That discrepancy has led many to call the workprint a hoax. But others argue that the inconsistency is intentional: a final prank from Schimberg, a director who has described his own career as “a series of masks worn so long they become skin.” Even if the A Different Man workprint never sees an official release, its legend serves a purpose. It reminds us that film is not a fixed artifact but a living process—and that sometimes, the most radical version of a story about identity is the one that admits it isn’t finished.
The theatrical cut is a polished, claustrophobic fable. But sources close to the production describe the workprint as something rawer: a version that ran nearly 25 minutes longer, with extended scenes of Edward’s pre-surgery isolation, less of the jazzy synth score, and—most critically—a different ending. a different man workprint
Until the workprint surfaces officially—if it ever does—it remains a ghost. But for those who’ve heard the rumors, it’s a ghost worth chasing. Want to dive deeper? Check out Aaron Schimberg’s earlier film Chained for Life (2018), which also stars Adam Pearson and explores similar themes of performance and physical difference—no workprint required. That discrepancy has led many to call the workprint a hoax