As even the most casual movie fan will tell you, virtually every frame of a film – even a bad film – takes months of planning and creative development. That said, it’s startling just how many memorable movie scenes were either last-minute additions or even very nearly left on the editing room floor!

From pre-production re-thinks to post-production re-shoots, you wouldn’t believe how many iconic cinematic moments came this close to not winding up on the screen. With this in mind, here’s a round-up of six amazing movie scenes that almost never happened!

6. Darth Vader unleashed (Star Wars: Rogue One)

Without a doubt. the most talked about scene in Star Wars: Rogue One comes during the film’s finale. Here, one of cinema’s greatest-ever villains, Darth Vader, personally pursues the stolen Death Star plans, dramatically dispatching several Rebel soldiers along the way.

It’s a moment fans have wanted to see since the character first appeared on screen – Darth Vader fully unleashing his powers – but it almost didn’t happen! This jaw-dropping scene didn’t feature in the original script and was only conceived and filmed during the editing process, a mere four months prior to Rogue One’s release.

5. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (The Wizard Of Oz)

When someone mentions The Wizard of Oz, chances are you immediately think of Judy Garland’s Dorothy Gale delivering a wistful rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. It’s one of cinema’s all-time classic musical numbers. But did you know The Wizard of Oz’s stand-out scene very nearly didn’t make the final cut?

See, the studio heads at MGM had numerous issues with “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” that ranged from the reasonable to the ridiculous! Complaints included the musical number’s effect on the film’s pacing, its subject matter (too confusing for children, apparently), and that having Garland perform in a barnyard was demeaning!

Fortunately, director Victor Fleming and several producers lobbied hard for the song’s inclusion. Thanks to their efforts, film history was made.

4. The Joker gives his approval (The Dark Knight)

Christopher Nolan isn’t known for being overly fond of actor improvisation, but that doesn’t mean the acclaimed director isn’t open to input from the cast when it works. Such was the case in The Dark Knight, when the Joker begins applauding the newly-promoted Commissioner Gordon from his holding cell – a moment cooked up on the spot by the late Heath Ledger! Nolan wisely kept this unplanned addition, and it lends the scene an unsettling air, blackly comic air – somewhat like the villainous clown himself.

3. The Fellowship takes the stairs (The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring)

Given the sumptuous visuals in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, you’d be forgiven for thinking that director Peter Jackson had a blank cheque to realise his vision for the movies. However, according to the audio commentary for The Fellowship Of The Ring, at least one planned action set piece had to be scrapped due to budgetary constraints.

As scripted, when the Fellowship hoofed it down Moria’s staircase, the Balrog soared over them. Jackson and the movie’s producers quickly determined that the visual effects involved were cost-prohibitive, and devised the more affordable, stripped-back version of the scene included in the finished film.

2. Puppy love at the dinner table (Lady and the Tramp)

The dinner date between Lady And The Tramp‘s titular pooches isn’t just one of the most famous scenes in the movie – it’s one of the most well-known in any film, ever! But interestingly enough, Walt Disney himself wasn’t initially a fan of the concept, fearing that dogs chowing down on spaghetti would come across as more ludicrous than remarkable.

Disney was so sure that the scene would be a disaster that he was on the verge of cutting it throughout pre-production, despite the pleading of animator Frank Thomas. It wasn’t until Thomas delivered his first take on the sequence that ol’ Walt relented, thoroughly blown away by how genuinely romantic it was.

1. Indiana Jones brings a gun to a knife fight (Raiders Of The Lost Ark)

In a truly epic bait-and-switch moment, Raiders Of The Lost Ark sees an exhausted Indiana Jones shoot a swordsman with his revolver rather than engage in a lengthy duel. It’s a hilarious gag that not only plays with audience expectations but also establishes Indy as more of a down-and-dirty scrapper than a noble warrior – and it was never supposed to happen!

Instead, director Steven Spielberg originally intended for our hero to face off against his opponent utilising his signature whip. However, star Harrison Ford caught dysentery and wasn’t up for filming the elaborately choreographed fight. So, Spielberg and Ford decided that Indy would simply draw his revolver and blow his enemy away, creating big screen gold in the process.

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What are your favourite amazing scenes that almost didn’t happen? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter or Facebook!