Top 10 MASSIVE Changes to the Script That Happened at the Last Minute

This fourth installment of the “Terminator” franchise finishes on a hopeful note, but that wouldn’t have been the case if the production had used the original ending. The film follows the Resistance, including a cyborg played by Sam Worthington, as they battle against the machines post-Judgment Day. The writers had planned for John Connor to be killed and for the cyborg to wear his skin like a costume, keeping his image alive. He then would have gone on a murder spree, killing most of the rest of the main characters. However, the script leaked online during production, and the backlash was intense. Warner Bros. ordered a completely new third act, which gave us the version we know today.

If you know anything about this movie, you probably know that thanks in part to studio meddling, there are multiple versions floating around. Many fans would argue that the U.S. theatrical release, which features Harrison Ford’s narration, is the worst one. The voiceover was added during post-production after test audiences reacted negatively to a screening, finding the film confusing. Neither Ford nor director Ridley Scott were happy about the addition, which completely changes the tone and feel of the movie. It’s hard to argue that Rutger Hauer’s beautiful monologue is improved by Ford’s voice jumping in to over-explain his thoughts. Fortunately, modern fans can enjoy both the director’s cut and the final cut, which remove the obnoxious narration.

You can thank Disney’s then-president Jeffrey Katzenberg for saving this movie. The original version of “Pretty Woman” wasn’t a rom-com. It was a serious drama about the perils of sex work called “3000” – a reference to the amount of money Edward pays Vivian. In the script, Vivian is dealing with substance use disorder and Edward eventually abandons her. The movie would have ended with Vivian and her friend Kit catching a bus to Disneyland. Luckily, Katzenberg demanded an overhaul, and the result was a “My Fair Lady”-inspired fairytale that became a box office sensation. Some deleted scenes from the original version were included in the 15th anniversary DVD release, so fans can get a glimpse of what might have been.

This script went through multiple rewrites before Warner Bros. and Tim Burton settled on something that satisfied them both. One of the biggest changes between the drafts and the final product was the inclusion of Robin. He would have shown up as a mechanic who helps Batman patch up the Batmobile after it’s wrecked, and you’ll never guess who they cast to play the Boy Wonder. Burton wanted a Black actor for the role, and ultimately went with the then relatively unknown Marlon Wayans. Although the part was eliminated before he actually filmed any scenes, Wayans’ contract ensured he still got paid a cool $100,000 for doing basically nothing.

This tale of love crossing class boundaries almost had a very different ending. The version that was released has the rich and popular Blane realizing that his friends are jerks and reconciling with Andie. But in the original ending, Blane never sees the error of his ways and instead, Andie ends up with her best friend Duckie. Unfortunately, test audiences hated it. Molly Ringwald also wasn’t a fan, and the studio worried that the rich kids ultimately shunning the blue collar kids sent the wrong message. They ordered reshoots, which were completed in a single day months after production had officially wrapped. The original footage was lost, but Duckie fans can take comfort knowing that in another universe, he got the girl.

What do you do when your script gets leaked online and your twist ending gets ruined? You rewrite it and guard the new pages with your life, obviously. “Scream 2” initially featured four killers, including Sidney’s roommate and her new boyfriend. To prevent another leak, even the actors weren’t told about the killer’s true identity until the day of shooting. Writer Kevin Williamson later claimed that the leaked version was a fake, but that would be news to Wes Craven. “Scream 2” wasn’t the only movie in the franchise to go through last minute changes. In the first “Scream,” Officer Dewey was supposed to die. But Craven and crew loved David Arquette’s performance so much, they couldn’t bear to kill him off.

The story behind this beloved rom-com classic is almost as romantic as the movie itself. At the time Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron were working on the screenplay, Reiner had been divorced for many years and had a rather pessimistic view of relationships. As a result, the original version had Harry and Sally going their separate ways in the end. Fortunately, Reiner met and fell in love with his future wife, Michele Singer, while making the film. It not only changed his outlook on romance, it inspired him to change the movie too. The result was Billy Crystal’s heartfelt, iconic declaration of love. We can’t imagine it any other way.

If Disney had gone forward with the first version of this movie, we doubt it would have turned into the hit franchise it became. Woody was imagined as a sinister wooden dummy who’s much more villainous than the Woody we know and love. The first iteration of Buzz was a G.I. Joe-style action figure. He was reconceived as a not-too-bright astronaut initially named Lunar Larry and later Tempus from Morph. It was Joss Whedon’s idea to make him think he’s a real astronaut rather than a toy, which became central to the plot of the film. The writers also planned to make Barbie a major player, but Mattel wouldn’t license the rights.Of course, that changed after “Toy Story” became a huge success.

Disney superfans probably know that this movie is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale “The Snow Queen.” They might not know that, like Andersen’s title character, Elsa was first conceived as a villain and would have been voiced by Megan Mullally. The script included a scene where Elsa kidnaps Anna and attacks Arendelle. When director Jennifer Lee was finally brought on, the production basically had to start over, with just a year and a half to create a completely new film. Songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez were pivotal to redefining Elsa’s character. Their song “Let It Go” portrayed her as sympathetic but complicated rather than purely evil. It helped turn “Frozen” into a multi-billion-dollar franchise.

This movie holds a special place in fans’ hearts, but surprisingly, the original draft was completely different from the final version. Conceived as a more serious film called “Kingdom of the Sun,” it followed a spoiled emperor who switches places with a villager who looks just like him, voiced by Owen Wilson. Yzma was a witch who plots to destroy the sun, and the beloved character of Kronk didn’t exist at all. After years of development, directors Roger Allers and Mark Dindal couldn’t agree on how to complete the film. Dindal suggested a total overhaul, turning the movie into a buddy comedy. The new cast and crew raced to complete the film in time for a December 2000 release date, and the rest is history.

Which original versions of these movies would you like to see? Let us know in the comments.