Hooper, played by Richard Dreyfuss, was a significant element of the first Jaws, but he didn’t return for Jaws 2. This is the backstory of his absence.
The character of Hooper, played by Richard Dreyfuss, does not reappear in Jaws 2. The 1978 sequel to Steven Spielberg’s 1975 killer shark opus had a notoriously problematic production, with a cast and creative team who were unsure that it deserved a sequel. Despite the reservations of many in the industry, Universal went forward with the shark slasher picture, and familiar faces such as Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary, and Murray Hamilton reprised their roles.
The original Jaws cast is widely regarded as one of the film’s most valuable assets. Chief Brody, played by Scheider, brought a level-headed sense of sanity to the high-stakes plot, and Robert Shaw’s seasoned shark hunter Quint grabbed every scene he was in. Richard Dreyfuss portrays ichthyologist Matt Hooper, the third member of the legendary three, with exuberant enthusiasm.
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Despite being written to die at the film’s conclusion, a lucky coincidence involving the film’s live shark footage granted the character a reprieve, allowing him to live and swim home with Chief Brody at the conclusion.
Given that he survived the shark attack on Amity Island, his reappearance in the sequel seems only inevitable. Hooper, on the other hand, was not included in Jaws 2 and did not appear in any of the subsequent two sequels to the original Jaws. A look behind the scenes and into the creation of Jaws 2 reveals why Dreyfuss did not feature in the sequel.
It was due to the project’s lack of Steven Spielberg, that Richard Dreyfuss declined to reprise his role as Hooper. According to reports, Dreyfuss was offered a chance to return, but he declined unless Spielberg directed the film.
There it is, the main reason behind why Richard Dreyfuss never appeared in Jaws 2.
