Jeremy Strong Almost Gave Succession A Completely Different Alternate Ending
Jeremy Strong filmed an alternative final scene for Succession that would have been far more tragic.
While many of us are still left reeling from the incredible Succession series finale, Jeremy Strong is finally free to take a breath of fresh air. The actor, who remained powerfully committed to remaining in character throughout the run of the series, explained on the Succession official companion podcast that he almost dramatically changed the finale, according to a write-up in Deadline. Apparently, in the climactic scene in which Strong’s Kendall Roy stands on the precipice of the Battery Park barrier, likely contemplating leaping over the edge to his inevitable demise, there was an alternate take in which Strong actually attempted to leap, only saved by the character’s bodyguard, Scott Nicholson’s Colin.
The Succession finale, of course, follows the final exchange of power within the Roy family after their patriarch, Brian Cox‘ Logan Roy passed away earlier in the final season. Jeremy Strong’s Kendall was a long-standing pick for the natural succession of power throughout the series, though his rocky relationship with his highly dysfunctional family often threw a wrench into the works.
When it was revealed in the finale that Kendall’s sister, Sarah Snook’s Siobhan Roy, had pulled the biggest betrayal yet, capping a four-season run of non-stop backstabbing and extra-familial espionage, the remaining Roy siblings were left depressed, ashamed, and almost incapable of comprehending their own next moves.
For Jeremy Strong, the Succession finale was especially emotional, as the dramatic actor went to great lengths to embody the soul of his character since the series first began back in 2018. Though Strong’s commitment to the method perturbed some other actors on the set, such as Brian Cox and Kieran Culkin, it clearly made a positive impact on the final product of the series. One such example came in the series finale, wherein Kendall drinks a repulsive smoothie created by the Roy siblings in a brief moment of familial levity.
The smoothie was made during a game the siblings played in tribute to a childhood memory they shared, in which each sibling takes turns adding an ingredient into an increasingly disturbing concoction. The final product, which contained hot sauce, raw eggs, pickle juice, cocoa powder, milk, and even human saliva, courtesy of Siobhan, was actually consumed by Jeremy Strong before having the remains of the mixture poured over his head. Surely the Succession star had his reasons for trying to leap over the boundary at Battery Park, whether it was scripted or not.
The popular series has long held a reputation for slow-burn drama with muted performances bringing the subtle nuances of the characters to the forefront, which explains why producers likely opted for the take, which only shows Jeremy Strong considering climbing the barrier. It stands to reason that the over-the-top action may have been a bit too much for Succession‘s usual blend of empty, sardonic nihilism. Of course, the mere suggestion of Strong’s facial acting was enough to terrify fans into believing Kendall would take the plunge, making the decision to use the original take much more impactful.
