Fifty Years After the Blockbuster Film and
Bestselling Novel Shocked the World & Ignited a Fascination
with Sharks and the Ocean, JAWS @ 50 (WT) To Air Summer 2025 on
National Geographic and Stream on Disney+ and Hulu
On the heels of the 50th anniversary of the bestselling book by
Peter Benchley that went on to become a record-breaking box-office
sensation from director Steven Spielberg, National Geographic
announced today the greenlight of JAWS @ 50 (working title),
in partnership with Amblin Documentaries’ Darryl Frank and Justin
Falvey, Nedland Media’s Laurent Bouzereau and Markus Keith, Wendy
Benchley, and Laura A. Bowling. Bouzereau directs the feature
documentary, which will include footage and photography from the
Benchley and Spielberg archives and all-new interviews from the
worlds of film, literature, pop culture and ocean conservation.
In collaboration with ocean conservation and marine policy
advocate Wendy Benchley and branding and communications specialist
Laura A. Bowling, the film will capture our endless fascination
with sharks and the changing dialogue about these awe-inspiring
creatures. In celebration of the film’s 50th anniversary, JAWS @
50 (working title) will air in Summer 2025 on National
Geographic and stream on Disney+ and Hulu as part of Sharkfest, Nat
Geo’s signature summer event.
The behind-the-scenes stories of the book’s writing and the
legendary tumultuous production of the film — including being over
budget, over schedule, malfunctioning mechanical sharks, weather
issues and sea sickness — will serve as the spine of the
documentary. JAWS @ 50 (working title) will explore the
world and impact of sharks today through testimonials from people
who have dedicated their lives to studying and safeguarding sharks
and our seas. “Jaws” gave rise to a new generation of shark
aficionados, many ocean scientists, researchers, explorers,
activists and die-hard fans. These experts have deepened our
curiosity and understanding of sharks beyond what Benchley and
Spielberg could have imagined.
“National Geographic has celebrated sharks for over two decades
with our annual summer event Sharkfest, so we naturally jumped at
the chance to partner with Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Media
on JAWS @ 50,” said Janet Han Vissering, senior vice
president, Production and Development, National Geographic. “‘Jaws’
not only became a massive pop culture phenomenon, but the initial
fear it elicited propelled the world’s fascination with sharks,
opening the door to our understanding of these apex predators and
stressing the urgency in protecting our oceans.”
“‘Jaws,’ the novel by Peter Benchley and the film by Steven
Spielberg, defined both popular literature and cinema,” said Darryl
Frank / Justin Falvey, Presidents Amblin Documentaries and Amblin
Television. “The idea of diving into the past, present and future
legacy of ‘Jaws,’ combined with an informed and inspiring
discussion about sharks and the ocean in one documentary, is a
unique opportunity to explore the perfect union between art and
science.”
“Jaws” was a thrilling bestseller, and the film was arguably the
first summer blockbuster. Both continue attracting new fans and
inspiring generations of book, film and ocean lovers. JAWS @
50 (working title) will create a thrilling sense of discovery,
showcasing a new generation of ocean scientists and explorers who
help us better understand sharks and deepen our understanding of
their vital role in a healthy ocean. Ultimately, alongside Wendy
Benchley and others, we will invite audiences to fall in love and
rethink their perceptions of sharks in today’s world.
For National Geographic, JAWS @ 50 (working title) will
be produced by Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Media in
collaboration with executive producers Wendy Benchley and Bowling
and directed by Bouzereau. For Amblin Documentaries, Frank and
Falvey are executive producers. For Nedland Media, Bouzereau and
Keith are executive producers. For National Geographic, Ted Duvall
is the executive producer; Vissering is the senior vice president
of Production and Development; and Tom McDonald is the executive
vice president of Global Factual and Unscripted Content.
About Amblin Documentaries
Amblin Documentaries is a division of Amblin Partners, a
content creation company led by Steven Spielberg. Presidents,
Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey oversee all development, production,
and programming for Amblin Documentaries. In addition to its
award-winning, culture-defining work in the scripted space through
Amblin Television, Amblin Documentaries is a producer of renowned
documentary features and series such as the film “Good Night Oppy”
for Prime Video – which was nominated for seven Prime Time and News
and Documentary Emmys, the Emmy-winning series “Five Came Back” for
Netflix, and “Laurel Canyon – A Place in Time” – which received
three Emmy nominations including Outstanding Documentary or
Nonfiction Special for its portrayal of the music scene in LA’s
Laurel Canyon in the 60’s and 70’s.
Most recently, Amblin Documentaries produced “Life on Our
Planet,” “Encounters,” and “Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul”
for Netflix as well as “San Francisco Sound” for MGM+. Upcoming
projects from Amblin Documentaries include “Faye,” based on the
life and career of Faye Dunaway, which premiered at this years
Cannes Film Festival, “Bodyguard of Lies,” with the Washington Post
& Alex Gibney, “Wild, Wild Space,” with HyperObject Industries
& ZPZ, and, in partnership with Imagine Entertainment, a
documentary on the life and work of legendary composer John
Williams.
Amblin Documentaries also produced “Strokes of Genius” – the
double-Emmy nominated film about the epic rivalry between Roger
Federer and Rafael Nadal; and “The Contender” – in which Sylvester
Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard give 16 young boxing hopefuls a shot
at the big time, and which received two Emmy nominations. Other
unscripted Amblin Documentaries productions include “Letters to
Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy” and HBO’s “Natalie Wood:
What Remains Behind” and “Mama’s Boy: A Story from Our
Americas.”
About Nedland Media
Laurent Bouzereau is an award-winning filmmaker and
best-selling author. His films, which he co-produced with his
partner Markus Keith through their production company
Nedland Media, include the feature documentary Faye about legendary
actress Faye Dunaway for HBO/Amblin, the upcoming event documentary
on John Williams, produced by Steven Spielberg and Amblin/Imagine,
the Disney+/Lucasfilm documentary Timeless Heroes on Harrison Ford,
the HBO feature documentaries Mama’s Boy, based on the best-selling
memoir by Dustin Lance Black, and Natalie Wood: What Remains
Behind, as well as the acclaimed Netflix series Five Came Back
(with an Emmy winning narration by Meryl Streep), executive
produced by Steven Spielberg and Amblin. Bouzereau is the author of
several books on cinema, including Spielberg: The First Ten Years
(2023) and The De Palma Decade (2024).
About Wendy Benchley
Wendy Benchley is a renowned global voice for protecting sharks
and safeguarding our seas. As a scuba diver, she has witnessed
dramatic changes to our ocean’s wildlife and habitats; this has
motivated her vigorous efforts to help shape smarter, stronger
environmental and marine policies with government officials, NGOs,
and other civic leaders. Based in Washington, D.C., Wendy is
actively engaged in the marine policy community and supports many
of the world’s leading ocean & environmental philanthropies.
She plays a prominent leadership role and is actively involved, as
a Board member, in WildAid’s highly effective and widely respected
global work that reduces the demand for illegal wildlife products,
including ivory, rhino horn, and shark fin. She is a Board Member
of Beneath the Waves and Blue Frontier Campaign. She is also a
Trustee on EDF’s Advisory Board.
About Laura A. Bowling
Laura is a branding and strategic communications executive who
has successfully led interdisciplinary creative teams for 25 years,
delivering award-winning campaigns across all media platforms from
corporate and nonprofit arenas. Laura has worked with some of the
world’s most successful companies and prestigious brands, including
Procter & Gamble, Ogilvy (N.Y.C.), The Walt Disney Company, and
Conservation International, where she served as Chief Marketing
Officer. Laura has a deep passion for protecting the environment and
social causes. She oversees a successful consulting business, based
in Carmel, California, that focuses on branding, strategic
communications, and development for nonprofits. She has worked
closely with Wendy Benchley on all aspects of branding for the
Peter Benchley Ocean Awards and on Wendy’s public speaking and
ocean advocacy events, publications, and press.
About National Geographic Content
Award-winning and critically acclaimed National Geographic
Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company
and the National Geographic Society, creates and delivers riveting
stories and experiences in natural history, science, adventure and
exploration. The brand is the largest on social media with over
three quarters of a billion followers across all major platforms
that generate over one billion impressions each month. Inspiring a
deeper connection to the world, National Geographic Content reaches
300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages as a
digital, social and print publisher and across the global National
Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat
Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and
direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content
includes Emmy® Award-winning franchise Genius, series Life Below
Zero and Secrets of the Whales, and Oscar®- and BAFTA award-winning
film Free Solo. In 2022, National Geographic Content was awarded
eight News and Documentary Emmys, in addition to Life Below Zero’s
Emmy win for Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program, its
sixth Emmy overall. For more information, visit natgeotv.com or
nationalgeographic.com, or follow Nat Geo on Facebook, X,
Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240624326582/en/
Chris Albert, chris.albert@natgeo.com Jenn DeGuzman,
jennifer.deguzman@natgeo.com