John Carpenter Reveals There's a 'Hint' About Who Turns Into The Thing — And This Fan May Have Worked the Whole Thing Out

The ambiguity of the ending in John Carpenter's iconic 1982 sci-fi horror film, *The Thing*, has captivated fans for over four decades. The central mystery revolves around whether R.J. MacReady, portrayed by Kurt Russell, or Childs, played by Keith David, transforms into the film's titular monster. Carpenter deliberately crafted an enigmatic conclusion, leaving audiences without definitive answers—until a recent revelation.

At a special 4K screening of *The Thing* at the David Geffen Theater in Los Angeles on March 22, Carpenter shared with director Bong Joon Ho that a "giant hint" embedded within the film could unravel the mystery of who becomes The Thing at the end. In a playful twist, Carpenter jokingly suggested that he would disclose this crucial information to anyone willing to send an undisclosed amount of money "in an envelope to my house."

Carpenter also revealed that even the actors were kept in the dark about their characters' fates. "They had no clue," he confessed. "But they had to play it human, you see. The creature imitates perfectly. It could be one of us, it could be somebody in the audience, and there's no way of telling. So I knew, they didn't know."

Following the screening, indie director Joe Russo (distinct from the MCU's Joe Russo) shared his theory on X / Twitter, suggesting he had uncovered the hinted clue. Russo pointed out that MacReady, aware that The Thing can replicate at the cellular level, should only consume items he's personally handled. Yet, MacReady shares his liquor with Childs in the film's final scene. Russo theorizes that this action indicates MacReady might already be The Thing, as sharing the bottle could allow the creature to infect Childs. "As soon as Childs drinks from the bottle, The Thing has won," Russo asserts. "It's beaten its most skeptical, final threat."

Carpenter's genius lies in leaving the film's conclusion open-ended, but Russo provides additional evidence to support his theory. He highlights the film's last line, "Why don't we just wait here for a little while, see what happens?" as particularly fitting if MacReady is The Thing. Russo's thread also suggests that the scene where MacReady kills The Thing might actually depict a superior imitation eliminating an inferior one to better infiltrate society upon rescue.

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While some fans find Russo's theory compelling, others remain convinced that Childs is the one who turns into The Thing. One fan argued, "I still think it’s Childs because we don’t know his whereabouts for a long time heading into the final scene. But Keith David will tell you he’s 100% not The Thing." Russo responded, "Carpenter said both actors don't know... Childs always felt like a red herring to me."

Regardless of the debate, Russo's theory adds an intriguing layer to the ongoing discussion about *The Thing*. Carpenter continues to engage and surprise his audience, offering fresh insights into his timeless work even after all these years.