Is the Movie Already Done by the Time You See the Trailer?

Have you ever watched a movie trailer and wondered if the film itself was already completed? The answer can vary widely depending on the stage of production and the marketing strategy being employed. In this article, we aim to clarify when a trailer might show scenes from a movie that has not yet been entirely finalized.

Trailer Scenes on Release Day

It is not uncommon to encounter situations where scenes shown in a trailer may not appear in the final movie. This can be due to several factors, including last-minute changes or re-shoots. For instance, the trailer for the film about JP Getty originally featured Kevin Spacey as the main character. However, due to his scandal, his scenes were re-shot with another actor. This means that the trailer with Spacey had already been released before the film was fully completed.

Trailers Before Final Release

Trailers can be released months before the film's actual release for a variety of reasons. Filmmakers and distributors often use teasers and early trailers to generate excitement and interest among the audience. These trailers may feature unfinished or edited footage to give a glimpse of what to expect. Consequently, it is possible that scenes shown in these early trailers will not make it into the final cut of the film.

Some films are subjected to a limited test market release followed by re-edits based on feedback from focus groups or press previews. For example, Roman Polanski showed us an early cut of Rosemary's Baby during his film school days. However, the film was later re-edited, and it is unknown if the changes after this event were applied.

Marketing Strategies and Footage Availability

For major studio films, the first teasers or trailers are often released well before any editing is complete. In many cases, the first trailers are cut from special shoot material and can be quite different from the final film. The studio may provide some footage to the marketing department to create a trailer, which can lead to changes between early and later versions of the trailer.

This is evident in the trailer for Venom, where different versions of scenes have been shown. In one early version of the trailer, a room of people is shown falling over, while in a later version, the character of Venom is edited into the scene, swinging his alien arms around.

Moreover, some footage used in trailers does not make it into the final film. This can be seen in Star Wars: Rogue One, where the character of Jyn Erso is seen walking out on a tower platform. In the trailers, Jyn is shown facing off with a Tie Fighter, but in the film, the ship never appears.

In conclusion, it is essential to understand that trailers can show scenes that are not in the final movie due to various factors, including last-minute changes, re-shoots, and marketing strategies. As a viewer, it is fascinating to see how the film evolves from the first trailer to the final product.