The Truman Show star Jim Carrey proved that he was more just comedic talent.

The Oscar-nominated screenplay of Andrew Niccol and the direction of honorary Oscar winner Peter Weir, Carrey showcased his gifted dramatic chops by way of Truman Burbank, the unknowing star of the world’s most popular reality television show.

On day 10,909 of his life’s 24/7 broadcast, Truman begins to recognize that there’s something off about his seemingly idyllic existence on Seahaven Island, which, unbeknownst to him, is actually the world’s largest soundstage in Burbank.

“The Truman Show would actually be a spiritual predecessor. I wrote The Truman Show before Gattaca, but we had to wait over a year for Jim Carrey, so Gattaca came first,” Niccol says.

The tone and genre of Niccol’s original Truman Show script were also a bit more in line with Gattaca‘s dystopian sci-fi world, but once Weir signed on to direct, he opted for a lighter tone that included the utopian facade of Seahaven. Originally set in an alternate New York City, Niccol is also revealing some of Truman’s darker story points that were later shed during his sixteen rewrites for Weir.

“I did envisage something darker,” Niccol shares. “In the original script, there was an innocent passenger attacked on the subway as a way to test Truman’s courage, and Truman had a platonic relationship with a prostitute who he dressed as Sylvia [Natascha McElhone].”

To commemorate The Truman Show’s 25th anniversary and today’s 4K release, Niccol also discusses the original final line of the film before it ceded to Truman’s beloved catchphrase that Carrey improvised.

First kernel of the idea that became Truman Show?

Original treatment was sci-fi thriller?

It would be spiritual predecessor. I wrote The Truman Show before Gattaca, but we had to wait over a year for Jim Carrey, so Gattaca came first. I did envisage something darker. In the original script, there was an innocent passenger attacked on the subway as a way to test Truman’s courage, and Truman had a platonic relationship with a prostitute who he dressed as Sylvia [Natascha McElhone]. [Writer’s Note: In the film, when Truman and Sylvia are separated by force on the beach, she leaves behind her sweater, so you can see how that second abandoned story point could have been realized.]

Lightening tone of original script?

I always thought the premise was bullet-proof, and even though the original draft is set in an alternate version of New York City — if you can fake it there, you can fake it anywhere — I was happy to embrace Peter’s more idyllic, small-town take on a counterfeit world.

Peter is a genius at getting actors to stretch as he proved with Robin Williams [Dead Poets Society] and others. While not the most obvious choice at the time, Peter immediately saw how Jim would elevate the story, which of course he undoubtedly did.

Finer points grappling with the most?

There was a debate about how the mechanics of the set worked. There was even a version where we followed Truman through the sky, and he encountered a studio tour and a souvenir store all devoted to him. In the end, Peter made the right decision to end it when he left the set.

Did Christof (Ed Harris) condition Truman to say this catchphrase (Good Morning)?

I think it was originally an ad-lib by Jim, but yes, the duplicitous Christof seized on it and directed the extras in Truman’s life to pretend to be amused.

Truman’s catchphrase as final line?

Telecasting real people’s lives was novel?

When I first conceived of the film, there wasn’t any so-called reality television. I’ve always thought Truman is the only genuine reality star. When you know there’s a camera, there is no reality. I am a bit surprised that we have become our own Trumans, turning the camera on ourselves and cataloging every aspect of our own lives, willingly.

Truman finding happiness with Sylvia in the real world?

That has to be left to the imagination of the audience. Ultimately, it’s always better if you write the ending.

The Truman Show is now available on 4K.