Screenwriter Brian Helgeland recently reminisced about the controversial alternate ending to ‘Man on Fire’ that was ultimately scrapped by the studio. The original ending, which saw protagonist John Creasy (Denzel Washington) dying from bullet wounds after trading himself for the safe return of Lupita “Pita” Ramos (Dakota Fanning), was deemed more fitting and in line with the tone of the film.
Helgeland revealed that the alternate ending would have featured Creasy using a bomb placed in his rectum to kill the kidnappers, including The Voice, the mastermind behind Pita’s abduction. This ending, reportedly suggested by Washington himself, was considered too tonally jarring and out of place compared to the rest of the film.
Helgeland also recalled one of his favorite lines from the movie, uttered by Creasy before killing Victor Fuentes (Jesús Ochoa): “Last wish? I wish you had more time.” However, the alternate ending with the bomb in Creasy’s butt was not well received by Fox, the studio behind the film, and was ultimately cut.
