Harry Potter Star Alan Rickman Was Rejected From an Iconic Comedy Series Before His Big Breakthrough in Bruce Willis’ Die Hard
The world remembers great actors even after they have left for their heavenly abode. Similar is the case with the Severus Snape fame, actor Alan Rickman, who would ALWAYS be remembered not only by Potterheads but also by the entire entertainment industry. His acting prowess ranged from romantic dramas in Sense and Sensibility to power-packed action dramas in Die Hard.
Rickman became a part of the multi-million dollar franchise led by Bruce Willis. He played the character of Hans Gruber in the 1988 released Die Hard. But not many people know that before becoming a significant part of Die Hard, Alan Rickman was rejected for an iconic comedy show.
Alan Rickman Was Rejected From Iconic Comedy Series Red Dwarf
According to an interview published by the famous entertainment outlet The Guardian in 2019, the creator of the classic sci-fi comedy show Red Dwarf Doug Naylor spoke about the show and even revealed that the Harry Potter star Alan Rickman was supposed to be a significant part of the popular show.
Doug Naylor said-
“We thought: ‘How can this fail?’ But the BBC rejected it three times. Alan Rickman and Alfred Molina liked the script so we considered casting them as Rimmer and Lister. Rickman wanted to be Lister because he thought playing Rimmer would be too easy. In the end, Craig Charles and Chris Barrie just seemed a better double act.”
However, Alan Rickman did not suffer the loss of being rejected for Red Dwarfs, as the British actor landed one of the most important roles in the Bruce Willis-led action drama franchise Die Hard the same year. Alan Rickman’s portrayal of Hans Gruber is still one of the most iconic negative characters of all time.
Alan Rickman etched his name in the history of entertainment after being a part of the billion-dollar franchise drama. His performance as the professor of Potions in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry cannot be replicated by anyone. Alan Rickman died of pancreatic cancer in January 2016.
Alan Rickman’s Diary Reveals Why He Kept Playing Snape During The Difficult Times
Reputed media outlet The Guardian published Alan Rickman’s diary as a book with the title Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman in 2022. Excerpts from the late actor’s diary give a clear insight into the character development of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series. The actor even mentioned what made him continue with the character of the strict yet loving professor from Hogwarts.
According to an excerpt from December 2002-
“Talking to [agent] Paul Lyon-Maris about HP exit, which he thinks will happen, but here we are in the project-collision area again. Reiterating no more HP. They don’t want to hear it.”
Alan Rickman was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2005, way ahead of the filming of the fifth installment of the Harry Potter franchise. He had opted to play the role of Snape after his surgery.
As per an excerpt from his diary-
“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,”
He even wrote about meeting J.K. Rowling and how the famous author had explained the character of Severus Snape to him. The 2000s excerpt mentions-
“She nervously lets me in on a few glimpses of Snape’s background. Talking to her is talking to someone who lives these stories, not invents them,”
In a 2007 entry, the actor had written about the angle of Lilly’s death related to the character development of Snape. The entry mentions-
” … I have finished reading the last Harry Potter book. Snape dies heroically, Potter describes him to his children as one of the bravest men he ever knew and calls his son Albus Severus. This was a genuine rite of passage. One small piece of information from Jo Rowling seven years ago – Snape loved Lily – gave me a cliff edge to hang on to.”
Alan Rickman has not only left an indelible mark in the world of entertainment but also in the hearts of millions of fans across the globe.
Source: The Guardian/ Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman
