Helmer, test auds convince Fox for pic's close
With his upcoming Fox release “Unfaithful,” director Adrian Lyne found a happy ending offscreen — with a more ambiguous ending onscreen. But the effort was not without struggle.
In one version of the Richard Gere-Diane Lane thriller about infidelity, all of the moral and narrative issues are tied up in a neat, comprehensive way. In the other, a more ambiguous finish leaves audiences to decide how everything plays out.
Lyne’s preferred ending closely echoes that of the pic on which “Unfaithful” is based: Claude Chabrol’s 1968 film “La Femme Infidele.”
Fox and Lyne debated the two endings before locking “Unfaithful” for its May 10 release, after six possible endings were reportedly shot on location in Tarrytown, N.Y.
Lyne favored the ambiguous ending. Fox wanted the simple, morally upbeat one. After hearing the comments from focus groups, however, Fox did a reversal and sided with Lyne.
Popular on Variety
“There’s a real danger in underestimating the audience,” Lyne tells Variety. “It’s the ending I always wanted, which was in the original script. It’s much more interesting this way. … But the movie is by nature controversial.”
It remains to be seen, however, whether the ambiguity will sell tickets. Lyne is no stranger to such art-and-commerce dilemmas: His “Fatal Attraction” remains the most famous case of an ending being altered due to testing.
Jump to CommentsMore from Variety
‘SNL’ Mocks VP Debate: JD Vance and Tim Walz Get Way Too Friendly, Vance Complains About Fact Checking
Despite ‘Joker’ Folly and ‘The Penguin’ Success, DC Studios Still Untested
Vance-Walz Debate Draws 43.2 Million Viewers, Down 25% From 2020 VP Faceoff
Tim Walz and JD Vance Hold Civil Debate on Immigration, Economy and Jan. 6
Netflix vs. YouTube: The Post-Streaming Wars Era’s Archrivalry
Tim Walz-JD Vance Debate: How to Watch the VP Debate Live Online
Most Popular
Inside the 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Debacle: Todd Phillips ‘Wanted Nothing to Do’ With DC on the $200 Million Misfire
‘Kaos’ Canceled After One Season at Netflix
‘Menendez Brothers’ Netflix Doc Reveals Erik’s Drawings of His Abuse and Lyle Saying ‘I Would Much Rather Lose the Murder Trial Than Talk About Our…
Saoirse Ronan Says Losing Luna Lovegood Role in ‘Harry Potter’ Has ‘Stayed With Me Over the Years’: ‘I Was Too Young’ and ‘Knew I Wasn't Going to Get…
‘Joker 2’ Axed Scene of Lady Gaga’s Lee Kissing a Woman at the Courthouse Because ‘It Had Dialogue in It’ and ‘Got in the Way’ of a Music…
Kathy Bates Won an Oscar and Her Mom Told Her: ‘You Didn't Discover the Cure for Cancer,’ So ‘I Don't Know What All the Excitement Is About…
Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried to Star in ‘The Housemaid’ Adaptation From Director Paul Feig, Lionsgate
Kamala Harris Cracks Open a Miller High Life With Stephen Colbert on ‘The Late Show’
‘Skyfall’ Director Sam Mendes Says James Bond Studio Prefers Filmmakers ‘Who Are More Controllable’: ‘I Would Doubt’ I’d…
Christopher Nolan’s Next Movie: Matt Damon in Talks to Star in Universal Film Set for Summer 2026
Must Read
- Film
COVER | Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
By Andrew Wallenstein 3 weeks
- TV
Menendez Family Slams Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ as ‘Grotesque’ and ‘Riddled With Mistruths’: ‘The Character Assassination of Erik and Lyke Is Repulsive…
- TV
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2 to Air on CBS After Paramount Network Debut
- TV
50 Cent Sets Diddy Abuse Allegations Docuseries at Netflix: ‘It’s a Complex Narrative Spanning Decades’ (EXCLUSIVE)
- Shopping
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Sets Digital and Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXF%2Bjp%2BgpaVfo7K4v46ipayhlJp6rrvVnmSuppaWtrW0xa6jZqtdlrqjtcaupq6rXZq7pbXNoGRqaWFshXeCk2loaA%3D%3D