3. Actors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the ride varies between Orlando, Hollywood and Japan, the general premise is the same. Guests board tour boats and explore the harbor of the fictional Amity Island. But what is supposed to be a tranquil ride soon turns terrifying when a great white shark rises from the deep and begins its attack! From time to time the shark breaks the surface to flex its 'jaws' at unsuspecting guests. It's not the same shark, though - 'Jaws' was actually killed off by Chief Brody in the movie, and as the attraction is 'canon', this is an entirely new shark altogether.

There are already actors on Jaws The Ride, but we think a revival attraction would need to take things up a notch, because these days guests love being immersed into the world of film. And a crew not unlike that in Jaws (Chief Brody, Quint and Hooper), would be most welcome. In the film, it's mostly their dialogue that builds tension as we drift towards the climactic third act in which Jaws finally rears his ugly head. Quint's stories and descriptions of sharks are chilling to say the least, which proves that there's only so much an animatronic can do to generate atmosphere - the rest is up to the actors. 

4. Real or Movie Footage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The term 'real footage' where a reboot of the Jaws ride is concerned could either be footage from the movie or real-life footage of great white sharks. With that said, though, the movie does actually use real shark footage during its third act, when Richard Dreyfuss' Matt Hooper is submerged in a shark-diving cage. Using believable scenes for the purpose of a ride, whether it's in a queuing system or on the boat guests board, could help make or break a ride. 

In fact, King Kong is yet again another great reference point, in that Kong 360-3D uses in-movie footage - and some unique to the ride - to create a 'wrap-around' experience, in which Kong fights several dinosaurs. We don't think Jaws would benefit from a similar sequence, but using in-movie footage of the shark itself would help place guests' imaginations firmly on Amity Island - or at least on the surface of its waters. 

If Universal ever does decide to bring back Jaws, reopening the now-defunct ride probably wouldn't be enough. Guests would expect something new and far more immersive, which is probably why Jurassic Park The Ride was given an overhaul. And as for Kong, that too was upgraded to Skull Island's Reign of Kong, which felt more in-line with newer theatrical installments.

While there are no new cinematic reference points for a new Jaws ride, this is probably a good thing. We can't quite imagine Jaws ever working on screen again (by working, we mean a movie and not the animatronic shark itself), but at least a new ride would allow guests to visit Amity Island, perhaps a modern-day version, and find out for themselves whether its beaches should have remained closed for good. 

A new ride would probably be hugely popular, which means only one thing: Universal would definitely need a bigger boat.