The iconic ’90s thriller almost included an unexpected twist involving a steamy encounter between the male leads.
The Wild Things Scene That Never Was
Wild Things, one of the most provocative thrillers of the ’90s, could have been even more daring if a particular scene written by screenwriter Stephen Peters had made the final cut. In a recent interview commemorating the film’s 25th anniversary, director John McNaughton revealed the existence of a steamy shower scene between the two male leads, Kevin Bacon and Matt Dillon.
The Scene That Surprised Even the Director
McNaughton admitted to being taken aback when he first read the script, saying, “When I first read the script, I was like, ‘I didn’t see that coming!’ But we couldn’t do it.” The scene would have introduced an unexpected twist, adding a new layer to the relationship between the characters played by Bacon and Dillon.
A Twist That Could Have Changed Everything
In Wild Things, Neve Campbell and Denise Richards portray two young women seemingly conspiring with Matt Dillon’s character to execute an extortion scheme. Kevin Bacon plays a police detective hot on their trail. The film’s third act, however, unveils that Bacon and Dillon’s characters were in cahoots all along.
The original version of the scene would have taken this twist even further by revealing that the two men shared a deeper, more intimate relationship than just a professional one. According to McNaughton, the scene involved Matt Dillon’s character entering his bathroom to take a shower, only to find Kevin Bacon’s character already there. The two would then engage in a passionate encounter.
The Scene That Didn’t Make the Cut
Unfortunately, the scene never made it to the big screen. McNaughton stated that one of the actors (without specifying which) did not want to participate in the scene with another man. The director remarked, “I love surprise, and I love stuff that I don’t see coming. But in that moment, it was like ‘You win some, you lose some; we’re moving on.'”
In a 2005 interview with Total Film, both Bacon and Dillon commented on the deleted scene, offering contrasting perspectives that seemed to reveal which actor was not on board with filming the steamy moment. Bacon expressed his support for the scene, saying, “I thought it was great because the whole movie is about secrets coming out, right? As reveals go, that one was just huge.” However, he also mentioned that the financiers felt the scene went too far and wasn’t right for the film.
Dillon, on the other hand, expressed relief at the scene’s removal, saying, “No, I didn’t [want to make out with Kevin in the shower]! Man, I was relieved when they got rid of that scene. Kevin seemed pretty attached to it, though!” He added, “One twist too many, man, one twist too many. Kevin’s a married man. I’m wondering why he was so eager to do the gay scene?”
Rediscovering Wild Things
Despite the deleted scene, Wild Things remains a memorable film that pushed the boundaries of the thriller genre. With its surprising twists and turns, the movie continues to captivate audiences even 25 years after its release. For those interested in revisiting the film or experiencing it for the first time, Wild Things is available to stream on Hulu.
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