Spielberg's jurassic origins: 'jurassic park' was always a 'jaws' sequel

The wait for the next installment in the Jurassic Park saga continues, but a surprising revelation surfaces about the franchise's genesis. Steven Spielberg, the visionary behind the 1993 blockbuster, has admitted that his initial concept for the film was conceived as a direct sequel to Jaws.

A prehistoric precedent?

In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Spielberg revealed the audacious origin of Jurassic Park. He wasn't aiming to simply create a dinosaur adventure; he wanted to replicate the thrilling suspense of Jaws, but with prehistoric creatures instead of a great white shark. “I wasn’t embarrassed to say that with Jurassic Park, I was trying to make a good sequel to Jaws. On land,” Spielberg confessed.

This isn't merely a quirky anecdote. Spielberg's earlier experience with Jaws, a film that redefined blockbuster filmmaking, heavily influenced his approach to Jurassic Park. The success of Jaws demonstrated the power of building tension and suspense around a terrifying predator, a formula Spielberg sought to adapt to a new, prehistoric canvas. While the core premise – humans versus a dangerous creature – remains consistent, the shift from the ocean to a theme park populated by dinosaurs represents a significant evolution.

Interestingly, Spielberg had previously considered a Jaws sequel himself, but ultimately abandoned the project after a challenging experience filming Jaws in the open ocean. The difficulties of that production, combined with his demanding schedule working on Schindler's List, contributed to a reluctance to revisit the shark-hunting world. He recalled feeling “resentment and rage” at having to switch between the emotional weight of Schindler's List and the more lighthearted pursuit of dinosaurs.

While subsequent Jurassic Park films have enjoyed considerable commercial success, many critics argue they haven't reached the heights of the original or its sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park. The franchise’s future hinges on whether director Gareth Edwards can recapture that magic. Jurassic World: Dominion, released in 2022, was a box office success, but its critical reception was mixed.

Spielberg’s reflections on Jaws and Jurassic Park come on the heels of his recent regret over the exaggerated shark hunting that followed the release of Jaws. The film’s impact was undeniable, but the resulting frenzy was something Spielberg now deeply regrets. Jaws is currently available on Disney+ and Filmin, while Jurassic Park and Jurassic World: Dominion can be streamed on Movistar Plus+, Prime Video, and SkyShowtime.

The enduring appeal of Jurassic Park proves that the primal fear of being hunted, whether by a shark or a Tyrannosaurus Rex, remains a potent cinematic draw.