 SPOILER: The ending in the movie is the ending in the original draft  of the screenplay. Producer Arnold Kopelson (qv) had it rewritten  and the ending became a race to save Traceys life. When  David Fincher (qv), Brad Pitt (qv), and  Morgan Freeman (I) (qv) read the new ending, they all demanded the  that original ending be put back in or they wouldnt do the movie.  (from the Platinum Series DVD)