Adam Driver Overlooked Again as Helen Mirren Tipped for Dogma 2

Kevin Smith, best known for his work on the Clerks films, is finally pushing ahead with a follow-up to his 1999 religious satire, Dogma. After reclaiming the rights and giving the original a 4K re-release, Smith is now mapping out Dogma 2, bringing in new ideas and a fresh approach for one of the story’s most memorable figures.

With Alan Rickman sadly no longer with us to reprise his role as Metatron, Smith has already shared who he’d like to see step into those shoes—and it’s not Adam Driver. In a recent chat, Smith revealed he’s got Helen Mirren in mind for the part, aiming to bring a new energy to the character while still paying tribute to Rickman’s legacy.

Helen Mirren Eyed for a New Take on Metatron

Smith is writing this new version of Metatron with Helen Mirren as his muse. He’s especially keen on Mirren, given her history with Rickman both on and off the screen. The two worked together in Eye in the Sky and even played Antony and Cleopatra in the late ‘90s, which gives the casting a bit of extra meaning for Smith.

I want to write it for Helen Mirren. She is incredibly Alan-adjacent.

Smith isn’t looking to simply swap the character’s gender. Instead, he wants Mirren to bring her own style to the role, offering a respectful nod to Rickman while also making the character her own. He’s crafting the part specifically with her in mind, convinced she can deliver something unique without just copying what’s come before.

She’s not playing Metatron, but she plays this film’s version of Metatron. For me, I met her years ago with Alan, at this Empire movie awards ceremony… ‘Helen Mirren, aside from being one of my favourite actors on the planet, I had that crossover moment with her and Alan at one point.’

As a writer and a romantic, you’ll make any connection or any justification you can. But it started me thinking, maybe it would be Helen Mirren. So I’m writing it for Helen Mirren.

Adam Driver Misses Out—Again

While Smith is set on Mirren, he did admit that Adam Driver was once in the running. Smith reckoned Driver’s sharp features and serious presence made him a natural fit for a Rickman successor. But once Mirren came to mind, Driver was out of the picture.

When I was thinking, ‘Well, I don’t have Alan,” at one point I was like, “Well, Adam Driver looks like a young Alan Rickman, just taller.’ But then I was like, no.

It’s not the first time Driver’s been passed over for a Rickman role. When the Harry Potter series was rebooted, plenty of fans thought Driver would be a shoo-in for Severus Snape, given his look and acting chops. Instead, the part went to Paapa Essiedu, sparking a fair bit of chat about the casting choice. Now, with Dogma 2, Driver finds himself sidelined once more, despite being widely seen as a strong match for Rickman’s iconic characters.

Dogma’s Legacy and the Next Chapter

Dogma, released in 1999, was directed by Smith and starred Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, George Carlin, and Alan Rickman. The film runs for just over two hours and holds a 71% score on Rotten Tomatoes. With the sequel on the horizon, Smith is determined to honour the original while steering the story in a new direction.

Dogma is currently available to rent or buy on Prime Video.