The Roses has ignited debate after its explosive ending left Ivy and Theo’s fate uncertain.
The climax saw the couple reconcile moments before a gas leak triggered a catastrophe, raising questions about whether they lived or died. Director Jay Roach explained the creative choice and addressed what becomes of the couple’s children.
Jay Roach confirms if Ivy and Theo die in The Roses’ ending
Jay Roach confirmed that The Roses leaves Ivy and Theo’s fate intentionally ambiguous, though the ending strongly implies their deaths.
In the climactic sequence, the couple reconciles in their bedroom after a violent fight, only for leaking gas from the damaged Julia Child stove to ignite in an explosion. “I love that there is even room for a little discussion about that,” Roach told Entertainment Weekly, acknowledging that the fade-to-white ending allowed space for debate.
Roach on what happens to Ivy and Theo’s kids in The Roses
The director thinks the kids would be fine. Screenwriter Tony McNamara also addressed the outcome, noting, “If they did die, there would be a hefty insurance policy. And those kids would be quite well off.” The couple’s children, enrolled at a private athletic school in Miami, were earlier shown to be relieved at the prospect of their parents’ divorce, hinting at their detachment from the conflict at home. Roach suggested the kids would cope, as they had already distanced themselves from their parents’ battles.
Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, who play Ivy and Theo, respectively, noted that the couple reconciled only when it was too late. Cumberbatch said, “Because they’ve gone quite that far, you’d really have to put some safeguarding in place. They would definitely need to go back into therapy properly and admit their failings.” Colman jokingly added, “Maybe they get a dog,” as a symbol of shared responsibility.
The creative team agreed that while the narrative ends in devastation, the story’s ambiguity is part of its lasting effect. Roach hoped audiences would debate whether Ivy and Theo’s reconciliation could have lasted if they survived. “You always know what you needed to know after you needed to know it,” he reflected, calling the film a cautionary tale about missed chances and choices made too late.
