Monkey Man Deleted Scenes Include Alternate Ending, Says Dev Patel

Summary

• Monkey Man’s ending could have been different with deleted scenes that would have changed the entire outcome of the film.
• Dev Patel revealed that some of his best-directed scenes didn’t make the final cut, leaving viewers curious about the alternate versions.
• The original ending involved a different introduction for the villain, showcasing the complexity of the storytelling in Monkey Man.

The Monkey Man ending could have been completely different. Directed, co-written, and produced by Dev Patel, Monkey Man is an action-packed thriller that stars Patel as its titular Kid. Kid, a man who is beaten in fight clubs every night, eventually discovers a way to sneak into the secret haven for the upper class and begins enacting his revenge. The film has earned immense praise for its action, stakes, and its complicated plot.

While Monkey Man‘s shocking ending has been the root of discussion around the movie, it did not initially end the way that the final theatrical cut does. In an interview with Collider, Patel revealed that the ending actually could have been very different. There are several deleted scenes that would have completely changed the ending, and Patel believes that those scenes were the best ones that he shot. Check out his full quote below.

There’s a lot. Actually, I think some of my best directed stuff, like compositionally, didn’t make it in the cut. That was hard… I think we’re going to chuck the deleted scenes out there on the DVD extras.
There’s a whole alternate beginning and a whole alternate ending
. It ended differently. The villain had a whole different intro, which was unbelievable. But, you know, it went.

Will Monkey Man’s Alternate Ending Ever Be Released?

The Alternate Ending Is Likely To Be Available On DVD

Patel’s unreleased Monkey Man ending is likely to be released someday. Patel indicated that the deleted scene should be available on the DVD extras, alongside other deleted scenes from the movie. The extras will also feature a different introduction for the villain, and there are likely other cut scenes scattered across the movie’s timeline. There could also potentially be a post-credit scene, given that a different ending could leave room for more exploration of Kid’s character. As released, Monkey Man did not have a post- or mid-credit scene.

While it will be interesting to see the differences in the movie’s story, the ending was changed for good reason. Monkey Man has achieved critical acclaim, having secured an 87% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 83% audience score. The ambiguous and stunning ending is a major element of that praise, as it evokes the same intense emotions as John Wick: Chapter 4. The ending revealed his devotion to his vengeful cause and a drastic change could diminish Kid’s story.

Regardless of the alternate ending, it is unlikely that the new footage will change the direction of any potential sequel. The scenes will not be viewed by the vast majority of audiences, so canonizing those scenes would only confuse viewers. While Patel praised the composition of the shots, not releasing those scenes in theaters means that their existence will only ever be known by die-hard supporters. Should Monkey Man earn a sequel, the deleted scenes will likely be ignored. Thankfully, they will still be released with the DVD extras.

Source: Collider