Introduced in the second installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot franchise, Jason Clarke’s Malcolm served as the leading human character, who forms a close bond with Caesar and other apes. However, despite his significant presence in the film, the character was absent from its sequel, War for the Planet of the Apes.
And it was later revealed that the character was actually killed by Woody Harrelson’s Colonel J. Wesley McCullough, with the film’s novelization revealing the details surrounding the unseen death of one of the significant characters in the franchise.
Lost Scene Could Have Delivered a Chilling Opening to War for the Planet of the Apes
The official novelization of the 2017 film War for the Planet of the Apes revealed the real reason Jason Clarke’s character did not appear in the movie. According to the novelization, Colonel McCullough killed Malcolm after he urged the Colonel to make peace with the apes.
Following the events of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Caesar suggests Malcolm evacuate with his family for safety before the impending war between humans and apes begins. As per the novelization, Malcolm goes to meet with Colonel McCullough.
He suggests that Caesar is not just an animal but also a great leader and tries to convince him to extend a hand for peace with the apes. However, the Colonel, who harbors an intense hatred for the apes, dismisses the idea and shoots Malcolm in the head for supporting Caesar and the apes.
That woulda been a pretty sick way to open the film
— eeessahhh (@issapunk) June 8, 2024
Could you imagine this as the opening scene in WAR
— Scotty K (@ScottyK_CDVI) June 9, 2024
I wish I could unread this. At least keep it in the movie it would’ve made it even more compelling. Now I’m just sad
— Luke Church (@LukeChurch44) June 9, 2024
Malcolm gets killed and bam. Title intro sequence.
— Addy (@Addy13668241) June 9, 2024
This whole time I thought he got away with his family🤯so what happened with his girl and the kid?
— Champ (@ChampBoa13) June 9, 2024
wow. that explains why he didn't show up in War.
— Michael Pool (@Michael54098773) June 8, 2024
The revelation that it could have been a scene in the movie has received optimistic reactions from fans. “That woulda been a pretty sick way to open the film,” one fan said on X (Twitter), suggesting that it would have effectively established Colonel McCullough’s character and how cruel he could be.
Others shared their realization about why the character never appeared in the film, with many initially believing that Malcolm had actually escaped with his family. Many fans found satisfaction in the idea that Malcolm and his family survived, treating the deleted scene as canon.
Matt Reeves Revealed the Deleted Scene Referencing Malcolm’s Fate
Filmmaker Matt Reeves has also shared that there was a deleted scene between Woody Harrelson’s McCullough and Caesar referencing Malcolm’s unfortunate demise in the film. The scene depicts a conversation between the characters, during which the Colonel informs Caesar about the man who proposed peace.
When Caesar asks about what happened to him, Colonel McCullough tells him, “I killed him.” He also explains why he killed off the man who advocated for peace between humans and apes.
Reeves revealed, as per CinemaBlend,
And then [Caesar]’s is perplexed as to why, and The Colonel says, “His ideas were very dangerous because the ideas were like a virus and they could spread to others, and right now this is a fight for humanity.” So that’s what happened.
While the scene did not make the final cut, it was later reported to be included in the Blu-ray edition of the movie, along with various other deleted scenes that did not make it to the theatrical cut. The film series has continued with the recently released fourth installment and a stand-alone sequel, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
War for the Planet of the Apes is available to stream on Max.
