School of Rock would have had a totally different ending if it wasn’t for 13-year-old star Kevin Clark

Child star, who died this year, came up with the idea for the movie’s climax

The ending of the beloved 2003 film School of Rock was devised by one of the movie’s child stars, it has been revealed.

Originally, writers had intended the film – which stars Jack Black as an amateur rock enthusiast posing as a substitute teacher – to end with the school at its centre winning the Battle of the Bands.

But, according to Rivkah Reyes – who played bassist Katie – that ending just “wasn’t landing”. In a video posted to TikTok, they said: “We tried one version of it where we win… and another version of it where we lose and that’s it. It just wasn’t hitting.”

Reyes continued: “The team was just like, ‘What do we do about this ending?’ And Kevin [Clark, who played drummer Freddy] is just like, ‘It’d be cool if like, we lost and then the audience started cheering, “School of Rock! School of Rock!” and then they bring us out for an encore.’ So this guy, at 13 years old, wrote the ending of School of Rock.”

Clark died in May of this year after being hit by a car while cycling in the Chicago neighbourhood of Avondale.

Paying tribute at the time, Black posted a photograph of himself with Clark in the movie on social media, alongside a more recent picture, writing: “Devastating news. Kevin is gone. Way too soon. Beautiful soul. So many great memories. Heartbroken. Sending love to his family and the whole School of Rock community.”