Daryl Hannah in Wall Street and Kill Bill – A fan theory connecting the two iconic movies
Could the ruthless world of 1980s finance depicted in Wall Street be the surprising origin story of one of cinema’s most iconic assassins from the 2000s? This might sound like a far-fetched Hollywood pitch, but bear with us. What if Darien Taylor, the cool blonde beauty portrayed by Daryl Hannah in Wall Street, is actually the younger version of Elle Driver, the venomous California Mountain Snake from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill? It’s a theory that’s been simmering in the minds of film buffs, and once you consider the evidence, you might just find yourself convinced.
In Oliver Stone’s Wall Street, we meet Bud Fox, an ambitious young stockbroker who gets entangled with the notorious corporate raider Gordon Gekko. Gekko, in his world of excess and greed, introduces Bud to Darien Taylor, played with a detached allure by Daryl Hannah. Darien is the epitome of 80s glamour, seemingly perfect, yet something feels subtly off. Bud is instantly smitten, oblivious to the fact that Darien is deeply entwined with Gekko’s shady dealings. She’s a former flame, and her lavish lifestyle is funded by her connection to this powerful, older man.
Darien Taylor (Daryl Hannah) in Wall Street – Her cold demeanor hints at her future as the deadly Elle Driver
The cracks in Darien’s facade begin to show when Bud decides to betray Gekko. Her composed demeanor shatters instantly, revealing a hidden fury. Her warning to Bud is chilling, a stark contrast to her usual cool persona: “If you turn on Gekko, we’re through, Buddy boy.” True to his word, Bud brings down Gekko, sending him to prison and dismantling his empire. Darien’s reaction isn’t heartbreak, but a cold, hard glare, a silent promise of future retribution. It’s a look that hints at a capacity for vengeance far beyond a typical scorned lover.
Fast forward two decades. Bud Fox, having served time for his financial crimes, emerges a changed man. Prison has hardened him, transforming the skinny stockbroker into someone tougher, more resilient. He also inherits a more grounded nature from his father, along with his father’s actual inheritance. His father, notably, had disowned his other, more sinister son, Bill, unwilling to see his hard-earned airline stocks used to bankroll a team of assassins. Bud uses his inheritance to retreat to a simple life in Texas, seeking redemption by pursuing his artistic side as a sculptor. He yearns to create, not destroy or leech off the creations of others, a direct contrast to his Wall Street past. He seeks peace.
However, peace is the last thing on Gordon Gekko’s mind. Fresh out of prison himself, Gekko is consumed by revenge. He unleashes his thugs on Bud. Bud survives, but only by using his sculptures as weapons, destroying his artwork in the process. Gekko has once again ruined Bud’s life, stripping him of his newfound purpose.
Desperate, Bud reaches out to his estranged brother, Bill. Bill isn’t just any brother; he’s the kind of brother you contact when you need someone eliminated. Bill, while not particularly keen on targeting a former client like Gekko, agrees to help out of familial loyalty. He gifts Bud a priceless Hattori Hanzo sword, engraved with a message of brotherly affection. Bill, impressed by Bud’s improvised fight with Gekko’s henchmen, suggests a career change: “If you can dispatch his thugs with a sculpture, I can’t imagine what you could do with a Hanzo sword. If you do manage to kill Gekko with that sword, come and talk to me. I might have a job for you.”
Bud with Hattori Hanzo Sword – In this theory, Bud Fox transforms into Budd from Kill Bill, wielding a Hanzo sword
Bud isn’t a natural killer, but life has dealt him a harsh hand. Stripped of his father’s guidance, Darien’s affection, and even the camaraderie of his former colleague John C. McGinley, Bud is left with nothing to lose. In the unforgiving landscape of Texas, survival becomes a brutal equation: kill or be killed.
Predictably, Gekko’s men arrive at Bud’s trailer. Despite his lack of sword-fighting experience, Bud manages to kill three attackers and capture the fourth. Under interrogation, the captured thug reveals a crucial piece of information: John C. McGinley, Bud’s old work buddy, is now Gekko’s right-hand man. Finding McGinley is the key to reaching Gekko. The threat is clear: if Bud doesn’t act, Gekko will keep sending assassins, perhaps even Bill’s infamous Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, known for their flawless record.
To find McGinley, Bud enlists the help of another old contact, James Spader, a former NYU business school friend who traded the cutthroat world of finance for a less stressful career as a Boston lawyer. Spader uncovers that McGinley, in an attempt to evade the SEC, has reinvented himself as “Dr. Perry Cox,” a physician in hiding. Bud tracks down this “Dr. Cox” and takes him captive.
Bud and Spader, through a combination of Hanzo sword intimidation and Spader’s signature dramatic ranting, break “Dr. Cox.” The tough exterior crumbles, and McGinley, sobbing, reveals Gekko’s hideout: the mansion of Hollywood star Catherine Zeta Jones.
“Thanks for the help,” Bud says to McGinley, spitting tobacco juice and brandishing his sword. “Now get out of here, or in a second there’ll only be two and a half men in this room.”
John C. McGinley in Wall Street and Scrubs – A humorous take on character connections in the fan theory
Knowing Gekko will be a far tougher opponent than McGinley, Bud seeks guidance from another figure from his past: Terence Stamp, the composed British investor from Wall Street. Stamp, who once helped Bud financially cripple Gekko, might be the key to defeating him physically.
Bud’s instinct is correct. “It’s true that I am now an investor and an honorary knight, but I also used to be a general,” Stamp reveals. “I will teach you to use that sword and defeat Gekko, once and for all.”
Under Stamp’s rigorous training, Bud transforms into a skilled swordsman. He flies to California and effortlessly overcomes Gekko’s guards and even Catherine Zeta Jones. Cornered and terrified, Gekko pleads for his life, “We used to be a team, sport! Don’t kill me! I’m defeated! What more could you want?”
“I want your head,” Bud replies.
“Why?” Gekko sobs. “You’ve already won!”
“Because I’m greedy,” Bud states, and with a single, decisive strike, he decapitates Gekko. Looking down at his former mentor’s lifeless eyes, Bud echoes Gekko’s famous line, “You were right, Gekko. Greed IS good.”
Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) in Wall Street – The villain whose actions set Bud Fox on the path to becoming Budd
The next day, Bill introduces Bud to his Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. Among them are Beatrix Kiddo, Vernita Green, and O-ren Ishii. Then, Bill presents a blonde woman in a catsuit, “And this,” Bill announces, “is the California Mountain Snake.”
It’s Darien Taylor, but transformed. Older, and now with an eye patch, she’s still undeniably Daryl Hannah, still captivatingly dangerous. Apparently, Gekko had introduced Darien to Bill, leading to a new career path. Darien, drawn to Bill’s dark charisma (consistent with her previous attraction to morally ambiguous older men like Gekko), dedicated herself to becoming useful to him. She traveled to China, trained under the legendary swordmaster Pai Mei, and lost an eye in the process, solidifying her commitment.
Her remaining eye fixes on Bud with a chilling mix of recognition and hatred. This is the man who broke her heart, betrayed Gekko, betrayed her. She is ready to unleash her vengeance.
Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) in Kill Bill – The vengeful assassin, theorized to be Darien Taylor from Wall Street seeking revenge
However, Bill places a protective arm around Bud. “This is my brother, Bud,” Bill declares to the squad. “I love him more than life itself. He’s new to assassination, so keep an eye out for him. If anything should happen to him, I will kill the person responsible.” His gaze lingers pointedly on Darien, a clear warning.
Bud joins the Deadly Viper Squad, going on missions, learning the ropes. It’s easy money, and for the first time in a long time, he feels financially secure.
But the reality of his new life soon dawns on him. Bill’s clients are often Wall Street figures, profiting from predatory loans and destroying ordinary people. Anyone who stands in their way ends up dead, courtesy of Bill and his DiVAS. Even Beatrix Kiddo, one of their own, is targeted for daring to threaten Bill’s Ponzi scheme.
Bud sees the devastating consequences of his choices.
Then, the stock market crashes. The full weight of his actions hits Bud. “I’m out,” he tells Bill. “I promised Dad I wouldn’t work for Wall Street again. I wouldn’t hurt the little guy. But that’s exactly what the DiVAS do. We’re just another tool of the Man. No wonder Dad disowned you.”
“You’re quitting?” Bill asks, incredulous. “But how will you live? In that trailer? How will you make money?”
“I’ll pawn the Hanzo sword.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Watch me.”
Bud turns to leave. Bill, with a mix of sadness and resignation, says, “I’ll always love you. One day, you’ll come back to me. You’ll see.”
The rest, as they say, is Kill Bill history. Bud tries to make an honest living, but his MBA proves useless as a titty bar bouncer. He spirals into alcoholism. Life deteriorates. When Bill arrives years later, offering a million dollars to kill Beatrix Kiddo, Bud finally succumbs. He couldn’t escape his destiny. He buries Kiddo alive, and Daryl Hannah, now fully Elle Driver, arrives with the payment.
Finally, Darien, now Elle, gets her ultimate revenge on Bud, the fresh-faced kid who was once seduced by the world of finance. As she watches him die from the black mamba’s venom, Elle Driver thinks, “There is justice in the world. Only the blind can’t see that.”
-THE END-
Is this elaborate theory plausible? Maybe. Is it entertaining to consider? Absolutely. And perhaps, just perhaps, Daryl Hannah herself holds the definitive answer to whether Darien Taylor truly transformed into the deadly Elle Driver.
