Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros
Topics: Harry Potter, TV And Film
The film version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was going to have a very different ending for Snape, which the late Alan Rickman argued against.
The Harry Potter films were a fantastic adaptation of the books, and while almost every character had a chance to shine, none shined brighter than Alan Rickman’s Severus Snape.
Starting out as a side antagonist to Harry in the first book/film Snape was eventually revealed to be a hero in disguise during the final film
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Snape met his end in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, when Voldemort unleashed his pet snake Nagini on him, killing him with poison.
Apparently director David Yates had a different idea though, wanting Snape to be killed off with a spell by Voldemort instead.
Reddit user Windsofheaven_ shared an excerpt from Rickman’s diary talking about the change, which read: “David Y stubborn as ever about V[oldemort] killing me with a spell. (Impossible to comprehend, not least the resultant wrath of the readers.)
“Great working with Ralph, though. Direct and true and inventive and free. Back home and Rima (narrative brainbox) says, "He can't kill you with a spell - the only one that would do that is Avada Kedavra and it kills instantly - you wouldn't be able to finish the scene.'”
The whole point of the scene was for Snape to have a slow death that allowed him to provide Harry with his memories, something that wouldn't have been effective, or even possible, if Snape had just perished instantly.
“Well, that's stupid” replied one fan, and another said “I’m not surprised, Yates pretty much saw wands as fantasy guns.”
Fortunately that wasn’t how the scene played out, and we got an emotional send-off to arguably the best character in the series.