Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway Discuss the Surprising Alternate Ending of ‘The End of Oak Street’

Summer blockbusters often lull audiences into a sense of comfort before delivering a shocking twist, and ‘The End of Oak Street‘ is no different. This dinosaur-infused sci-fi thriller from writer-director David Robert Mitchell has been the talk of the town, thanks to its jaw-dropping midpoint twist and an emotional final act that almost looked entirely different from what is currently in theaters.

Starring Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway as suburban parents Greg and Denise Platt, the film follows a Michigan family whose neighborhood is thrust back millions of years in time, complete with dinosaurs. This premise blends Amblin-style nostalgia with real danger, much of which falls on McGregor’s character.

In a recent interview, McGregor and Hathaway opened up about that gut-wrenching moment, revealing that the film’s now-iconic ending wasn’t always part of the plan. Midway through the film, Greg attempts to lure a rampaging allosaurus away from Denise, who is trapped on a porch. After she manages to fend off the creature with a rifle, Greg draws its attention, seemingly gaining the upper hand until the dinosaur turns on him, tearing off his leg and appearing to finish him off.

McGregor admitted that this moment genuinely surprised him when he first read it. He described it as a scripted shock, appreciating that the story chose to lose a family member earlier than audiences might expect, rather than saving it for the climax, a sentiment he shared during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He also talked about the physical demands of filming this scene, calling the process intense due to the rig work involved, while also acknowledging the lighter, sillier aspects of shooting it.

Hathaway praised her co-star for how he portrayed the moment, calling his performance both generous and impressive.

Things take an intriguing turn when Denise gathers her children and a neighborhood girl they have taken in. Together, they discover a time-rippling wormhole that sends them back to 1982. Realizing they can change the past, the group works to warn their neighbors before disaster strikes, ultimately leading Denise to find Greg alive, delivering pizzas after losing his job, reuniting the Platt family in the film’s final scene.

However, that happy reunion wasn’t always the plan. Hathaway revealed that the script underwent significant changes between her initial commitment and the start of filming, with the ending being one of the most notable shifts. She explained that in the original version, Greg still died and never returned, a detail that was altered just before production began.

According to Hathaway, this change required a leap of faith. She credited Mitchell and producer J.J. Abrams for their conviction that the new direction was right, admitting she had been emotionally invested in the darker version and had to trust their instincts going forward.

That trust paid off, as evidenced by a particularly emotional reaction from a test audience member who had lost their father. This viewer was moved to tears by the film’s final moments, telling Hathaway afterward that the ending felt like something only a movie like this could achieve.

‘The End of Oak Street’ is currently playing in theaters, giving audiences the opportunity to experience the revised ending for themselves. What are your thoughts on how the Platt family’s story concludes? Share your opinions in the comments.