When I spoke to Outlaw King director David Mackenzie at the Scotland junket for the film, one of the things we talked about both on and off camera were the Netflix film's deleted scenes. If you didn’t know, after world premiering the film at the Toronto International Film Festival, Mackenzie decided to remove over twenty minutes of footage for the final release. While I enjoyed both cuts of the film, the shorter one is definitely better. That’s because even though the new cut removes the character of William Wallace and a few chase sequences, it improves the overall pacing and allows the Robert the Bruce's (Chris Pine) arc to shine brighter.

Anyway, while at the junket, I mentioned to both Mackenzie and Netflix that I’d love to premiere an Outlaw King deleted scene on Collider because some of the stuff he removed was really well done and I figured the fans of the film would want to see them.

Which brings us to today.

I’m extremely happy to be able to world premiere an Outlaw King deleted scene that features Chris Pine and Aaron Taylor-Johnson escaping from the English army. Spoilers for the film follow below, if you haven't seen it yet.

I actually got to speak with Mackenzie about the deleted scene and he told me the sequence “took place directly after Robert sails back to the mainland vowing to end all chivalry having been given the news that his brother had been hung, drawn and quartered, all his male supporters massacred and his wife Elizabeth (Florence Pugh) and daughter Marjorie had been captured and taken to England.”

He also told me why he decided to remove the sequence after TIFF:

“I love the sequence and think it has some amazing energy, really good action shots and is a fully rounded scene, which is why I am so glad that Collider is able to show it. I decided to cut it because it was the third surprise attack on Robert in the film - and while these were all based on true events, there was a sense of 'ambush fatigue’ for the audience experience.  I also felt that Robert had been down enough and wanted to concentrate on him fighting back and clawing his way up from rock bottom, so by removing the scene we go directly to Robert raiding and reclaiming his own castle.  This felt like better momentum and drove the story forward.  Of course it’s a shame to lose great stuff but it should always be about the film as a whole and not the constituent elements.”

Like I said before, I think Mackenzie made the right decision removing the scene to make the overall film stronger, especially now that fans have the chance to check it out on its own.

Watch the scene below and further down is my exclusive interview with Mackenzie about the scene, why he cut it, if fans will be able to see any of the other cut scenes or the extended cut, and what Netflix has told him about the number of people that have seen the film.

Based on a true story, Outlaw King stars Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce, a man who transformed from defeated nobleman to outlaw hero during Edward I’s occupation of medieval Scotland. Robert claims the Scottish crown, assembles an army, and stands up to the tyranny of their English overlord and his unstable son, the Prince of Wales. Outlaw King also stars Florence Pugh, Tony Curran, Billy Howle, Stephen Dillane, James Cosmo, and Sam Spruell.

For better quality make sure to set the player to HD.

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Collider: Filming action takes time and money. When I’ve seen action scenes removed from a film it’s sometimes due to the scene not coming together. But this scene is well shot, features some brutal violence, and is just well done. Why did you decide to remove this scene?

DAVID MACKENZIE: I love the sequence and think it has some amazing energy, really good action shots and is a fully rounded scene, which is why I am so glad that Collider is able to show it - thanks for doing this!  It is a scene based on historical reality as Robert and his supporters were attacked when they landed back on the mainland after hiding out in the isles over the winter of 1306.

I decided to cut it because it was the third surprise attack on Robert in the film - and while these were all based on true events, there was a sense of 'ambush fatigue’ for the audience experience.  I also felt that Robert had been down enough and wanted to concentrate on him fighting back and clawing his way up from rock bottom, so by removing the scene we go directly to Robert raiding and reclaiming his own castle.  This felt like better momentum and drove the story forward.  Of course it’s a shame to lose great stuff but it should always be about the film as a whole and not the constituent elements.

Where did the scene take place in the film?

MACKENZIE: The scene took place directly after Robert sails back to the mainland vowing to end all chivalry having been given the news that his brother had been hung, drawn and quartered, all his male supporters massacred and his wife Elizabeth (Florence Pugh) and daughter Marjorie had been captured and taken to England.

We shot it on Loch Laggan, which has the largest freshwater beach in the UK - the reason we chose this is because the complex fight scenes would have been much harder in tidal waters.  Without the problems of tide we were able to keep boats and the camera gear in the same place rather than constantly moving them as the water level changed.  All the other boat scenes were shot in tidal waters, but they didn’t have the logistics of a battle scene to deal with.

When we spoke at the junket in Scotland, you mentioned there has been some talk of Netflix maybe releasing some of the deleted scenes or letting fans of the film see the extended cut. I’m happy people can see this scene. Any updates on the other deleted scenes or the extended cut?

MACKENZIE: This scene is the first of the deleted scenes and sequences to be released.  There may be one or two more scenes released in time, but I am not sure of the details yet.  As for an extended cut, I don’t think that is likely. Creatively I feel the cut we showed in Toronto was compromised by the rush to meet the deadline of playing there and I feel much happier with the cut as it currently stands - which is my director’s cut.

But if the film ends up capturing the audience imagination and in the future there is an appetite for a totally new extended cut, I would consider going back into the material to re-edit and create something from the material that didn’t make it - there’s plenty of it!

I know Netflix will never release the numbers of what people are watching, but do they seem happy with how the film performed so far?

MACKENZIE: It feels that the film is doing very nicely and Netflix are delighted with the viewing.  But for me one of the great things about this type of release is that all that opening weekend pressure is not the same as a studio theatrical release, where a film can live or die in a matter of days.  With a release like ours, we can just be there and build our audience, which is great.

I don’t know how you can work out the numbers of viewers because it’s hard to tell how many people are watching each screening.  When we watched it at home the other day there were 18 people in the room, does that count as 18 people watching or just one screening?  Obviously it’s a different way of doing things so it’s hard to compare like with like.

Thanks Collider for giving us the chance to show this scene.

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Finally, if you missed my interview with Chris Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tony Curran, Billy Howle and David Mackenzie at TIFF where we went in depth about the incredible tracking shot that opens the film, click here. You can also click here for all our other Outlaw King coverage and interviews.

Here is the official synopsis for Outlaw King:

Outlaw King tells the untold, true story of Robert the Bruce who transforms from defeated nobleman to outlaw hero during the oppressive occupation of medieval Scotland by Edward I of England. Despite grave consequences, Robert seizes the Scottish crown and rallies an impassioned group of men to fight back against the mighty army of the tyrannical King and his volatile son, the Prince of Wales. Filmed in Scotland, Outlaw King reunites director David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water) with star Chris Pine alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh and Billy Howle.