A deleted scene from Knives Out explains why Walt Thrombey (Michael Shannon) really has his foot in a cast, and why he was so desperate to inherit the publishing company. Knives Out was director Rian Johnson’s major follow-up success after his controversial franchise project with Star Wars: The Last Jedi, reviving the murder mystery genre ala Agatha Christie and Clue. The film has gained wide acclaim, even being nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 2020 Academy Awards and garnering a set of upcoming Knives Out sequels starring Daniel Craig’s Detective Benoit Blanc.
Knives Out follows the investigation of the wealthy Massachusetts Thrombey family after the patriarch, Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), is found dead of an apparent suicide. The entire family including his children Linda and Walt, their spouses, daughter-in-law Joni, and grandchildren Ransom, Meg, and Jacob had come together for Harlan’s birthday at his mansion the night before. Harlan’s family is thoroughly investigated by southern private detective Benoit Blanc and two local policemen, revealing strained relationships and evidence that paints the family as murder suspects. Harlan’s nurse Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas) is revealed to have mistakenly given him the wrong medicine dose, whereafter Harlan devises a plan for her to not be blamed for his death and avoid having her family deported - but the mystery doesn’t stop there.
Rian Johnson includes commentary on two deleted scenes on the Knives Out Blu-ray, with one scene detailing Walt’s shady background and providing more motivation for Walt as a suspect of Harlan’s murder. The scene follows Walt’s wife, Donna, arriving home to a suspicious man on her front porch. She immediately drops her groceries and, without knowing who he is first, explains that Walt will have his money. Blanc then pulls up, questioning Donna about why she and Walt lied about his leg injury. Walt explained his foot was in a cast from a bicycle accident, but Blanc pulls out hospital logs that reveal he was actually shot in the leg and admitted at 3 AM - not typical cycling hours. Donna confesses that Walt was shot by a man he owed money to after going broke from side investments, and embezzled funds from the publishing company.
Walt was clearly a desperate character considering Knives Out displayed the family's little faith in his ability to be original and only rode his father’s coattails of success, but the deleted scene adds a layer to why he could have murdered Harlan. The scene also explains Walt’s motivation for personally intimidating Marta at her home and threatening to deport her family, considering he desperately needed the money from the company to pay back his shady debts. It’s likely Harlan already knew about Walt embezzling company funds since he was planning on firing him the next day, though without this scene Knives Out makes it appear the firing was due to lack of competence.
Rian Johnson disclosed in his commentary that while that the scene was particularly difficult to part with, it ultimately wasn’t necessary to include when considering time constraints and pacing. The cut Detective Blanc and Donna scene would have occurred right after the news footage and crews were showing up at Marta’s house and right before Walt threatened her, explaining where Blanc is and the underlying motivation for Walt’s actions. Walt ultimately isn’t the killer so the deleted scene’s inclusion isn’t integral to the unfolding of the mystery, but it would have been a great addition to Walt’s character deep dive and the increasing suspicion around the Thrombey family in Knives Out.