In 2026, Steven Soderbergh will expand his creative output with the debut of a unique project: an interactive app focused on the making of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film Jaws. This innovative release reimagines the conventional book format by allowing users to explore the film’s production in unprecedented detail, marking a new chapter in Soderbergh’s career as he blends his deep passion for the film with cutting-edge technology.
A New Format for Exploring the Making of ‘Jaws’
Soderbergh’s longtime project, originally conceived as a book about the directing process, has evolved into an interactive app called Production 02074. During an interview with BKMag, the director described the app as a reconstruction of each day of filming. Users will be able to scroll through screen captures from every shot taken during production, accompanied by Soderbergh’s extensive commentary. He explained,
“Well, it’s done, and it was a book, but now it’s an app,”
adding,
“Because I’ve reconstructed every day of shooting, so you’re going to be able to scroll through the app and see screen grabs of every shot they got that day, so you can really see him building the movie piece by piece. And then there’s 25,000 words of me talking about the film. That’s the part I’ve been working on for a long time.”
This app offers fans and filmmakers a chance to experience the film’s creation from a shot-by-shot perspective, enriched by Soderbergh’s in-depth insights. It mirrors his earlier experimentation with app-based storytelling, such as the 2018 project “Mosaic,” emphasizing his interest in interactive media as a platform for narrative innovation.
Personal Connection and the Project’s Genesis
The idea initially aimed to serve as a broader treatise on directing before focusing solely on Jaws. Soderbergh revealed a deep personal connection to the film.
“It started out as a book about directing in general, and then became a book about the shooting of ‘Jaws,’ which allows me to digress whenever I want to, to talk about directing in general,”
he said. He reflected on the importance of Jaws in his own life, stating,
“I would have chosen it for this regardless, because it was the movie that made me want to make movies. Before I saw that film, a movie was something you went to see and be entertained by, and as soon as I got out of that film, movies were something you could do. I was switched on, and I think that movie fulfilled that function for a lot of young filmmakers.”
This passion transformed the project into a thorough dissection of Spielberg’s influence, not just a retrospective on a classic film but a study on filmmaking itself through the lens of a movie that inspired countless creators.
Potential for Both App and Book Versions
While the app is the primary focus for Soderbergh, recent comments hint that a traditional book form may still be released. In a discussion with Letterboxd, he referred to his detailed written work on Jaws as a comprehensive “walk through” of the film, explaining,
“Absolutely, which is why I wrote a [soon-to-be-published] book [about ‘Jaws’], to walk people through it in maddening detail.”
He emphasized how Spielberg’s film
“occupies a gigantic chunk of ‘influence’ real estate”
for him and that the project aims to analyze that influence meticulously.
The Impact of ‘Jaws’ on Soderbergh’s Life and Career
Soderbergh shared an intimate anecdote about how Jaws struck a chord on a personal level. He recalled,
“I was lucky because I saw it for the first time a couple of weeks after my, to that point, lifelong dream and ambition of being a professional baseball player died.”
His childhood obsessive personality faced a crossroads, and the film entered his life at a moment of vulnerability.
“I was bereft. I was in a place where I was really open to something reaching in and becoming a new obsession. So, in that theater in St. Petersburg, that summer where I’d been shipped off to see my grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles, I got transformed. And it turned out to be lucky that it was that movie because to this day, you know, I can point out the things in almost anything I’ve made and trace it back to something that was in that film.”
That transformation illustrates not only the power of Jaws as a film but also how it shaped Soderbergh’s creative path, fundamentally influencing the stories he chose to tell and the techniques he employed.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the ‘Jaws’ App and Beyond
The release date for the Steven Soderbergh Jaws app is approaching, with the director currently awaiting a beta version to review and provide feedback. This step signals that the project is nearing public availability. The interactive nature of the app promises to change how audiences engage with film history, offering a detailed and immersive experience into the making of a cinematic landmark.
As Soderbergh continues to innovate, combining his passion for film with new storytelling techniques, this project stands as a testament to his determination to explore fresh formats. Whether accessed as an app or potentially a traditional book, the depth and analysis offered by this project will likely become an essential reference for film enthusiasts and students alike, deepening appreciation for Spielberg’s masterpiece and filmmaking as an art form.
Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Seen, Read 2025’ diary reveals of "Production 02074," which is his long-awaited book on Steven Spielberg's 'JAWS.' https://t.co/SQkGDUKOlS pic.twitter.com/DdR5tAS2TI
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