Plenty goes into the making of a movie, especially if it's a blockbuster. While we like to believe our favorite films are the result of a singular vision, there are numerous people involved in deciding what moments make it to the final cut. Sometimes, the jettisoned scenes completely change the plot of a film or reshape a character's arc. Fortunately, deleted scenes and director's cuts have given fans a glimpse of these lost moments from cinema's biggest hits.
Often, the scenes are cut to reduce a film's running time. Other times, a creative clash is the reason behind the alteration. Regardless, these choices can fundamentally change a film - or simply reduce a character's growth. Whether it's a kind gesture or the reveal of a major plot point, these deleted scenes offer a very different read on some of our favorite movies and the characters in them.
Character And Film: David Levinson, Independence Day
Deleted Scene: David explains he can decode the alien's language and use tech from Roswell to make his Macintosh computer capable of uploading a virus to the mothership.
How It Changes The Main Character: This scene shows how much of a genius David is, but more importantly, it fills a major plot hole that viewers have wondered about since the film's 1996 release: How the heck can the humans give a virus to an alien operating system?
Deleted Scene: After learning she's been in stasis for decades, Ripley asks Burke for news of her daughter. It turns out she passed two years ago - at the age of 67.
How It Changes The Main Character: This piece of information affects Ripley as a character across the franchise, but for Aliens, it explains why she's so protective of Newt, the orphaned girl she discovers on LV-426. This is likely why Newt was included in the narrative in the first place.
This information also completely changes Ripley's motivations and makes her trip aboard the Nostromo in Alien even more tragic. As Ripley tells Burke, "I promised her I'd be home for her birthday. Her 11th birthday."
Character And Film: Aragorn II, son of Arathorn; The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Deleted Scene: Aragorn shares soup with Éowyn and it's revealed he's actually 87 years old.
How It Changes The Main Character: The scene not only reveals Aragorn has access to the greatest skincare routine in all of Middle Earth, but that he's pretty spry for an octogenarian.
In all seriousness, the age reveal is an important aspect of Aragorn's character that is largely missing in the theatrical Lord of the Rings trilogy. As a member of the Dúnedain, Aragorn is a descendant of ancient Numenor - Tolkien's version of Atlantis - and possesses greater fortitude and a much longer lifespan than ordinary mortals. By noting that he's actually 87, Aragorn is no longer "wiser than his years" but a veteran of some serious conflicts.
Characters And Film: Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda; Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Deleted Scene: Yoda explains to Luke that Obi-Wan wanted to tell him Darth Vader is his father, but Yoda wouldn't let him.
How It Changes The Main Character (And His Friends): This small moment changes the relationship between Luke, Yoda, and Obi-Wan. For Luke, he now realizes that Obi-Wan didn't want to keep things from him, but Yoda did. For Obi-Wan, it proves he disagreed with Yoda and wanted to reveal the truth to young Luke.
The whole thing switches around a number of relationships and personalities while also teasing tension between Yoda and Obi-Wan.
Deleted Scene: When Lilo introduces Stitch to her fish friend, Pudge, Stich slaps the fish away. Out of the water and vulnerable to the seagulls, Pudge soon perishes. Lilo tries to fend off the gulls, but Stitch just sits and watches. After Lilo chastises Stitch, she buries Pudge - right next to the graves of her parents.
How It Changes The Main Character: This scene not only teaches Stitch about mortality, it marks a major turning point for his character's morality. After failing to act, he learns how much he's hurt Lilo - something he takes to heart. It makes the film a bit darker but also allows the audience to see more of Stitch's growth.
Characters And Film: Harry Potter, Petunia and Dudley Dursley; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Deleted Scene: Before the Dursleys leave Privet Drive, Harry has a moment with each of the family members.
How It Changes The Main Character (And His Family): Arguably, these scenes are more important for Petunia and Dudley than Harry. For book readers, the final moments with the Dursleys will be familiar. But moviegoers merely got a glimpse of Harry's tormentors before they left the series forever.
In the two scenes, we hear Petunia speak fondly of her sister for the first time, proving that she was affected by the loss. We then have Vernon prove he hasn't changed at all before Dudley says a good-bye to Harry and gives him the closest thing to a compliment Harry has ever received from a Dursley. These moments provide Harry with a little closure, but they also prove that two out of the three Dursleys are at least a little human.
Deleted Scene: After making breakfast for his new friends, Thor asks for one of their mugs. He brings it to the diner they were previously at and gives it to the proprietor to replace the one he had smashed earlier, apologizing for his behavior in the process.
How It Changes The Main Character: Though it's not a major moment, it's a nice callback and further illustrates just how much Thor has changed since coming to Earth. Given that the entire plot of the film revolves around Thor becoming a better person, his humility and thoughtfulness in this scene speak volumes for his character.
How It Changes The Main Character: When it comes to Blade Runner, assessing the plot depends on which of the several versions you're watching. Then, there are the contradictory statements made by Ridley Scott, Harrison Ford, and others. And that's not even bringing the original short story into it. But if you watch the Director's Cut, you'll see the unicorn scene, which was removed from the original theatrical release.
On its own, the scene doesn't mean much, but when you realize Gaff left an origami unicorn for Deckard, it suggests he knows what Deckard was dreaming about. This implicitly confirms the long-running theory that Deckard is a replicant.
Character And Film: James T. Kirk, Star Trek (2009)
Deleted Scene: James's older brother, George, tells James and their uncle he's leaving home. James is told to wash the car (which belonged to his father), but he first connects with George, who can't stand living with their uncle. George leaves and James finds the keys to the car as he's cleaning it.
How It Changes The Main Character: Aside from explaining just who James drives past in the red Corvette (his brother in the original cut), it provides the inspiration for pretty much the entirety of Captain Kirk's arc in the film.
