Movie Characters Who Were Supposed to Die…But Didn’t
Throughout history, there have been numerous instances where a movie character was set up for DEATH . . . but ultimately saved by a script rewrite. Here are some of the most famous cases . . .
--"Lethal Weapon 2": At the end of the movie, MEL GIBSON'S character, Martin Riggs, gets shot several times, "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" plays, and . . . HE LIVES.
--Apparently, the producers decided they had a real franchise on their hands. (--There ended up being two more "Lethal Weapon" flicks.)
--"Rocky 5": Rocky was supposed to die in his street fight with Tommy Gunn. SYLVESTER STALLONE thought better of it . . . and 16 years later, in 2006, he gave the character a much more respectable send-off with "Rocky Balboa".
--"First Blood": In the original novel, John Rambo dies at the end. Stallone even filmed that ending. But ultimately, he decided to spare the character . . . and his bank account was most appreciative.
Here's the original ending:
--"Scream": DAVID ARQUETTE'S goofy cop character, Dewey, wasn't supposed to make it out of the first movie alive. Director WES CRAVEN actually shot the ending both ways: With him living and dying.
--For some reason, the decision was made to keep him around . . . and he'll be back for the upcoming "Scream 4".
--"Return of the Jedi": Han Solo was NOT supposed to survive the "Star Wars" saga. The plan for the third film was to have Han's friends rescue him from Jabba the Hut . . . but for Han to later die in the raid on the Death Star.
--It was GEORGE LUCAS who nixed the idea. HARRISON FORD wanted Han to die, as did writer Lawrence Kasdan.
--Gary Kurtz . . . who produced the first two movies . . . recently said, quote, "George decided he didn't want any of the principals killed. By that time there were really big toy sales and that was a reason."
--"Full Metal Jacket": MATTHEW MODINE'S character, Private Joker, ended up being the main character. But he was supposed to die when Private Pyle . . . played by VINCENT D'ONOFRIO . . . went postal.
--Modine himself convinced director STANLEY KUBRICK to keep him alive.