WHALE OF A TALE

The automated whale created for “Star Trek IV” is metamorphosing: It’ll grow a large dorsal fin, razor-sharp teeth and other shark-y traits for ( dooo-do . . . dooo-do . . . dooo-do . . . ) “Jaws ’87.”

Industrial Light & Magic, creators of the whale, are awork on the makeover, reports “Jaws ‘87” producer-director Joseph Sargent. “But it’s only a five-footer. The shark in our film is a 23-footer. So the ILM shark will just be used for the sequences where we need a self-propelled creation, like some underwater shots.”

So what’s Sargent, best known for relationship-themed dramas (he just won an Emmy for “Love Is Never Silent”), doing in deep special-effects waters?

“I admit I was a bit skeptical when I was first approached about doing this. But Sid (Sheinberg, president of MCA/Universal Pics) insisted this one would be about people. His mandate to me was that it be a relationship picture.”

(Of the last “Jaws” go-round, which was anything but a relationship picture, he quipped: “We’re hoping everyone will have forgotten ‘Jaws 3-D.’ That’s why we’re not calling this one ‘Jaws 4.’ ”)

We’re honor-bound not to give away the plot. But negotiations are under way to bring back Roy Scheider, a.k.a. Chief Brody. (“That’s part of our wish list,” Sargent admitted.) Filming on the $15-millionish project (with Nassau providing locations) is expected to begin by Feb. 1. “But if there’s any way we can get going sooner, we will,” said Sargent, who revealed this one’s (gulp) heading our way July 4.