14 Of Your Favorite Movie Characters That Were Supposed To Die

Rocky V was supposed to be the last movie in the Rocky franchise, and Rocky was supposed to die during a fight with Tommy Gunn. Studio executives however, didn't like the idea of Rocky dying, claiming heroes don't die. It also worked out because Rocky was brought back for another film 16 years later.

This is an example of a character that made it out alive in the movie, when they weren't so lucky in the source material (the book in this case.)

The Head of Security for Stark Industries was supposed to die during a fistfight in the third film, but he instead went into a coma and woke up at the end of the movie.

In the original script, Riggs was killed in the final shootout at the end of the movie, but producers saw the opportunity for more Lethal Weapon movies and had him survive. The screenwriter left the film series because of the changes.

In the original script, Ripley was going to have her head bit off by Xenomorph and then the alien would record a final entry into the log in Ripley's voice before the end of the movie. Producers thought the ending was just a little too dark (you think!?) for a movie that was already very depressing movie. So instead, the alien died at the end of the film.

Dr. Rodman was supposed to die in Caesar's arms at the end of the movie, and the scene was even shot for the film. However, it was eventually changed for a different ending. When the sequel came around, Dr. Rodman's character only makes a brief cameo and it's assumed he died of the Simian Flu.

When Paranormal Activity was first shot, Katie was originally shot by police after they discovered her in the house having killed Micah. When Paramount Pictures acquired the rights to the movie, they didn't like that ending, and two new ones were developed. One where Katie survived the night but it was unclear where she was. The second had Katie slit her own throat with the same knife that had killed Micah. The first of those 2 was eventually used.

There were plenty of difference between the movie version of Hooper and the original book version. In the book, Hooper was incredibly unlikable, a trait that was changed when the part was rewritten for for Richard Dreyfuss. In the book though, Hooper died at the end when he went into the water in a shark cage.

Much of the movie is the same as Quentin Tarantino's original script, except that in the movie Clarence and Alabama get away together. Tarantino said in his original script, Clarence died and only Alabama got the money. Director Tony Scott said he made the change because he fell in love with the couple and wanted them to have a happy ending.

After David Arquette was cast as Deputy Sheriff Dewey Riley, the character became much more likable than in the original script. Director Wes Craven decided audiences might not react well to seeing him die, and he was right. Two versions of the ending were filmed, one where he died, and one where he lived. Test audiences did not like Dewey's death, and he went on to appear in three Scream sequels.

It was seriously considered killing off Han Solo in the middle of Return of the Jedi, but George Lucas wasn't a big fan of the idea. He was worried that the character's death would cut into toy sales.

Dr. Ian Malcom has the actor that played him to thank for surviving the movie. Michael Crichton agreed to let the character live, even though he died at the end of the novel the movie is originally based on.

In the novel the movie is based on, Rambo dies at the end of a battle with Sheriff Teasle. The death was even filmed for the movie, but then Sylvester Stallone realized he had a new franchise potential, and Rambo went on to live.