A decade after his passing, the private journals of the late, great Alan Rickman have cast a new light on his complex relationship with the Harry Potter film series, in which he immortalised the role of Severus Snape.
The 'Unsettling' Feelings Behind The Cape
Published posthumously as Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries, with the help of his wife Rima Horton, the entries reveal an actor often at odds with the blockbuster world he inhabited. From the very beginning, Rickman confessed to feeling "a bit nothing about HP, which really disturbs me" ahead of the first film's release, a sense of discomfort that would linger.
His initial critique was sharp. After viewing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, he took issue with John Williams's now-iconic score, writing that the film "acquires a scale and depth that matches the hideous score." By 2002, following the second film, he was already expressing a desire to leave, noting "reiterating no more HP. They don’t want to hear it." Yet, the consummate professional in him later committed to seeing the journey through.
A Glimmer of Praise Amidst The Criticism
It wasn't all disillusionment. Rickman reserved significant praise for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, directed by Alfonso Cuarón. He hailed the director's "extraordinary job," feeling the third instalment was more "grown up." His diary glowed: "so full of daring that it made me smile and smile... every frame of it is the work of an artist and storyteller."
The actor also credited author J.K. Rowling with providing a crucial anchor for his performance. She privately revealed to him that "Snape loved Lily," a piece of future plot information Rickman described as a "cliff edge to hang on."
Frustration With The Final Chapters
As the series progressed, his frustrations resurfaced. Following The Half-Blood Prince, he vented a desire to "bang the three Davids' heads against the nearest wall," referencing producers David Heyman, David Barron, and director David Yates. While admiring the "dazzling" effects, he was left questioning the narrative, asking simply, "Where is the story?"
His greatest disappointment, however, was reserved for his character's fate. Rickman found Snape's on-screen death in The Deathly Hallows "all a bit epic and Japanese" and, in a poignant final note, "unsettling to watch." He acknowledged, with a hint of resignation, that audiences were "very happy" with the outcome.
The diaries paint a portrait of a deeply thoughtful artist navigating the demands of a global phenomenon. While the Harry Potter franchise cemented his legacy for millions, Alan Rickman's private musings show a man who measured his work by a different, intensely personal standard, long after the final curtain fell on the wizarding world.
