A Different Man | Workprint

For the uninitiated, A Different Man follows Edward (Sebastian Stan), an actor with neurofibromatosis who undergoes a radical medical treatment to “fix” his face. After his transformation, he becomes obsessed with a stage play based on his former life—only to watch an unaltered man (Adam Pearson) steal the role he believes he was born to play.

A workprint is an early version of a film that editors and directors use to test the flow of the story. These versions typically have the following characteristics: a different man workprint

: It is common to see a timecode ticker at the top or bottom of the screen and markings from grease pencils used by editors. Production Background of A Different Man Side By Side: BLADE RUNNER - From Workprint to Final Cut For the uninitiated, A Different Man follows Edward

: Much like other famous workprints (such as Blade Runner ), early cuts of A Different Man may lack specific voiceovers or include alternate endings that significantly change the emotional weight of the protagonist's journey of identity and transformation. It reminds us that film is not a

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.

, these versions serve as a time capsule of the creative process. The Danger of the Leak While these versions are "holy grails" for fans, they are often the result of controversial leaks. Studios like Warner Bros. and A24 take extreme measures to keep these versions under lock and key, sometimes even deleting them from servers to ensure only the polished, intended version reaches the public. 10 sites The Holy Grail of Workprints: The Five-Hour Rough Version of ... More options. ... In this deep dive into Apocalypse Now, Cinema Tyler looks at the infamous five-hour workprint cut, a raw, unedit... • Cinephilia & Beyond

In the age of digital perfectionism, the word “workprint” feels almost archaeological. Once a necessary evil of analog editing, the workprint—a rough, unfinished version of a film, often with temporary sound, missing effects, and placeholder music—has become a mythical object. For fans of Aaron Schimberg’s unsettling 2024 meta-thriller A Different Man , the rumored existence of an early workprint has taken on the same legendary status as lost cuts of Blade Runner or The Magnificent Ambersons .