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Alan Rickman will be immortalised for many a generation as Professor Snape in Harry Potter, but Tom Roth has revealed he was offered the part first.

The Tin Star actor revealed on There’s Something About The Movies, Alan Carr’s glitzy panel show with team captains Jennifer Saunders and Michael Sheen, he turned down one of the most iconic film roles imaginable to star in Planet Of The Apes.

‘There’s films I do for my kids,’ the 58-year-old told Alan. ‘I got offered Planet Of The Apes and it was Tim Burton and it was make-up and I thought it would be fun.

Alan Rickman perfectly captured Professor Snape in Harry Potter (Picture: Warner Bros)

Tim Roth dropped the shocker during tonight’s There’s Something About The Movies (Picture: Sky One)

‘Then at the same time as that they came to me and asked me to do Snape in the Harry Potter films and I was like, “Ok. Interesting.”




‘I thought I’ll be on every lunchbox or whatever it is but that will be it really, I’ll be known for that. I’d rather a career that’s completely bonkers.’

Alan passed away in 2016 after a brief battle with cancer.

After wrapping up his final scenes in the Harry Potter franchise, he penned an open letter for fans, via Empire magazine.

‘I have just returned from the dubbing studio where I spoke into a microphone as Severus Snape for absolutely the last time. On the screen were some flashback shots of Daniel, Emma, and Rupert from 10 years ago.

‘They were 12. I have also recently returned from New York, and while I was there, I saw Daniel singing and dancing (brilliantly) on Broadway. A lifetime seems to have passed in minutes.

‘Three children have become adults since a phone call with Jo Rowling, containing one small clue, persuaded me that there was more to Snape than an unchanging costume, and that even though only three of the books were out at that time, she held the entire massive but delicate narrative in the surest of hands.

‘It is an ancient need to be told in stories. But the story needs a great storyteller. Thanks for all of it, Jo.

‘Alan Rickman’

There’s Something About The Movies continues tonight at 9pm on Sky One.

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