Zack Snyder Unveils Jaw-Dropping Secrets of Sucker Punch's Mind-Blowing Original Ending
Zack Snyder shares insight on his original ending for Sucker Punch, addressing criticisms of it being too weird Discover his plans for a director's cut as he delves into the film's unconventional conclusion
Highlights
Zack Snyder plans to release a director's cut of Sucker Punch, including the original ending that was deemed "too weird" by the studio.
The original ending of the movie featured Babydoll, the protagonist, singing on stage after undergoing a lobotomy, creating a haunting combination of hopefulness and hopelessness.
Despite receiving criticism for its portrayal of female characters and being seen as misleading, Sucker Punch, Snyder defends his artistic decisions and aims to challenge opinions with his director's cut.
Zack Snyder, the director of Sucker Punch, is opening up about his feelings towards the criticism surrounding his female-driven action movie, which was released 12 years ago. Snyder also aims to release a director's cut of the film that would include the alternate ending scene that many deemed "too weird." Having gained recognition through his 2004 remake, Dawn of the Dead, and his DC Universe films, Snyder is known for offering extended director's cuts to provide fans with additional content and a glimpse into his creative process. Despite Sucker Punch having a devoted fan base, it has been a source of controversy, leading to Snyder feeling misunderstood. Nevertheless, he hopes to one day set things straight by releasing his own director's cut of the film.
Synder's Sucker Punch revolves around Babydoll, portrayed by Emily Browning, a young girl with a tragic existence overshadowed by death. After unintentionally shooting and killing her younger sister while aiming at her abusive stepfather, Babydoll is thrown into an institution by him. In order to cope with her new reality, she envisions an alternate universe that encompasses the other institutionalized girls. Together, they devise a plan to escape their confinement, but the outcome deviates from their expectations. Ultimately, Babydoll selflessly sacrifices herself to save one of her companions and ultimately undergoes a lobotomy. Interestingly, Snyder hints that there is more to the original conclusion, expressing his intention to create a director's cut at some point in the future. "I've never gotten around to doing the director's cut. I still plan to at some point," he shared via Letterboxd to IFC.
Snyder then explained the changes made to the original Sucker Punch ending. In the original version, Babydoll, who had already been lobotomized, is shown in the basement with Blue. When the cop shines a light on her, the set collapses, and she stands up to sing a song on stage. She sings, "Ooh, Child, things are gonna get easier." The deceased character, Blondie, and others killed, join in, portraying the concept that despite being lobotomized, Babydoll is stuck in an endless loop of victorious bliss. This ending had a mixed tone of both optimism and pessimism. However, the studio found it too strange during testing, resulting in a change.
Snyder also addressed the criticism faced by Sucker Punch for its perceived misleading and exploitation of female characters. He found these comments disheartening and shared that they had actually removed scenes to ensure the film stayed true to its intended genre. Online reviews of the movie have also been divisive, causing a divide among fans of the director. Individuals who have seen Sucker Punch either love it or hate it. Nevertheless, Snyder aims to alter some opinions by releasing his own director's cut in the near future.
Sucker Punch will screen at New York's IF Center on Friday, August 4 - Saturday, August 5, 2023, for the 12th anniversary.
Source: Letterboxd
