For 50 years, Jaws has remained one of the most integral and beloved films in the history of American cinema. Based on Peter Benchley’s novel of the same name, director Steven Spielberg created a legend that took the summer of 1975 by storm, raking in fantastic reviews, millions at the box office, and coining the idea of the summer blockbuster. Despite its troubled production history thanks to the infamous legends of the shark not working, the picture came out perfect, thanks to its dynamic direction, effective scares, unforgettable music, and, of course, flawless casting. Everyone from Robert Shaw’s Quint to Lorraine Gary’s Ellen Brody feels as though they were destined to play their respective roles, and perhaps no one personifies this better than Roy Scheider as Chief Brody. Interestingly, this was not an easy film to cast. Despite the book being an undeniable best seller, many of Hollywood’s biggest stars turned down the opportunity to joust with the film’s toothy villain. However, in the case of Chief Brody, there was one star who was interested in taking on the part: The Ten Commandments star, Charlton Heston.
‘Jaws’ Was Not an Easy Movie to Cast
Considering how perfectly cast Jaws was, with even the smallest of supporting characters feeling ideal for their parts (e.g., the Brody sons), it may be hard to believe that it was a struggle to bring this cast together. According to Steven Spielberg: A Biography, Universal had set its sights on many heavyweights to populate Amity Island, particularly the main trio of Brody, Quint, and Hooper (a role that would, of course, go to Richard Dreyfuss). In the case of Hooper, for example, the studio had reached out to several actors, some intriguing, others surprising. For the marine biologist, the names considered included Jon Voight, Timothy Bottoms, Jan-Michael Vincent, Kevin Kline, Joel Grey, and Jeff Bridges. Ultimately, each turned the part down. Even Dreyfuss himself had his hesitations. According to the documentary The Shark is Still Working: The Impact and Legacy of Jaws, when Spielberg approached Dreyfuss about the role, the actor turned it down, telling Spielberg that he thought the film was “going to be a bitch to shoot.” After seeing himself in another film, though, and disliking his own performance, Dreyfuss came around.
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In the case of Quint, the role wasn’t any easier to film. As the biography by Laurent Bouzereau, Spielberg: The First Ten Years, reflects, Spielberg’s first choice to play the infamous shark hunter was Lee Marvin. Sterling Hayden was also offered the part but passed. Luckily, producers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown had just finished working with Shaw on The Sting and recommended him for the part. Spielberg had fondly remembered Shaw for his work in the James Bond film, From Russia with Love, and thought he would be the perfect Quint. Once Shaw was cast, there was only the matter of Chief Brody left. However, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars had already set his sights on the role. There was just one problem: Spielberg wasn’t convinced.
Steven Spielberg Didn’t Think Charlton Heston Was Right for Chief Brody
According to the documentary, Page to Screen, Heston was extremely interested in taking on Amity Island’s unlikely hero. Known for his heroic and masculine roles, Heston does seem like a great candidate for a shark-hunting sheriff, but Spielberg had other ideas. He thought Heston’s overtly manly persona wasn’t a good fit for Brody, and he had a point. The esteemed director said he wanted Brody to be relatable, someone that the audience could “hang their hat on, and say ‘I’m with you.’” While Heston was an undeniable talent, it is true that a part of what makes Brody work is his relatability. Between Quint’s haunted and brazen personality and Hooper’s elevated intellect, Brody is the character that pulls us into the high-end drama and thrills of the film. Even author Peter Benchley saw Brody this way, calling him “the everyman” in the Page to Screen documentary, something that would likely have been difficult to buy with Heston. So, how did Roy Scheider get cast?
Roy Scheider Was Cast in an Unexpected Way
After weeks of searching for Brody, Spielberg was frustrated. Not yet the iconic director we all know and love today, actors weren’t exactly clamoring to work with a then 27-year-old Spielberg. Unable to cast the role of Brody, Spielberg recalled in The Shark is Still Working being at a party and lamenting his troubles. Scheider was also in attendance and, according to Spielberg, responded, saying, “What about me? I’m an actor.” Spielberg was immediately drawn to the idea. He had been a great fan of Scheider’s work in The French Connection, and thought that he would make an ideal Chief Brody. However, Scheider did recall in The Shark is Still Working some hesitation when he overheard Spielberg talking about the finale, particularly the shark’s leaping onto Quint’s boat, the Orca. However, the casting, of course, worked out, and we finally got the right Chief Brody. It’s hard to deny just how perfect Scheider was for the role. He not only conveyed the character’s sense of anxiety and fear masterfully, but also added a perfect amount of nuance to help make Brody’s journey from reluctance to hero believable, helping it become one of the most satisfying and dynamic character arcs in film history.
Jaws was a famously difficult picture to make, but if there was anything more difficult to work with than the mechanical shark, Bruce, it was the film’s pre-production. From actors who had no interest in joining the soon-to-be blockbuster, to the misled ambitions of Heston, the movie could have sunk at any point on its way to the big screen. Luckily, Spielberg and the rest of the Jaws team assembled the perfect cast and made a film that continues to resonate with audiences, and haunts them each summer, just when they thought it was safe to go back into the water.
