The Monkey Has A Deleted Scene With A Real Scorpion, And The Director Explains How It Originally Fit Into The Movie

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To steer clear of spoilers, I usually refrain from watching trailers before watching a new movie. However, after seeing the film, I enjoy going back to watch them to see how the movie is being promoted. Recently, when I revisited the trailer for Osgood Perkins’ “The Monkey“, something intrigued me so much that I had to ask the writer/director about it during a recent interview I conducted as part of the virtual press day for the new Stephen King adaptation.

In the trailer, you can see a quick glimpse of an enormous scorpion entering a mug, but it turns out this scene wasn’t included in the movie. Actor Theo James, who played The Monkey in the film (as shown in the video at the top), discussed this with director Perkins during their interview. He clarified that the scorpion was real and was part of a scene that got removed during editing. According to Perkins, this scene was unfortunately discarded.

That scene was originally part of the movie but it didn’t quite mesh well with the overall storyline. It stood out awkwardly. In reality, it was a scorpion. He was generously compensated for his role. He had an entourage by his side. Those scorpions were quite harsh characters [laugh]. However, he performed admirably and we found ourselves supporting him. Eventually, he ended up in the cup of hot cocoa, and we decided to exclude that part from the final cut. Poor creature.

I find it fascinating to visualize a movie team, full of excitement, observing a scorpion meticulously following directions and eliciting jubilation from the crew when Perkins announced “wrap.

In which part of the film did the scene occur? I initially thought it was a segment during the second act’s montage where the main character, the monkey, brutally kills residents of Casco, Maine. However, the writer/director clarified that the scorpion scene actually belonged to the movie’s initial act, featuring young Hal and young Bill (portrayed by Christian Convery). The director, Perkins, elaborated on this.

Young Hal prepared a hot chocolate for his brother, accidentally spotting a scorpion just as he was about to take a sip. In his surprise, he knocked it over instead.

Or simply: Hal, being young, made a hot chocolate for his brother but spotted a scorpion at the last moment, causing him to knock it over before drinking.

In the completed version of “The Monkey,” there seems to be a scene that aligns with young Hal’s imagined scenarios of harming his twin brother, as hinted by Bill getting a bowling ball dropped on his face while sleeping. However, this scene is not included in the final film. Osgood Perkins and Theo James briefly discussed why this was excluded from the movie.

Osgood Perkins: It didn’t make the cut in the film. It’s not excellent.

Theo James: It made it into the movie! It’s fantastic!

More about The Monkey!

The Film Based on Stephen King’s Original Title, “The Monkey,” Made a Major Alteration During Production, and It Was a Necessary Adjustment
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Death Takes Everyone, and That’s a Harsh Reality: The Cast of the Remade Stephen King Movie Discusses the Brutally Honest Perspective on Death’s Finality

Featuring Tatiana Maslany, Colin O’Brien, Sarah Lev, Rohan Campbell, Elijah Wood, and Adam Scott alongside Theo James and Christian Convery, the film titled “The Monkey” hit theaters this weekend, riding a strong tide of positive reviews. It’s currently enjoying success as it secured the second spot at the box office. If you’ve already watched it, I can assure you that it’s even more enjoyable on repeat viewings, so consider adding it to your watch list in the near future (and maybe grab the fantastic “Monkey” popcorn bucket available exclusively at AMC Theatre locations).

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2025-02-27 05:38