How Tom Cruise’s 2014 film, Edge of Tomorrow’s ending could have been much darker and ceased any plans for a potential sequel.

When Doug Liman’s sci-fi action film Edge of Tomorrow was released in 2014, it quickly became a fan favorite, praised for its unique premise, thrilling action sequences, and the dynamic on-screen chemistry between its two leads, Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt.

The movie revolved around Major William Cage and Sergeant Rita Vrataski as they repeatedly relive the same day to find a way to defeat the alien invaders. However, Cruise’s character eventually loses his time-warping powers because of a blood transfusion.

Tom Cruise as Major William Cage in Edge of Tomorrow | Credits: Warner Bros.

Luckily, that doesn’t stop Cage from defeating the aliens and resetting the timeline to before the invasion. The ending may have paved the way for a possible sequel. But screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie once revealed an alternate ending.

Christopher McQuarrie discusses an alternate ending for Tom Cruise’s Edge of Tomorrow

The official ending of Edge of Tomorrow saw Tom Cruise’s Major William Cage and Emily Blunt’s Sergeant Rita Vrataski successfully defeating the aliens, after which the time loop is broken. The ending was hopeful and left viewers with a sense of closure, but this wasn’t always how the movie was supposed to conclude.

Tom Cruise in a still from Edge of Tomorrow | Credits: Warner Bros.

In an interview with Film School Rejects, Christopher McQuarrie revealed that an alternate ending for the film would have never shown Cruise and Blunt’s characters reunion after their successful win. In fact, he admitted that he had pitched the idea of the movie ending when Cage wakes after the epic battle.

I know the ending was somewhat controversial, with some people who didn’t like it, but I think the only way to make those people happy would to end the movie in a way that wasn’t happy.

McQuarrie also admitted that the team behind the film was not interested in doing that. He stated, “We weren’t interested in doing that. It needed to end in a way that wasn’t harsh.”

The creative team behind the film stuck to their guns and put out what they thought was the best. However, the Cruise film did not do as well as initially expected. In fact, it only brought in $370.5 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo).

Although Cruise’s film did not financially fare as well as the team had hoped, it did wind up paving the way for a possible sequel.

Will there be a sequel to Tom Cruise’s Edge of Tomorrow?

Ever since Tom Cruise’s Edge of Tomorrow was released in 2014, fans have been hoping for a second part. Despite the film’s critical and commercial success, a sequel has been lost in limbo for years. However, with the actor recently landing a new studio deal, fans might be in luck for a sequel soon.

Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow | Credits: Warner Bros.

In a recent report from Warner Bros. Discovery, it was revealed that the studio had teamed up with the 62-year-old actor for a slew of new projects. The partnership will involve both producing original films and franchising content, according to a statement from Warner Bros. CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy.

When we first sat down with David Zaslav to talk about joining the Warner Bros. Discovery team, he said to us, ‘We are on a mission to bring Warner Bros. back – we have the best resources, storytelling IP, and talent in the business – and we need to bring Tom Cruise back to Warner Bros!’ Today, that becomes a reality and we are one step closer to achieving our ambition.

Although there has been no update on the sequel yet, the partnership could be a good thing for its plans. After all, Cruise’s last project with Warner Bros. was the 2014 film.

After Edge of Tomorrow, Cruise’s career has been mostly focused on expanding other franchises, mostly the Mission: Impossible one, but having him back again with Warner makes the expansion of the dystopian world a lot more likely.

Stream Tom Cruise’s Edge of Tomorrow on Netflix