8 Shocking Plot Twists Cut From Movies
5. Riggs Dies At The End - Lethal Weapon 2
Shane Black is a screenwriting legend, having written quality action films like Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Black sold the script for Lethal Weapon at the mere age of 23, and when it became a smash he was automatically drafted to write the sequel.
Black claims his original script for Lethal Weapon 2 is the best thing he’s ever written, but the dark tone didn’t mesh with the director's vision; Black's script was more violent, featuring a higher body count, scenes of torture and a climax where a plane loaded with cocaine explodes over L.A., making it snow coke all over the city.
The climax featured Riggs dying of stab wounds he received from the villain, breathing his last breath in Murtaugh’s arms. Obviously having the hero die would have been a major bummer, so when the script was rewritten to become lighter and more optimistic it was cut. And it kinda makes sense; writing Riggs out might have been the braver choice, but it wouldn’t have gelled with the movie Richard Donner ultimately made.