Original Jaws shark has been restored for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the museum …

Yesterday, as a way of celebrating the 44th anniversary of JAWS, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures announced an update on the restoration of "Bruce" – the original shark featured in Steven Spielberg's blockbuster film. According to the Academy, "Bruce" has been fully restored, save for the aquatic antagonist's eyes and teeth.

In 2016, "Bruce" was gifted to the Museum by Nathan Adlen, whose father, Sam, gained possession of the prop after the studio trashed the ferocious fish alongside a heap of ruined stunt cars. After taking ownership of the prop, Sam displayed the nightmare fuel icon at his junkyard.

Now, as the fourth and final version made from the original mold, a fiberglass version of the beast who kept beach bums ashore for months after the original film's release will be displayed for all to fear and appreciate. Granted, it'll be some time until "Bruce" is ready to terrorize the public once more, though this will give the restoration team the time they need to make sure that he's just as intimating as when he arrived on the big screen.

You can see the Museum's tweet which depicts the varying stages of the creatures restorative process below:

"As we continue working through the permitting process and move closer to completion, we are weighing the overall schedule for major industry events in 2020, and on this basis will choose the optimal moment for our official opening," a representative of the Academy Museum said in a statement.

While the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has no plans to open until presumably sometime in 2020, it doesn't hurt to give the institution a follow on Twitter to keep up with all the latest updates. I'm sure that once they're ready to let their doors swing wide, the Museum will be a thrill for any cinephile looking to appreciate some of Hollywood's greatest relics and then some.