'Amazing Spider-Man 2' Alternate Ending Revives A Familiar Character; Watch Deleted Scenes
Update: Watch the alternate ending discussed here and many more deleted scenes in a 20+ minute footage embed below.
One of the issues with this summer's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was that there was just too much damn story to get through. Electro's origin, Harry's reappearance, Harry's transformation into the Green Goblin, Gwen Stacy's relationship with Peter, the Rhino's introduction... it was a lot to take in.
As it turns out, though, it could've been worse. An alternate ending making the rounds reveals yet another crazy twist that got excised at the last minute. Hit the jump for more details on the scene. (Spoilers for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 follow.)
Initially, Peter seems upset, but he thaws as the two start talking. Richard apologizes profusely and explains that he had to disappear to avoid Oscorp and protect Peter. But naturally, all of the mysteries surrounding the dad's supposed death and miraculous not-death are left open-ended because then there'd be no subplot to pick up on in the sequel.
Peter and his father hug, sit down on a bench, and talk some more. The dad gives a speech about how he thought he was going to save the world, but he now realizes that Peter's the one destined to save the world. The conversation culminates in Peter's dad delivering the "with great power comes great responsibility" line traditionally given by Uncle Ben. (As Badass Digest recently reported from the shooting script.)
It's not clear at what point Sony and director Marc Webb decided to ditch the scene, but it was clearly late enough in the game that the footage had already been shot. So modern-day Richard Parker joins Shailene Woodley's Mary-Jane Watson in the category of Amazing Spider-Man 2 cameos who got chopped after filming.
It's easier to guess why they dropped the scene. For one thing, the last thing The Amazing Spider-Man 2 needed was more plot. (That's also why MJ got the axe.) For another, it's a big bombshell that had the potential to piss off purists and confuse newbies — not exactly the kind of thing you want to throw down casually. Not to mention that the timing really detracts from the emotional punch of Gwen Stacy's death.
So we can't say we're especially sorry to see this exchange go. The idea that Richard Parker might still be alive is an unusual twist, but it'd be a radical reinvention of Peter's traditional orphan narrative. Do you hope Sony brings Richard Parker back in the next installment, or would you rather see him stay dead?
Update: Watch a full set of Amazing Spider-Man 2 deleted scenes here, including the alternate ending discussed above.