Movie lovers will always cherish Alan Rickman’s impressive performances, particularly his iconic role of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series. Fans who initially hated Severus Snape for giving Harry a rough time, came to deeply connect with his complex character by the end of the movie series. The credit goes to the convincing performance of Rickman, who embodied the character to perfection.
It is difficult to imagine any other actor in the role of Severus Snape, but the Love Actually actor was not the first choice for the role. Another English actor, known for his several villainous portrayals, was initially considered.
Which Actor Did Alan Rickman Replace To Play Severus Snape?
As Harry Potter fans know by now, Severus Snape was initially presented as a decoy villain in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. In order to keep the audience in the dark, the studio needed someone who exuded a villainous aura to portray the character. With some antagonistic roles in his portfolio, Tim Roth was a contender for the role that eventually went to Alan Rickman.
Roth made audiences despise his characters right from his debut film, The Hit, and his other popular films like Pulp Fiction, Selma, and Marvel’s The Incredible Hulk only added to it. The Lie to Me actor was ready to sign up for the part, however, he faced a dilemma when offered a villain role in another major franchise. The Youth Without Youth actor shared the story with Alan Carr, the host of the show There’s Something About Movies:
“So I got offered Planet of the Apes with Tim Burton, and then it was makeup and I thought it’d be fun. And then at the same time, they came to me to ask me to do Snape in the Harry Potter films. And I was like, okay, that’s interesting… And then I just thought I’ll be on every lunchbox or whatever it is. I’ll be [only] known for that role. I’d rather be in a career that’s completely bonkers…”
At that time, Roth planned to take on both projects, even preparing a hectic schedule to travel between the two productions. However, the demanding schedule proved too much for the actor leading him to withdraw from the Harry Potter project.
Tim Roth Did Not Regret Losing Out On The Harry Potter Role
Tim Burton’s sci-fi adventure film, Planet of the Apes, starred Mark Wahlberg in the lead role and was the sixth installment in the Planet of the Apes franchise. Wahlberg played Leo Davidson, an astronaut who crash lands on an island inhabited by intelligent apes, led by General Thade, played by Tim Roth. The movie received mixed reviews, with criticisms for its confusing plot and climax. The film grossed only $362 million against a budget of $100 million.
Given the importance of Severus Snape in Harry Potter movies, which spanned over a decade, Roth missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime. However, the Chronic actor, during a Reddit AMA session, shared that he did not regret passing over Harry Potter for Tim Burton’s movie. The Hateful Eight actor also praised Alan Rickman, stating that “the better man for the job did the job.”
Although the Vincent & Theo actor’s career may not have reached the same heights as Rickman’s, he remained relevant in the industry with his character-driven roles. Roth reprised his role as Emil Blonsky / Abomination in further Marvel ventures, including Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
The Harry Potter films are available for streaming on Max and Planet of the Apes 2001 is available for streaming on Starz.
Source: There’s Something About Movies – YouTube
