Before landing a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tim Roth appeared in several Quentin Tarantino films such as Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. He was also famous for being labeled as one of the “Brit Pack,” a title given to young British actors who graced the screens in the early 90s.
But, before making his way into The Incredible Hulk and She-Hulk projects, Tim Roth almost made it to the Harry Potter franchise. He was offered the role of Severus Snape, a character famously portrayed by the late Alan Rickman.
Before Alan Rickman, Tim Roth Was The First Choice For Severus Snape
Rickman’s version has been celebrated by Harry Potter fans for his complex and ambiguous personality. The character appeared in all eight installments and is considered one of the best anti-heroes of all time. So, why did Tim Roth turn down the role?
Roth is years younger than Rickman and is more accurate to the character’s age. The actor expressed interest in the role but ultimately refused because he did not want to be typecast.
In an episode of There’s Something About Movies, Roth explained:
“I just thought, ‘I’ll be on every lunchbox or whatever it is. I’ll be known for that role.”
In a Reddit post, the actor responded to a question if he regrets his choice:
“It was very different from what I was planning to do with the character, and that’s OK. Do I regret it? I don’t know if I ever think about things that way. If I had done it, everything would have changed. That’s the nature of the randomness of life.”
That same year, he accepted a part in Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes. The Severus Snape role went to Alan Rickman. In fact, the latter was J.K. Rowling’s first choice for the character. Many fans believed that she wrote him with Rickman in mind.
Alan Rickman Almost Quit Severus Snape Role Amid Sickness
Had Tim Roth accepted the role, it would have made a huge difference in the movie. Rickman played the part so well, and for a decade, fans loved his embodiment of the complexity of Snape.
Unfortunately, Rickman passed away five years after his last appearance in the Harry Potter franchise. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2016, which left fans devastated. In his book Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman, which is a collection of the actor’s diary entries, he revealed his deepest sentiments. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005, and despite wanting to quit Harry Potter, Rickman kept the role. In a journal entry, he said:
“Finally, yes to HP 5. The sensation is neither up nor down. The argument that wins is the one that says: ‘See it through. It’s your story.”
It would be hard to imagine, especially for avid Harry Potter fans, another actor playing the role other than Alan Rickman. Although it is intriguing to witness Tim Roth’s version and take on the iconic anti-hero, no one could ever replace Rickman’s portrayal of Professor Severus Snape.
