Seven’s ending is just as shocking today as it was back in 1995, but a number of alternate endings were considered – including one where the box contained a dog’s head instead of Gwyneth Paltrow’s. Following his nightmare making Alien 3 David Fincher seriously considered never making another movie again, until he was sent the script for Seven. This bleak thriller followed two detectives' chasing down a serial killer who themes his murders after the seven deadly sins.

Seven ends on a heartbreaking twist where serial killer John Doe reveals he’s murdered Tracy, the pregnant wife of detective Mills (Brad Pitt). Doe has her head delivered in a box to prove he’s not lying and reveals he wants Mills to kill him, thus becoming Wrath in Doe's twisted design. While his partner Somerset (Morgan Freeman) tries to talk him out of this, Mills’ emotions overcome him and he empties his gun into Doe.

Related: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Costume Was Her Head In A Box From Seven

Seven’s ending is often considered one of the best twists in cinema, but of course, the studio felt this ending was way too dark. The ending was debated throughout production, so let's break down some of the alternatives that were considered.

There Were 7 Alternate Endings Considered For Seven

John Doe entering the police station covered in blood in Seven

The studio behind Seven was always concerned about the movie’s climax – making it somewhat ironic they sent Fincher the draft with this ending by mistake. Both Fincher and Pitt signed on with the condition the ending remained the same, but upwards of 7 alternatives were pitched. One version would have been a typical thriller climax, with Doe kidnapping Tracy and the duo racing against time to save her.

Another Seven draft ended in an abandoned church, with Mills and Somerset getting into a shootout with Doe. Somerset kills Doe but Mills also dies, and Doe’s body is left to burn beside a painting of the seven deadly sins. The other alternate endings were variations on the one seen in the film. There’s another Seven ending where Somerset successfully prevents Mills from killing Doe and another where Mills shoots and wounds his partner before shooting Doe. The only alternative that was given any consideration is one where Somerset kills Doe, somewhat robbing the killer of his victory and sparing Mills jail time. Fincher had this sequence storyboarded but never seriously thought about filming it.

Seven Could Have Ended With A Dog’s Head In A Box

Brad Pitt aiming a gun at the camera in Se7en

New Line was so desperate to soften Seven’s staggeringly dark ending one producer suggested to Brad Pitt that Doe could have killed Mills’ dog instead, and placed the head in the box. Needless to say, the actor didn’t respond well to the pitch. Ultimately, Seven’s original ending was too perfect so any attempt to tone it down simply didn’t work.

That said, the final alternate ending for Seven - and David Fincher’s preferred choice - was even darker. The filmmaker wanted the film to cut to black the moment Mills shoots Doe, but the studio insisted an epilogue be shot showing Mills being taken away and Somerset quoting Ernest Hemingway to soften the shock a little. Fincher still feels this final scene is pointless but since the studio let him commit to Mills shooting Doe, he conceded.

More: Unknown Facts About Seven