How Only One Actor in ‘Harry Potter’ Actually Knew the Series’ Final Twist

Even in a world of wizards and secrets, there was one secret on the Harry Potter set that was kept better than any other. While stars like Daniel Radcliffe and Gary Oldman were often left guessing about their characters’ fates, one legendary actor was always steps ahead of everyone else.

During the Return to Hogwarts 20th anniversary special, Radcliffe shared the surprising story of how the late Alan Rickman, who played the complex Severus Snape, was the only cast member with the “inside line.”

Rowling was still in the middle of writing the later books when the first movies were being filmed, which meant the cast usually found out what happened to their characters at the same time as the rest of the world.

Gary Oldman, who played the beloved Sirius Black, admitted that he felt a bit in the dark during his time on set. I wish I’d had the whole picture, Oldman told Radcliffe, explaining that neither the actors nor the directors really knew where the story was headed.

Radcliffe then dropped the bombshell that Rickman had approached Rowling very early on because he felt he needed to understand Snape’s true motivations to play him correctly.

Rowling famously gave him a tiny bit of information that changed everything—the word Always. This secret allowed Rickman to portray Snape with a specific layer of mystery that even the film’s directors couldn’t quite wrap their heads around at the time.

According to Radcliffe, director Chris Columbus would sometimes ask Rickman why he was delivering a line in a certain way or making a specific choice. Rickman would simply decline to explain, telling the director, I’ll tell you later.

It wasn’t until the final book was released that everyone realized those subtle choices were all intentional nods to Snape’s secret love for Lily Potter. While Rickman’s legacy as Snape continues to live on, the actors who shared the screen with him have been staying very busy.

Daniel Radcliffe has recently shifted his focus back to the stage, making a highly anticipated return to Broadway this month in the solo play Every Brilliant Thing. Outside of acting, the 36-year-old has been opening up about life as a father, recently joking in interviews that he has become a total emotional wreck since welcoming his son.

Gary Oldman is also having a massive year, having recently picked up the AACTA International Award for Best Actor for his role as Jackson Lamb in the hit series Slow Horses.

Fans of the show will be happy to know that more seasons are already on the way, though Oldman has hinted that retirement might finally be on the horizon once the series concludes. He is also set to return to the London stage this May, directing and starring in a new production of Krapp’s Last Tape.

As for the wizarding world itself, a brand-new generation is getting ready to take over the mantle. HBO recently confirmed that the new Harry Potter television series is targeting an early 2027 release date, with young actor Dominic McLaughlin cast as the new Harry.

While many fans are still loyal to the original cast, the new series promises to dive deeper into the books than ever before, though it’s unlikely anyone will ever quite match the mystery Alan Rickman brought to the role of Snape.

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