The following contains mention of suicide and self-harm.

Almost every single time, movies shown in theaters aren't the initial version presented to studio executives. Instead, movies are notorious for rewrites, improvisational takes and complete reshoots to change certain events. While some of these uses have been to improve or even hurt a film, others were done to reflect better the world in which the story was being told. As an extension of that, certain moments have been cut due to the plot threatening to be too grim for the narrative or not fitting the tone presented.

One example of this came from 10 Things I Hate About You, which starred Julia Stiles and the late Heath Ledger in a clever adaptation of the Shakespeare's The Taming Of the Shrew. Set in modern times, the film was heavily reformatted to match the era it was set in. That said, there were still clever nods to the source material, in this case through Kat's friend Mandella, who had a huge infatuation with Shakespeare. However, it was revealed on IMDB that one plot thread involving the character would've taken a much darker turn than expected.

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How Dark Was the 10 Things I Hate About You's Original Script?

10 Things I Hate About You Mandella and Kat

Mandella's love for Shakespeare was still used in the film and served as a foundation for how she developed a connection and relationship with the character of Michael. However, the initial draft of the script went beyond being on the nose in how it portrayed her obsession. In fact, the script described how her infatuation with the playwright led to multiple suicide attempts because she believed doing so would allow her to be with the artist.

On the surface, it's clear why the scene was cut, but it also would've painted a grim picture for Mandella's character. The concept also contradicted her motivations as a character is both a disservice to Mandella and those that had to deal with such a dark topic in the real world. It's also a narratively tasteless way to honor the playwright who created the film's inspiration.

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Cutting Mandella's Dark Past Was a Smart Move

10 Things I Hate About You Mandella

Suicide has never been nor will ever be a laughing matter, as it's a tragic event that affects more than one individual. This also proved that cutting the mention of Mandella's attempts was an intelligent move for the film. Not only could it have triggered those that dealt with the trauma of suicide, but it also wouldn't have been handled in a way that would've done Mandella's character justice. To mention that she attempted suicide multiple times would have to merit a mature response to her actions and the film would have to devote time to discussing and tackling the topic as opposed to treating it like a joke.

Cutting the mention of suicide has since been proven to be the right choice for 10 Things I Hate About You, as the film has since become a classic among fans. It's also a solid adaptation of Shakespeare's work and included a character that would forever remind the audience of his importance. It also showed that even in 1999, filmmakers knew the importance of properly dealing with such delicate topics and that making light of such an act wasn't the right move. In the end, Mandella's character proves that sometimes pulling back can have a greater impact than pushing things too far.