Kevin Bacon Really Wanted That Deleted Kiss with Matt Dillon
Twenty-six years after the release of the iconic, sultry thriller Wild Things, actor Kevin Bacon has dropped a delicious revelation about a steamy kiss that never made it to the screen.
Yes, darlings, it seems Hollywood wasn’t quite ready for what would have surely been one of the hottest moments in 90s cinema.
Released in 1998, Wild Things quickly became famous (or infamous) for its erotic twists, scandalous intrigue, and sizzling scenes between actors such as Neve Campbell and Denise Richards. However, it turns out that the movie almost included an equally steamy encounter between its male stars, Kevin Bacon and Matt Dillon.
In a recent interview with Esquire‘s “For the Record,” Bacon revealed that the original script included a surprise romantic twist—his character, police detective Ray Duquette, and Dillon’s character, guidance counselor Sam Lombardo, were supposed to have an intimate kiss during their steamy shower scene.
Can we just take a moment to collectively fan ourselves? Bacon candidly shared, “In the original script, we start making out. Part of what was crazy about the movie was that there were all these twists… To me, [the kiss] was a great twist.” And let’s face it, darlings—he’s not wrong! Unfortunately, the Hollywood execs behind Wild Things got cold feet, and the groundbreaking kiss was removed before filming even started. According to Bacon, the film’s financiers felt that a romantic moment between two men “went too far” and “wasn’t right.”
Talk about a missed opportunity for cinematic history! When Esquire asked him about the lost scene, Bacon charmingly admitted, “Yeah, I definitely was [attached to the kiss]. Look at him—he’s gorgeous.” We’re right there with you, Kevin! It’s delightful to see him speaking openly and warmly about this moment, making us all wonder what other fabulous film moments Hollywood has hidden away.
Director John McNaughton echoed Bacon’s sentiments in a 2023 interview with Entertainment Weekly, emphasizing how groundbreaking the scene would have been at the time, saying the actors were supposed to “look each other up and down and then wham—go at it.”
It’s clear attitudes have changed significantly since 1998, and we can only celebrate the progress, while mourning a moment that might have been deliciously iconic. While Hollywood wasn’t ready for this sizzling scene in the 90s, the revelation gives fans a tantalizing glimpse of what could’ve been.
Today, we applaud Kevin Bacon’s openness and continue to celebrate the growing acceptance and visibility of LGBTQ+ stories and characters on screen. But let’s be real—we’ll always mourn that lost kiss, won’t we?
Cheers to Kevin and Matt—still gorgeous after all these years!
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