Over the years, Alan Rickman has entertained the thought of quitting the role of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. The diaries of the deceased actor now reveal what ultimately changes his mind.
He may have passed away in 2016, but Alan Rickman will live on forever in his films. There are notorious roles in "Die Hard" (1988), "Sense and Sensibility" (1995), "Love Actually" (2003), "Sweeney Todd" (2007) and last but not least as the magic teacher Severus Snape in the "Harry Potter" series.
But although the latter role was probably his most lucrative, Rickman wanted to leave the "Harry Potter" franchise after the second film in 2002. This will be evident from his diaries, which will be published on October 18th. Doubts plagued him even later - it was not until 2006 that the British actor finally decided to stay with it. In a preliminary article, the "Guardian" published the excerpts from the diary dealing with "Harry Potter".
On December 4, 2002, Rickman wrote: "Conversation with Paul Lyon-Maris (Rickman's agent, editor's note) about HP's exit, which he believes will happen". Part two, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," had just started in theaters two weeks earlier.
Rickman is even clearer in the same entry: "I repeat: no more HP," it says. And looking at the producers: "They don't want to hear it." According to the diary, the reason for the emigration thoughts are "project collisions". In addition, Rickman had mused a few weeks earlier that his "fascination with showbiz was becoming less and less".
At this point, the diaries don't reveal why he stayed with "Harry Potter" after all, at least not the excerpts from the "Guardian". Regarding the shooting of part three, the actor only resignedly noted: "Actually more of the same. But what can you do other than take pictures." And on part four: "I feel so screwed about this movie despite Mike's best intentions." Mike means director Mike Newell.
The turning point came in 2006: "Finally, yes to HP 5. It feels neither good nor bad," says his diary after a long struggle. His prostate had been removed during an operation a few days earlier. The argument that ultimately spoke for staying with the fantasy saga was: "Pull it through, it's your story."
From then on there will be no more complaints about "Harry Potter". On July 27, Rickman writes of his reading of Joanne K. Rowling's final Potter book: "Snape dies heroically, Potter describes him in front of his children as one of the bravest men he ever knew and names his son Albus Severus. " Rowling had given him one hint about Snape's development into a hero even before shooting all the films: Snape loved Harry's mother Lily. Rickman: "That gave me a cliff to hold on to."
Alan Rickman died of pancreatic cancer in 2016 at the age of 69. He is survived by his wife Rima Horton, with whom he had been in a relationship since 1965 and whom he married in 2012. The couple had no children.
