While Harry Potter, the multi-million-selling series brings forth several pivotal characters, who shape the storyline, fans always end up choosing one or two characters over others. Evidently, over the years, late actor Alan Rickman’s character Severus Snape has been the surprise winner as the public’s favorite Harry Potter character. But shockingly enough Rickman almost quit the Harry Potter series in between.
Alan Rickman, who played Professor Snape throughout the Harry Potter movies from 2001 to 2011, once considered parting ways with the franchise in 2004. Following the posthumous release of Rickman’s diary excerpts, it has been revealed how the actor had second thoughts about the franchise while shooting the third installment. However, it was JK Rowling who successfully changed Rickman’s mind.
Alan Rickman Wanted To Quit Harry Potter Franchise
Late actor Alan Rickman, who is often remembered by his fans for his early works in Die Hard, Sense and Sensibility, and Truly, Madly, Deeply, happens to have found undeniable fame for his role as Severus Snape. Playing the complicated character of Professor Snape in the Harry Potter franchise, Rickman brought out the enigma in JK Rowling’s fantastical saga.
However, after often playing sophisticated roles, the character of Professor Snape initially appeared quite dull and flat to Alan Rickman. Believing that the character was nothing more than “an unchanging costume”, the actor even confessed feeling detached and demotivated to play the role, during a special feature commemorating the conclusion of the Harry Potter franchise in 2011.
“Three children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded me that there was more to Snape than an unchanging costume,” Alan Rickman stated.
Confessing how he wanted to quit after the third installment, the late actor stated, it was JK Rowling who changed his mind and convinced him to stay back.
JK Rowling Convinced Alan Rickman To Stay Back
Although initially, Alan Rickman felt, the character of Professor Snape was utterly bland, it was later revealed that the antagonistic was in fact, the protector of Harry from Lord Voldemort. During an interview in 2011, Rickman stated, since there were only three books released by the time they completed shooting the third part, he felt his character lacked a build-up. However, a secret conversation with JK Rowling helped him turn around a stay until the end.
Speaking with HitFix, Alan Rickman mentioned, Rowling gave him “one tiny, left-of-field piece of information about Snape”, that eventually made all the difference. Learning about Lily and Snape’s love story from Rowling gave Rickman the hope that there was more to his character than anyone knows.
“It helped me think that he was more complicated and that the story was not going to be as straight down the line as everybody thought… And it was important for [Rowling] that I know something, but she only gave me a tiny piece of information which helped me think it was a more ambiguous route.” Alan Rickman mentioned.
Later in 2016, after the actor’s untimely demise, JK Rowling revealed the secret information that she shared with the late actor, which convinced him to stay back. She confirmed via tweet, “I told Alan what lies behind the word ‘always’”. And thus, JK Rowling’s ending for Professor Snape proved to be a sticking point for Rickman.
I told Alan what lies behind the word ‘always’. https://t.co/NHTJ5J6kxb
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 18, 2016
While just like every Potterhead, even Alan Rickman realized the significance of “always”, fans from all around the world still mourning the loss of Rickman, not just in real life but even in the movies. We lost him once, and then we lost him for real, but he shall be remembered. Always.
Watch all Harry Potter movies on HBO Max.
Read more: Alan Rickman Hated How This Harry Potter Character Was Unceremoniously Killed in $934M Movie
Source: Vanity Fair
