History Trivia / ThePostman

** The pen-ultimate version of the script contains scenes of the Postman making a new Holnist creed, centered on mercy, but only after killing Bethlehem[[note]]The BrokenAesop nature of it is why it got scrapped[[/note]]. It also has one of the Benning gatekeepers (who suffered from UncertainDoom in the final cut) as one of his letter carriers, while the fate of Clarke, the [[spoiler:Californian]] postman is left ambiguous.

** In earlier versions of the script, the dam settlement (the one with Music/TomPetty) was evisioned as a stand-in for the influential, but reluctant community, akin to Sugarloaf Peak fortress of George Powhatan in the book. Over many following rewrites it was altered out of any recognition or bigger role in the plot.

** In earlier versions of the script, the dam settlement (the one with Music/TomPetty) was evisioned as a stand-in for the reluctant community, akin to Sugarloaf Peak fortress of George Powhatan in the book. Over many following rewrites it was altered out of any recognition or bigger role in the plot.

** In earlier versions of the script, the dam settlement (the one with Creator/TomPetty) was evisioned as a stand-in for the reluctant community, akin to Sugarloaf Peak fortress of George Powhatan in the book. Over many following rewrites it was altered out of any recognition or bigger role in the plot.

** The original script contains scenes of the Postman making a new Holnist creed, centered on mercy, but only after killing Bethlehem. It also has one of the Benning gatekeepers (who suffered from UncertainDoom in the final cut) as one of his letter carriers, while the fate of Clarke, the [[spoiler:Californian]] postman is left ambiguous.

* ApprovalOfGod: Despite it being panned by critics and audiences, [[http://www.davidbrin.com/postmanmovie.htm David Brin]] [[ApprovalOfGod liked the movie]], feeling it really captured the spirit of his book in spite of the changes. He had looked on in dismay while numerous scripts had changed the story's message completely, and was glad when Costner took over, rewriting it into one he liked.
* BoxOfficeBomb: The film adaptation made $17,626,234 to it's $80,000,000 budget.

* DuelingWorks: Released on the same day as Creator/JamesCameron's ''Film/{{Titanic|1997}}''. You've probably heard how ''Titanic'' is [[CurbStompBattle one of the highest grossing movies ever made]].
* StarDerailingRole: ''The Postman'' was the third Creator/KevinCostner-driven film of the 1990's to get nuked by critics and not do well at the box office after ''Film/WyattEarp'' and ''Film/{{Waterworld}}'', and he never truly recovered from it, both in acting and directing.

** The original script contains scenes of The Postman making a new Holnist creed, centered on mercy, but only after killing Bethlehem. It also has one of the Benning Gatekeepers (who suffered from UncertainDoom in the final cut) as one of his letter carriers, while the fate of Clarke, the [[spoiler: Californian]] postman is left ambigious.

* ''The Postman'' received the UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward for Worst Picture of 1997.

* DuelingWorks: Released on the same day as Creator/JamesCameron's ''Film/{{Titanic|1997}}''.
* StarDerailingRole: ''The Postman'' was the third Creator/KevinCostner-driven film of the 1990's to get nuked by critics and not do well at the box office after ''Film/WyattEarp'' and ''Film/{{Waterworld}}'', and he barely recovered from it, both in acting and directing.

* DuelingMovies: Released on the same day as Creator/JamesCameron's ''Film/Titanic1997''.

* ''The Postman'' received the UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward for Worst Picture of 1997.

* BoxOfficeBomb: Made $17,626,234 to it's $80,000,000 budget.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/RonHoward was going to direct with Creator/TomHanks starring.
** The original script contains scenes of The Postman making a new holist creed, centered on mercy, after killing Bethlehem, has one of the Benning Gatekeepers (who suffered from UncertainDoom in the final cut) as one of his letter carriers, and didn't mention whether or not Bethlehem killed Letter Carrier Clark.

* StarDerailingRole: ''The Postman'' was the third Creator/KevinCostner-driven film of the 1990's to get nuked by critics and not do well at the box office after ''Wyatt Earp'' and ''Film/{{Waterworld}}'', and he barely recovered from it, both in acting and directing.

* ActorAllusion: The Postman tells one of the new recruits "You look familiar." While it's a reference to the fact that the recruit is TheMole, it's also a reference to said recruit being played by Costner's son.

* RomanticPlotTumor: Around the midpoint of the film, Abby and Shakespeare's romance begins to take over.

* VanityProject: Kevin Costner.

* ''The Postman'' received the Worst Picture of 1997 UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward.

* StarDerailingRole: Creator/KevinCostner barely recovered from it, both in acting and directing.
* VanityProject: Kevin Costner.

* HeyItsThatGuy: In the movie, the assistant coach of [[Film/RememberTheTitans the Titans]] went on to coach bigger teams. Alternatively, [[Series/FallingSkies Colonel Weaver]]'s a real asshole after this apocalypse.
** A few years later, [[Film/TheSixthSense Abbey had her husband murdered in front of her again]].
** Plus, in-universe, [[spoiler: TomPetty]].
** [[Series/SonsOfAnarchy Opie]] was a postal carrier in post-apocalyptic America in his younger days.
** The mayor of Benning is none other than [[Film/{{Spaceballs}} Colonel Sandurz]].

* StarDerailingRole: Creator/KevinCostner barely recovered from it, both in acting and directing.

** [[SonsOfAnarchy Opie]] was a postal carrier in post-apocalyptic America in his younger days.

* HeyItsThatGuy: In the movie, the assistant coach of [[RememberTheTitans the Titans]] went on to coach bigger teams. Alternatively, [[Series/FallingSkies Colonel Weaver]]'s a real asshole after this apocalypse.

* StarDerailingRole: Creator/KevinCostner barely recovered from it.

** The mayor of Benning is none other than [[Film/{{Spaceballs}} Colonel Sandurz]].

** [[SonsOfAnarchy Opie]] was a postal carrier in post-apocalyptic America in his younger days.

* HeyItsThatGuy: In the movie, the assistant coach of [[RememberTheTitans the Titans]] went on to coach bigger teams.

** Plus, in-universe, [[spoiler: TomPetty]].

* HeyItsThatGuy: In the movie, the assistant coach of [[RememberTheTitans the Titans]] went on to coach bigger teams.