"Which was an enormous draw": Widow's Bay star Matthew Rhys reveals "the big reference" of Jaws in the upcoming Apple TV comedy horror

Widow's Bay is a story about a small island, a stressed-out mayor, and right from the very beginning, we can sense that there is something seriously off. And for Matthew Rhys, he knew what he wanted from the show right from day 1.

While discussing Widow's Bay in a chat with TV Insider, Matthew Rhys said,

"The big reference we have in the series is Jaws, which was an enormous draw and attraction for me as it is truly one of my favorite films..."

So yes, going by what Rhys has answered, Widow’s Bay is heavily inspired by Jaws. And no, this isn't just a surface-level nod. We can see how deep the influence runs and bleeds onto the story (even in the ways that the town itself behaves).

Read more to find out how Jaws inspired Apple TV's Widow’s Bay.

Yes, Widow's Bay is inspired by Jaws, but flips it around with a comedic premise

The concept and premise for Widow’s Bay are very interesting once you know which franchise it has been inspired by. Jaws is the blueprint, and don't worry, there is no direct plagiarism happening.

In Widow’s Bay, you have a coastal town that depends mostly on tourists. You have a leader who's trying to keep things glued together. You also have something people don’t really understand lurking in the background. All these concepts can be likened to Jaws.

But here’s where things can be differentiated. Unlike Jaws, Widow’s Bay isn’t just about fear and suspense. There is dread along with awkward humor and characters who don’t even agree on whether the danger is real or not.

Rhys even hinted that many horror films have been referenced across Widow’s Bay, but he has held back on naming them because he wants us to feel that element of surprise while we're watching the Apple TV series for the first time.

What this means is that Widow’s Bay isn’t trying to be extremely predictable either. It wants that same thrill you get when you recognize something iconic, and it wants you to go: “wait, I know this!”

Matthew Rhys saw the Jaws influence as a reason to jump into comedy with Apple TV's Widow’s Bay

For someone like Matthew Rhys, who isn’t necessarily known for comedy, this project could have gone either way. But the inspiration from Jaws drew him in. Not just because it’s a classic, but because of how Widow’s Bay could balance its own tone from the inspiration.

He talks about how the show moves between horror and humor (a perfect contrast) in a way where one second you’re uncomfortable, the next you’re laughing.

As talked about previously, Rhys also pointed out that he wants us to find out about the references mentioned in Widow’s Bay naturally, the same way he did when he first read the script.

At the same time, the story follows Tom, a mayor trying to fix the town for his son, while not fully buying into the island’s darker history.

So while Widow’s Bay does play around with genres and many other references, that Jaws inspiration ties everything perfectly.

Widow's Bay has many influences, and that’s exactly why it is worth checking out. Then again, Matthew Rhys calling Jaws “an enormous draw” isn’t just a statement made for the fun of it.

According to Rhys, even if the show pulls from many other films and references, the Jaws element is the most prominent one. However, instead of copying the formula, Widow’s Bay plays around with humor, strange characters, and a tone that keeps changing.

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