, who had only made three films at that time. He was a bit of an odd choice since he hadn’t directed anything of this scale before and had mostly worked in dramas, but I suppose something similar could have been said of Spielberg with the first film.

Roy Scheider had just left the production of The Deer Hunter due to creative differences when Universal approached him about Jaws 2. See, Scheider had signed a three-picture deal and was violating the contract by leaving The Deer Hunter. They said that all would be forgiven if he’d star in Jaws 2, but he was still reluctant. He simply didn’t see the point. So, in one of the craziest attempts to get out of a commitment, Scheider went nuts in his Beverly Hills hotel room and tried pleading insanity.

He really did not want to do the film. But Universal made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse. They quadrupled his salary and gave him points on the back end. Not only that, but given how overscheduled the first film went, they went as far as to offer $60,000 for each week that they went past the 12 weeks allotted. This was finally enough, and Scheider agreed to do the picture, which almost ended in fisticuffs between him and the director. But we’ll get into that in a bit.

While the producers wanted Richard Dreyfuss’ Matt Hooper to return as well, the actor didn’t want to do the film if Spielberg wasn’t involved.

Lorraine Gary would return in the role of Ellen Brody, which wasn’t a surprise given that she was married to Universal president Sid Sheinberg.

The Tragedy Behind Murray Hamilton’s Return

Sadly, the production of Jaws 2 was anything but easy for Murray Hamilton in his role as Mayor Vaughn. Producer David Brown had gotten word that Murray was heading to New York in the middle of production. Despite not being done with filming, Brown confronted Murray as he was leaving and was gobsmacked by what he found out. Murray was distraught, having found out that his wife was having a biopsy for cancer, and he refused not to be by her side during it. “To hell with my career,” were his words. Thankfully, Brown understood, but asked Murray if he’d stay on for just two days and they’d shoot all of his stuff in that time.

Murray agreed to do it, and after many phone calls to rearrange the schedule, was able to pull it off. Murray went to New York to be with his wife.

Who Were the Teenagers in Jaws 2?

The sailing teenagers were mostly made up of unknowns whose biggest role ended up being this film. Keith Gordon is probably the most recognizable of them, having appeared in Christine and Dressed to Kill in the years since.

Many of the extras in the film were recruited from the local high school, including the band itself. Though some of the locals actually revolted a bit against the film, wearing “Universal Go Home” shirts.

And while Jeffrey Kramer is great as Brody’s second-in-command, Hendricks, he wasn’t actually brought back until rewrites that would occur well into production.

Building the Sharks for Jaws 2

When it came to the killer shark that would serve as the film’s main antagonist, it was first thought that the production would be able to use the sharks from the original film. But everything had rusted and rotted to the point that very few pieces were even salvageable. They were essentially just able to use the frame.

Even still, when the three new mechanical sharks were constructed, they were able to use the same body mold. Though there would be some tweaks made to the shark’s head.

Having not been a fan of the original mouth hinge, sculptor Chris Mueller made a brand-new mechanism, which used jowls to hide the hinge of the mouth. Sometimes it works, and other times it really doesn’t.

The original shark puppet was named Bruce, named after Spielberg’s lawyer, and the three new ones were called Bruce 2, Fidel, and Harold. Bruce 2 was the platform shark that would do the complicated movements with the mouth. Then there was a fin and full-scale shark that could be pulled by a boat.

Why Jaws 2 Moved From Martha’s Vineyard to Florida

While they still used Martha’s Vineyard as some of Amity Island, they opted to shoot in Florida for the scenes taking place on the water. They chose Navarre Beach in the panhandle because the waters were just deep enough for their mechanical shark to operate in. The production was a massive boost to the local economy, with Universal spending over $400,000 on boats and equipment and around a million dollars for the cast and crew’s lodging.

The climax of the movie takes place at an island, but they couldn’t use a real one due to their need to get the shark up close to the shore, which would be impossible with a real island. So instead, they opted for a floating barge, which they then constructed massive rocks made out of fiberglass on. It’s an extremely impressive structure.

Why Was the First Jaws 2 Director Fired?

Filming began in June of 1977 but shut down after only 18 days. Studio executives did not like the dailies they were seeing, thinking the film’s tone was far too dark. They wanted something lighter and more adventurous and felt that Hancock was in over his head. So they fired him.

Hancock contends that it was the fact that he refused to let Lorraine Gary, who you’ll remember was married to someone quite important, go out on the boat with Brody in the final act, which would ultimately be his undoing. But even Zanuck had agreed that it would have been a terrible idea to include her during those sequences.

So, whoever’s side you believe, Jaws 2 was left without a director. The production shut down, and original writer Carl Gottlieb was brought aboard to lighten up the script, stripping down some of the violence and ratcheting up the humor. Due to the shifting screenplay, many actors were let go as their parts had been excised in the new draft.

At the suggestion of production designer Joe Alves, Jeannot Szwarc was brought aboard as the new director.

The Water-Skiing Scene

The first sequence that Szwarc filmed was the water-skiing incident, which also allowed Gottlieb enough time to do his new pass on the script. And there are few sequences as memorable as the water-skiing scene, followed up by the fiery attack from the shark itself. They even developed a new camera system for the sequence, wanting the camera to follow the water skier and the boat under the water. Then the fin prop was attached to a boat, which then pulled it off camera, giving us this great moment.

Roy Scheider vs. Jeannot Szwarc

Scheider and his new director did not get along at first, and there was a lot of tension on set. They were constantly butting heads, with Scheider complaining that Szwarc was focused more on the extras and technical problems than any of the lead actors. It got so bad that David Brown and Vera Fields, who had been an editor on the first Jaws and was subsequently promoted to vice president of the company, tried to play mediators and had a sit-down between the two. But it became so heated that a fight broke out, and the director and actor had to be physically separated.

Scheider then requested an apology from the director for not being collaborative, who responded in the most non-apologetic way possible. “Time and pressure are part of my reality and priorities, something I must deal with. You have been consulted and your suggestions made part of my scenes many times. Whenever they did not contradict the overall concept of the picture. If you have to be offended, I deplore it, for no offense was meant. At this point in the game, your feelings or my feelings are immaterial and irrelevant. The picture is all that matters. Sincerely, Jeannot.”

Come on, man. Take some responsibility. Even still, they pushed their rift to the side and completed the rest of the film without coming to blows again.

Real Sharks and a Floating Island

During one scary moment, real hammerhead sharks showed up and started circling the sailing actors. The actors even tried informing the crew, but since the characters are meant to be acting scared and worried, the crew failed to realize that their calls for help were real. Thankfully, there was no incident with the real sharks.

Another crazy moment happened when the island that they’d constructed broke away during an intense storm and started floating away. Thankfully, they were able to retrieve it.

It was a production fraught with difficulties.

What Is Jaws 2 About?

Okay, but what is the story of Jaws 2 about exactly? Set four years after the events of Jaws, we see the aftermath of the Orca as it’s on the ocean floor. Two scuba divers are checking it out when they get attacked in the most ludicrous way that you could imagine. Going from this to this can be quite jarring, but it gets across the point that the director wanted to make right away. They were not going to hide the shark.

Amity Island gets expanded upon a little bit more, and we see the Brodys attending a scholarship fund. It’s an easy way to reintroduce some of the characters from the first film while sprinkling in some of the teens that would take center stage later on. I like that they establish that going out on the water is just an everyday part of living on the island.

Eventually, after the shark almost chomps down on a parasailor, it sets its sights on a water skier. It’s a great way of showing how much more in-your-face the shark would be, and it’s an awesome moment. Even better, they decided that the shark needed to look a little different, so they burn its face when it attacks the boat. God, I love a battle-damaged look.

Sadly, no one saw what happened, so they simply think that it was a boating accident. But when a whale washes up on the beach with a large bite mark, Brody thinks it must be another shark. There’s even a fun little moment where Brody tries to get Hooper’s help, but he can’t be reached because he’s on a research expedition in Antarctica. Total Hooper move.

Brody tries to inform Mayor Vaughn, but he’s treated like a lunatic, which is so disrespectful given what he did for the town in the first film. Though he definitely doesn’t help out his case when, in a fit of paranoia, he starts shooting at a school of bluefish thinking it’s the shark. This is enough to get Brody removed from his position as police chief, despite the fact that Brody discovers pictures proving that a shark attacked the divers.

And this is when the film turns into a slasher movie, switching mostly to the kids’ perspective as this shark starts hunting them down.

Jaws 2 Turns Into a Shark Slasher

Though, I’ve always been very confused by the scene where the group of divers are swimming out in the ocean and the shark essentially just comes by to jump-scare this one dude. Look, I know it’s so that he serves as the catalyst for getting Brody out on the water, but why the hell does a shark not eat any of these divers? He’s proven to be quite the fat bastard in terms of appetite, so why not chomp on one of them?

Back with the teens, one of the sailboats gets separated from the group and attacked by the shark, which is arguably the scariest moment in the film. The shark going under the boat or dragging the poor boy under in just an explosion of blood. All terrifying. And it’s made even better by the performance of Ann Dusenberry, whose shocked look sells the magnitude of the shark even further.

The shark keeps attacking the sailboats, with most of them capsizing and drifting. Some of the teens die, though shockingly less than you’d think. Then a helicopter even comes to help them, but is quickly taken out by the shark.

They find themselves nearing a floating island, which could serve as their salvation. But the shark is relentless and keeps coming after them.

Thankfully, Brody shows up at the perfect time and saves the day. He lures the shark and tricks it into biting on the underwater cable, electrocuting it to death. Appropriately, this was the final scene filmed.

Deleted Scenes From Jaws 2

There were a few scenes removed from the final cut, mostly due to pacing, but there’s one I really wish we’d gotten. First, there’s a very unnecessary subplot where Brody is being antagonistic towards his wife’s boss, Len, who clearly has a thing for her. It’s almost like they were trying to pay homage to the cheating storyline that was in the first book. As much as I dislike it, it does mean that we lose out on a scene where Len convinces the city council to get Brody fired, and Mayor Vaughn is the only person opposed. It’s a nice moment that shows that the mayor hasn’t forgotten what Brody has done. So, it sucks to lose. It makes his character look so much more callous in the final cut.

But the biggest loss was the helicopter attack getting severely trimmed down. We were originally supposed to see the pilot struggling under the water as the shark tries to reach him. It’s very effective and so much scarier than the theatrically released scene.

John Williams’ Jaws 2 Score

John Williams returned to compose the sequel, bringing back the classic tune that became synonymous with sharks. It takes on a bit of a different flavor, as in the first film, the score practically worked as a signal of the shark’s presence. It was an essential tool, but when the shark is being shown so much more, that certainly changes the score’s relationship with it. There are still brief moments where it can really make the most of the tension, like the shark coming up below the parasailor, who escapes only at the last second.

Williams reused certain elements while creating something adventurous to try to energize the film, and it works pretty well.

How Much Money Did Jaws 2 Make?

Jaws 2 released in the United States on June 16, 1978, and brought in $9.8 million in its opening, making it the highest-grossing opening weekend ever at the time. What’s even more impressive is that the film actually opened up on the exact same day as Grease, which brought in a similar $9 million. So, I guess you could call Jaws 2 and Grease the original Barbenheimer.

Either way, given its $30 million budget, it was a massive hit. While the film wouldn’t bring in quite as much as its predecessor, it was still a major box-office success. Critics and audiences were a bit sour on the film, with it earning a 56% critics score and 40% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The consensus was that Jaws 2 never approaches the lingering thrills of its classic predecessor, but it’s reasonably entertaining for a sequel that had no reason to exist.

Jaws 2 Merchandise and Books

Universal went hard with merchandise, releasing all sorts of Jaws-branded products. They also made two pretty interesting books. The first was Ray Loynd’s behind-the-scenes look at the film, titled The Jaws Log. Taking after Carl Gottlieb’s popular book chronicling the making of the first film, it’s not quite as informative, but still manages to paint an interesting picture of the production.

The second was a novelization written by Hank Searls that was actually based on an earlier script. Because of this, the story is greatly different.

The Alternate Jaws 2 Novel

The shark was actually pregnant, which drives her into a feeding frenzy, giving a bit of perspective on the shark’s behavior.

While Brody’s main job in the film is to claim there’s a shark with no one believing him, only for him to eventually save the day, the book takes things in a very different direction. In the book, Brody is completely ignorant to it being a shark and makes himself look like a bit of an idiot. In fact, he thinks some cop named Jeff is a murderer and the actual culprit behind these murders. Wowza.

Then there’s the mob element, which was taken from Benchley’s original novel. See, the town had built a casino after the incident with the first shark, and it’s run by the mob. They even kill Jeff. It’s fucking crazy.

And remember those divers at the beginning of the film? Well, their film role is taken to get developed, and the worker discovers the photos of the giant shark. He wants to sell his place and leave town and is worried that the shark will plummet property values. So Brody never gets the photo evidence, and it’s instead destroyed.

The book eventually ends up in the same place as the film, with the showdown between the shark and Brody.

Anyone that likes the movie should definitely check out the book just to see this alternate timeline version of Jaws 2.

Why Jaws 2 Still Works

While this sequel certainly doesn’t live up to the quality of the first film, it’s still an entertaining shark thriller with some very memorable sequences. The production was clearly anything but easy, but it certainly gave us some great stories.

And that, my friends, is what happened to Jaws 2.

Jaws 2 At a Glance

Release Date: June 16, 1978
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Original Director: John D. Hancock
Screenplay: Carl Gottlieb, Howard Sackler
Starring: Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton
Music: John Williams
Budget: $30 million
Studio: Universal Pictures
Setting: Amity Island
Major Filming Locations: Martha’s Vineyard, Florida

A couple of previous episodes of this show can be seen below. For more, check out the JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel—and don’t forget to subscribe!

The post What Happened to Jaws 2? The Troubled Making of Universal’s Biggest Sequel appeared first on JoBlo.

James Cameron has apparently joined one of the longest-running debates among Aliens fans: the 1986 theatrical cut versus the later Special Edition (often called the Director’s Cut).

The filmmaker made a surprise appearance at the American Cinematheque’s 70mm screening of Aliens on August 8, and his introduction offered a glimpse into how he thinks about the. During this intro, Cameron revisited the story of how producer Gale Anne Hurd convinced him to remove an entire reel from the movie. A decision that, according to Cameron, made Aliens better.

James Cameron’s Reel 2 revelation

Cameron explained that the original version of Aliens ran approximately two hours and 35 or 40 minutes. As he and his team looked for ways to shorten it, Hurd came up with a radical suggestion: remove Reel 2 entirely. Cameron’s initial reaction was that this suggestion was the worst idea he had ever heard. That’s understandable considering what Reel 2 contained: it introduced Newt and her family, established the colony, took the audience back to the alien derelict, and built toward the family’s encounter with a facehugger.

In other words, Reel 2 contains a substantial amount of story and world-building.

But Cameron eventually agreed to try Hurd’s suggestion. He said he sat down at the editing system, removed the reel and watched the movie. His conclusion: “That’s the movie.”

Cameron’s argument for the shorter Aliens

Cameron described the experience as an example of the value of an outside perspective. A director can become so immersed in a movie that it becomes difficult to judge what the audience actually needs to see. Hurd, as the producer, was able to look at the film with enough distance to recognize that the story might be stronger without an entire section of it. Cameron said that a talented studio executive who understands and cares about story can provide that same kind of objectivity.

The director doesn’t necessarily have to follow every suggestion, Cameron explained, but he should listen, process the idea and recognize when it resonates with something he already knows to be true about the movie. For Cameron, the Reel 2 experiment apparently became one of those moments.

So does James Cameron prefer the theatrical cut?

His comments strongly suggest that he does, or at least that he considers the theatrical cut, without Reel 2, to be the definitive version of the story.

Material removed from the theatrical version was later restored in the Special Edition, which has become the preferred version of Aliens for many fans. The expanded cut restores Reel 2 and adds several other scenes.

Cameron’s comments don’t necessarily mean that he believes every single addition in the Special Edition damages the film, but his Reel 2 story is clear: he personally tested the shorter version, saw that the movie worked without the material, and has apparently carried that lesson with him ever since. In other words, the argument isn’t simply “the theatrical cut has fewer scenes, therefore it’s better.” This is a filmmaker who has gone on to make multiple 3-hour movies, so brevity isn’t high on his list of priorities. The Aliens lesson was that removing information can sometimes make a movie more effective.

Theatrical Aliens vs. Special Edition

The debate over the two versions has always been interesting because both cuts offer something different. The Special Edition gives viewers more context. It expands the world of LV-426, provides more information about the colony and Newt’s family, and gives Ripley’s personal story additional weight.

The theatrical version moves with greater momentum. That may be what Cameron was getting at. Aliens begins as a mystery, becomes a military operation, and then descends into survival horror. The theatrical cut gets the audience to the conflict faster.

Cameron also defended the theatrical experience

Cameron’s surprise appearance wasn’t solely about the different cuts of Aliens. He also used the introduction to celebrate the theatrical experience and the importance of presenting movies in premium formats. He explained that Aliens was actually shot on 35mm film rather than 70mm, using the best high-speed, low-light negative available to the production at the time. Cameron nevertheless insisted on a 70mm release and personally handled the film’s color timing.

He recalled experimenting with the presentation in ways that pushed the laboratory and negative-cutting process to its limits, including frame-by-frame lighting changes during flamethrower bursts and white frames inserted when characters fired their machine guns.

His larger message: cinema isn’t dying. Cameron pointed to the younger members of the audience at the screening as evidence that people still want the communal experience of watching movies in theaters and argued that better, more premium presentation, including 70mm, can make that experience even better.

James Cameron may have settled the Aliens cut debate for himself

For years, fans have argued over whether the theatrical version or Special Edition is the best way to watch Aliens. Cameron’s story doesn’t necessarily end that debate for everyone, but it does provide something the discussion rarely gets: the director’s own explanation for why one of the biggest cuts in the movie’s history was made.

For Cameron, the experience became a filmmaking lesson he says he has followed ever since: sometimes the person who is less emotionally attached to the movie can see what the director cannot. And in the case of Aliens, that outside perspective helped create the version audiences saw in theatres in 1986. So while fans can continue arguing over the Special Edition, Cameron’s own recollection makes his position clear: when it comes to Aliens, less really can be more.

Which version of Aliens do you prefer, the theatrical cut or the Special Edition? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Intro by @JimCameron was an unexpected treat. pic.twitter.com/D926Vlc4Dl

— Lellius Rose (@Lellius) August 9, 2026

The post James Cameron says the theatrical cut of Aliens is better, and he has one reel to thank for it appeared first on JoBlo.