The Untold Story of Eyes Wide Shut’s Wild Ending: What You Didn’t See

Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut remains one of cinema’s most mysterious and debated films, especially when it comes to its ending. Recently, a fascinating interview with Roger Avery, co-writer of Pulp Fiction, shed new light on the original screenplay and the intense fight Kubrick had with the studio over the film’s final cut.

Kubrick passed away before the film’s release, and the studio completed editing according to his instructions. However, controversy erupted over scenes depicting an orgy being censored with CGI characters to avoid an X rating, which could kill the film’s box office potential. The studio insisted Kubrick agreed to this, but Avery reveals a very different story behind the original ending.

According to Avery, he has a copy of Kubrick’s original screenplay, which features a much darker and more disturbing conclusion. Kubrick was reportedly locked in conflict with the studio about the film’s content. Avery describes a subplot involving the tailor’s young daughter being involved with older businessmen and a reward offered to keep silent about it—including an offer to Tom Cruise’s character. This narrative was reportedly narrated in the script, a detail lost in the theatrical release.

Theories abound about Kubrick’s intentions behind Eyes Wide Shut, with some suggesting the film’s cryptic dark themes and conspiratorial undertones point to something much deeper than the released version shows. What do you think about these revelations? Does the original ending change your perception of the film’s meaning?

Whether you love Kubrick’s artistic vision or find the film unsettling, these behind-the-scenes details add another layer to the enigma that is Eyes Wide Shut. Feel free to share your thoughts and theories in the comments below!