The original ending to Rampage left Dwayne Johnson threatening to quit

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

SPOILERS for RAMPAGE, so watch your step. Based upon the 80's arcade-game of the same name, RAMPAGE follows Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson) and a discredited genetic engineer (Naomie Harris) as they team up in order to secure an antidote and bring a halt to a global catastrophe when a trio of giant genetically altered alpha predators run amok and begin destroying everything in their path. One of those newly giant creatures happens to be George, an albino gorilla who Okoye has taken care of since he was an infant.

Although the film likely isn't going to wind up on any top-ten lists, audiences seem to be having a fun time with it, but there was one moment in which Dwayne Johnson threatened to walk away before the production even began, and who wants to watch a giant monster movie without Johnson? I certainly don't. In a profile with Rolling Stone (via /Film), Johnson spoke about the ending to RAMPAGE, which finds Davis reuniting with George and reminding him that he's a good guy, after which the two of them team up and take down the crocodile and the wolf before they destroy the world. However, the original ending was a little darker and Dwayne Johnson wasn't going for it.

"So the script comes in, and I'm reading it," Johnson said. "And at the end of it – George dies! I'm like, 'No. Did I miss something? George can't be dead.' But I go back, and yeah." As Dwayne Johnson isn't a fan of sad endings, he brought it up with Brad Peyton and the producers. "Life brings that shit – I don't want it in my movies. When the credits roll, I want to feel great," Johnson argued. After a big meeting in which they gave the actor all the reasons that George should die, Dwayne Johnson stood his ground and remained adamant that George should live, even threatening to quit if that wasn't agreed to.

My problem is I have a relationship with an audience around the world. For years I've built a trust with them that they're gonna come to my movies and feel good. So every once in a while, you have to drop this card, which is: You're gonna have to find another actor. We need to figure something out, otherwise I'm not gonna do the movie.

In the end, George was allowed to live, although they did pull the 'ol death fake-out and had George pretend to die in order to mess with his buddy, Davis. RAMPAGE is now playing in theaters, so be sure to check out a review from our own Chris Bumbray!