There are countless stories about studios meddling with filmmakers and ruining movies, but some movies are actually improved when studios get involved. The notion that studio oversight kills creativity stretches back decades. There are horror stories to back it up, although this is because the success stories aren’t discussed as much.
There’s a noble romance to the idea that filmmakers can champion their vision against their bosses and see their stories through. It’s much less interesting to hear that a studio got their way and changed things for the better, which is largely why people don’t hear about these behind-the-scenes facts.
10
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Castle Rock Subtly Changed The Ending
The Shawshank Redemption makes a few changes to Stephen King’s novel, but it’s mostly seen as a faithful adaptation that keeps King’s basic ideas intact. It’s a rare case of a movie adaptation actually improving on a book with some changes, including the tweak to the ending that Castle Rock Pictures insisted upon.
The brilliance of the closing sH๏τ is the subtle ambiguity.
The Shawshank Redemption ends with Red and Andy reuniting on a beach in Mexico, which is much more uplifting than the book’s ending, in which Red merely states his dreams for the future. Of course, the brilliance of the closing sH๏τ is the subtle ambiguity, suggesting that it may all be a fantasy that Red clings on to in order to survive in the outside world.
9
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Tobey Maguire Was Almost Replaced For The Sequel
Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man sequel was given a huge $200 million budget after the success of the first movie, but this put extra pressure on the production. When Tobey Maguire injured his back on the set of Seabiscuit, there were fears that he would be unable to appear in Spider-Man 2, so several other actors were considered to replace him.
Jake Gyllenhaal famously came close to taking Maguire’s part, but the studio intervened to ensure that Raimi was unable to recast the role. Maguire made a full recovery and performed some of his own stunts in Spider-Man 2. The sequel was a success, and it’s strange to think that Gyllenhaal could have taken over.
8
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
Disney Completely Reimagined The Emperor’s New Groove
Disney started developing The Emperor’s New Groove in 1994, but at that time it was envisioned as a dramatic musical epic called Kingdom of the Sun. The plot took inspiration from Charles Dickens’ novel The Prince and the Pauper, and it featured a snobby Incan emperor who traded places with a peasant doppelgänger to have some fun.
A documentary, The Sweatbox, details the tumultuous production of The Emperor’s New Groove.
Kingdom of the Sun was described as too complex, so Disney ordered the creative team to come up with two options for a complete overhaul of the project. Mark Dindal’s vision for a comedic road trip movie was more popular, and The Emperor’s New Groove was born, eventually becoming one of Disney’s funniest animated movies.
7
Army Of Darkness (1993)
Reshoots Created A Happier Ending
Army of Darkness had a troubled production, with on-set accidents, funding issues and constant delays. Still, Sam Raimi managed to steer the movie to completion, but Universal Pictures took over the reins in post-production and insisted on reshoots to change the ending.
The original ending to Army of Darkness, which fans of the Evil ᴅᴇᴀᴅ franchise might well have seen, has Ash accidentally traveling too far forward into the future, and he wakes up in a post-apocalyptic London. Universal created the more positive ending that most people are familiar with.
6
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
Dodgeball Almost Had A Strangely Depressing Ending
Dodgeball pokes fun at the tropes of sports movies, but it’s also a feel-good underdog story. It wouldn’t be the same if director Rawson Marshall Thurber was allowed to keep the depressing ending that he envisioned. Sad endings can often be darkly funny in comedies, but Dodgeball isn’t the kind of movie that would suit such an anticlimax.
Dodgeball‘s original ending would have ended with Average Joe’s being crushed in the final by Globo Gym. Although Thurber was forced to make a change, his true feelings still shine through. For example, the chest filled with gold is emblazoned with the phrase “Deus Ex Machina“, meaning that it’s a nonsensical, unearned victory in the story. White Goodman’s final scene also hints at Thurber’s vision, as Goodman complains that audiences can’t handle anything too challenging.
5
Alien (1979)
Alien’s Rewrites Gave It Franchise Potential
Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett developed the story of Alien together, before shopping the script around to several studios. When they eventually struck a deal with 20th Century Fox, they found themselves resisting a lot of the changes that the studio wanted to make. One change proved to be genius though, and it changes the whole complexion of the story.
The character of Ash wasn’t in the original story, but the android saboteur is a brilliant addition to the film. As well as providing the story’s biggest twist, Ash’s presence begs questions about the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Gradually, this started to shape the entire Alien franchise.
4
Good Will Hunting (1997)
The Original Script Had Plenty Of Action
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s script for Good Will Hunting helped catapult them to success, and it remains a common touchstone for aspiring screenwriters. This probably wouldn’t be the case without a little help from Rob Reiner, who was head of Castle Rock Entertainment at the time.
The original script for Good Will Hunting was a thriller about a man being pursued by the FBI. Reiner convinced Affleck and Damon to trim the fat and focus on what really matters: the dynamic between a mathematics prodigy and his therapist. After a few years and several different drafts, Good Will Hunting was released to widespread critical acclaim.
3
Tombstone (1993)
Director Changes Often Cause More Harm Than Good
A change of director usually indicates that a movie is in dire trouble. Even if the incoming director manages to iron out a few kinks, the end product is often a movie that lacks clarity and direction. Tombstone is one notable exception to this rule, proving that studios can be vindicated in their decisions to change directors.
George P. Cosmatos replaced Kevin Jarre, the movie’s writer, who reportedly struggled during his first attempt at directing. Although Cosmatos was seen as a safe pair of hands with a track record of action blockbusters, many people have claimed that Kurt Russell was actually the one calling the sH๏τs on set. Russell was aided by Tombstone‘s great cast and an exciting script, and he ended up with a cult classic Western that still gets a lot of love today.
2
The Big Sleep (1946)
Warner Bros Capitalized On The Interest In Its Two Stars
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall made four movies together. They started an affair on the set of To Have and Have Not, and married a year later after Bogart got a divorce from Mayo Methot. They quickly became the H๏τtest celebrity couple of their era, and Warner Bros insisted on reshoots to The Big Sleep so that they could have more scenes together.
Warner Bros made two more “Bogie and Bacall” films after The Big Sleep: Dark Pᴀssage and Key Largo.
The Big Sleep is known for its convoluted plot. The film’s biggest fans and detractors both claim that it’s hard to follow, but admirers still find a lot to love in the sizzling chemistry between Bogie and Bacall. If Warner Bros hadn’t intervened to shift more focus onto their romance, The Big Sleep might have been a more generic detective story.
1
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Disney Pushed For The More Shocking Ending
Disney’s handling of the Star Wars franchise has been pretty controversial among the hardcore fans, but Rogue One is mostly seen as a bright spot. Gareth Edwards’ spinoff follows a group of mismatched rebels on a covert mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, and it ends with an uncharacteristically downbeat moment, as the characters die for their cause.
The idea for the thrilling Darth Vader scene also came from higher up.
The original script for Rogue One had most of the characters surviving, but Disney suggested to Edwards that they should all be sacrificed instead. The idea for the thrilling Darth Vader scene also came from higher up, and it stands out as one of the highlights of the movie. The franchise has been away from theaters for a while, but there are finally some upcoming Star Wars movies for fans to get excited about.
