The 2001 comedy, Zoolander, originally featured an ending in which the movie’s protagonist, Derek Zoolander, died and was sent to heaven. The film starred Ben Stiller as the “really, really ridiculously good-looking” male model, Zoolander, who was famous for his “Blue Steel” look. Stiller also served as director for the film, which contained elements from a pair of short films from Russell Bates that centered on a dimwitted narcissistic male model during the VH1 Fashion Awards television specials in 1996 and 1997.
While the film was largely panned by critics upon release, many calling it a “one-joke movie,” it still embedded itself into pop culture in many ways and has since developed a cult following. From “Blue Steel” impersonations to iconic Zoolander quotes, the fashion industry satire even featured numerous celebrity cameos (such as David Bowie) to win fans over. Despite the movie’s reviews, it gained a devoted fan base that still celebrates it twenty years later. So much so, that back in 2016, the movie spawned a sequel, Zoolander 2, which didn’t quite seem to live up to the original movie, earning negative reviews from fans and critics alike. Apparently, that sequel would never have been able to happen if Stiller was able to film his original ending to the first movie.
Reflecting on the twenty year anniversary of Zoolander, Stiller reveals to Esquire his original ending. Stiller recalls that his ending saw Zoolander face off against a bullet train, in which he had to shoot his famous “Blue Steel” look to stop the train. However, Zoolander’s efforts fail and he ends up dying and going up to heaven. View Stiller’s explanation of his original ending for Zoolander below:
“He has to shoot the ‘Blue Steel’ or ‘Magnum’ look at the train to stop it, and it doesn’t work. The train plows and kills him, basically, and then he goes up to heaven.”
Stiller’s original ending for Zoolander was never actually filmed, largely due to the studio passing on the idea. The studio didn’t find Stiller’s ending funny enough and wanted to opt for a more “feel-good ending” to the goof-ball comedy instead. While the studio diverted the film’s story away from dealing with Zoolander’s death in Stiller’s ending, the finished movie still features a scene in which the male model’s best friends are killed in a “freak gasoline fight accident.” Also, given the plot of the movie, a male model being recruited to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Stiller’s over-the-top ending may have fit right in.
Yet, had Stiller gotten his way, one of the movie’s most iconic moments would not have been filmed, which ends with Zoolander questioning the size of his newly launched “Center for Kids Who Don’t Read Good.” Because of the gruesome nature of Stiller’s original ending, the studio wanted a happier ending for Zoolander. In the end, that decision was probably for the best.
Source: Esquire