The ending to the iconic 1987 film, Fatal Attraction, has remained a topic of discussion amongst critics and audiences alike for decades. Actress Glenn Close, who portrayed the film’s villain, Alex Forrest, has publicly criticized the treatment of her character in the ending. It was also revealed that the studio altered the film’s original ending despite Close’s advocacy for it. Showrunner Alexandra Cunningham initially had doubts about adapting the story for television due to the scrutiny surrounding the film’s ending. However, she ultimately embraced the opportunity to expand upon Alex’s perspective and explore the impact of her actions on the Gallagher family’s daughter, Ellen.
In contrast to the film, the series takes a different approach to its finale. Dan Gallagher, played by Joshua Jackson, is paroled after serving 15 years for Alex’s murder, but he tries to clear his name by setting up a whodunit. Eventually, the series reveals that Arthur, a Gallagher family friend and Beth’s current partner, murdered Alex on the night of her death. The final moment shows Ellen, played by Alyssa Jirrels, revealing her secret obsession with her professor and creating a cliffhanger ending that could lead to a potential second season. Cunningham intended for the finale to reflect on a personality disorder that stemmed from emotional and psychological trauma as a child caused by her father, Dan, who is a narcissist. She also wanted to explore the father-daughter dynamic, a subject that fascinates her.
Cunningham was initially hesitant to tackle Fatal Attraction due to the movie’s iconic status and a longstanding criticism about its portrayal of mental illness. However, she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to explore the deeper themes of the film and address the challenges surrounding privilege, mental illness, and the criminal justice system. She acknowledged that the movie did its job effectively, but it was more about using the opportunity to delve deeper into the film’s themes.
The series flips back and forth from the future, where Dan Gallagher is tried for Alex’s murder, to the past, where the events of the film are revisited. Cunningham explained that the time jump was a way to explore Ellen’s adult perspective on the events of the film that she lived through as a child. Additionally, they wanted to highlight Alex’s point of view, which was not fully represented in the film, by building upon the work Close did to portray a character struggling with emotional pain and isolation.
The series also deviates from the film by having Alex murder Beth’s mother, as opposed to the infamous scene in which Alex kills the Gallagher family’s pet rabbit. Cunningham remarked that they chose to let the bunny live and instead have Alex commit a more heinous crime that would be impactful enough to push the audience to sympathize with Dan and his family.
Cunningham acknowledges that there is a lot of pressure and scrutiny when adapting a film as iconic as Fatal Attraction. She anticipates that the reception to the series will be mixed and is bracing for a reaction from Close herself. However, she believes that actress Lizzy Caplan’s portrayal of Alex was successful and that the opportunity to explore the story’s complex themes was too good to pass up.
Overall, the Fatal Attraction series aimed to expand upon the film’s iconic story and delve deeper into its themes. Cunningham wanted to explore the impact of Alex’s actions on Ellen and the father-daughter dynamic, and she wanted to address the criticisms surrounding the film’s portrayal of mental illness. With a different ending, the series leaves the audience wanting more and sets up the potential for a second season.
