Alan Rickman’s Snape Left Rupert Grint Properly Spooked

With HBO’s fresh take on the Harry Potter saga on the horizon, plenty of fans are revisiting the original films and marvelling at how spot-on the casting was. From Daniel Radcliffe’s earnest Harry to Robbie Coltrane’s larger-than-life Hagrid, every actor seemed born for their part. But if there’s one performance that still gets people talking, it’s Alan Rickman’s turn as Professor Snape.

Rickman’s Snape: More Than Just Acting

Alan Rickman, known for his roles in everything from Die Hard to Sense and Sensibility, brought a level of intensity to Snape that blurred the line between fiction and reality. His portrayal didn’t just impress audiences; it left a lasting impression on his fellow cast members, especially the younger ones. Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, has shared more than once how Rickman’s presence on set could be downright intimidating.

For a bit of context, the Harry Potter franchise is a juggernaut: seven books by J.K. Rowling, eight main films (not counting the Fantastic Beasts spin-offs), and a box office haul of $9.5 billion. The main cast included Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, and Ralph Fiennes, all under the Warner Bros. banner.

Rupert Grint’s Awkward Encounter

Despite often speaking fondly about his time filming, Grint has a particular memory that stands out for all the wrong reasons. In a chat during his school years, he recalled how Rickman’s Snape could make him nervous even when the cameras weren’t rolling. During a Potions class scene in the first film, Grint found himself doodling a less-than-flattering sketch of Rickman—unaware that the man himself was standing right behind him, watching the whole thing unfold.

I drew this rather unpretty picture of Alan Rickman, and as I was drawing it Alan Rickman was standing right behind me, and I was so scared.

The incident left Grint mortified, but years later, Rickman revealed he’d actually kept the drawing and even got Grint to sign it. “I made him sign it, and I have it in my possession. And I’m very fond of it,” Rickman admitted. It’s a classic example of how deeply he inhabited the role, leaving a mark on everyone around him.

HBO’s Reboot Faces a Tall Order

Rickman’s take on Snape is widely seen as one of the franchise’s best casting choices, but it’s also created a headache for the new HBO series. His performance brought a mix of menace and vulnerability that made Snape both feared and oddly beloved. Now, anyone stepping into those shoes is bound to face tough comparisons.

HBO’s decision to cast Paapa Essiedu as Snape has shifted the conversation. Instead of just measuring up to Rickman, the casting has sparked debate about changing the character’s background, with some punters more focused on the race-swap than the acting itself. The showrunners have promised to stick close to the books, but the chatter hasn’t died down.

Harry Potter films are currently available to stream on HBO Max.