Alan Rickman's Personal Diaries Reveal That He Almost Quit Playing Snape During The Filming Of The Harry Potter Movies

This has been floating around for the last few days as Alan Rickman's personal diaries are to be released in a a new book, "Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman." 

When I first read about it, I was sad and a little upset over the fact that anyone would even consider dipping out on such an amazing story. But after some consideration I've realized that these are personal diary entires, where our guy Alan Rickman was just complaining about work. I also remembered that at the time of filming the first movies, the entire book series wasn't even finished yet, so he had no idea where this was going to go for him. 

“Talking to [agent] Paul Lyon-Maris about [Harry Potter] exit, which he thinks will happen,” he wrote on December 4, 2002. “But here we are in the project-collision area again. Reiterating no more HP. They don’t want to hear it.”

His comments came following Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in 2002, which propelled the franchise to even dizzier heights following The Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001.

But this glimpse into Rickman’s experience with the franchise reveals major truths, including Rickman's admiration for series lead Daniel Radcliffe..

“[Daniel Radcliffe] is so concentrated now. Serious and focused – but with a sense of fun,” he wrote in May 2003 as they began filming Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. “I still don’t think he’s really an actor but he will undoubtedly direct/produce. And he has such quiet, dignified support from his parents. Nothing is pushed.”

LOL at him talking some shit on Daniel Radcliffe, pay no mind to the fact he was like, 14 at the time. I admire Alan Rickman taking it so seriously. It seems a lot of Rickman's issues were with the directors and the final products, noting that they "must be seen in theaters" and that John Williams' score on Sorcerer's Stone was "hideous" and that the after party was "much more fun." Another LOL honestly, because "Hedwig's Theme" is such an ICONIC score at this point, it's hard to believe anyone would think it was anything less than perfection.

 Again, just Alan bitching about his job and his coworkers.  Something we all have to remember (I, I have to remember) is that Alan Rickman is not Severus Snape. But, without Alan Rickman, the movies wouldn't feel complete to me. He IS Snape. 

Finally, after a discussion about HP with JK Rowling, Rickman decided it was worth seeing through to the end. I love that JK had to fill him in on the fact that he was, high key, the most important part of the plot and also the BIGGEST twist, in order to keep him trucking along. Playing the dark and gloomy villain for almost 7 full movies, with a 20 minute payout at the end, has to be hard to work through. Coupled with this, Rickman entered into some health issues that ultimately made him see the light:

By Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, disaster struck. Rickman was soon forced to confront health issues, having been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2005. But despite his own personal struggles, he decided to stick with Harry Potter.

Weeks after an operation to remove his prostate, he wrote: “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.’”

And thank god he did. I truly cannot imagine another person taking on this role, when I picture Snape in my mind I picture Alan Rickman. Even before he played it on screen - his exact look, demeanor, attitude, all perfection.