Tom Felton has only kind things to say about the late Alan Rickman, though he was terrified of him while filming Harry Potter. The media franchise featuring the boy wizard remains a major part of the pop culture conversation, despite the final book releasing in 2007 and the last movie in 2011. The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them spinoff series has kept audiences engaged, with its third film set to release in 2022. There's also been talk of other projects set in the Harry Potter world, including a TV show that was reportedly in development for HBO Max as of January 2021. Though HBO later downplayed the reports, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar has said "there's a lot of fun and potential" in the Harry Potter franchise.
Felton has also played a major role in keeping the series alive. He often shares photos related to the movies and answers fan questions about them on social media. Felton has also discussed the possibility of a Harry Potter reboot, putting his hat in the ring to play his character Draco's father, Lucius. More recently, the actor has shared videos of him rewatching the movies, sharing behind-the-scenes tidbits throughout. Felton even revealed his grandpa's secret cameo in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, where he appeared as a professor during a Quidditch match.
Now, Felton's teamed with Peacock for a Harry Potter watch party on TikTok. During it, he answered questions from those watching. One person asked him what it was like working with Rickman, who passed away in 2016. Said Felton:
Scary. He was the only actor I knew, and he was terrifying in the most pleasant way. But very, very kind. Wicked sense of humor. I just met him when I was 12, so it took me a few years to be able to have enough courage to say anything more than "hi."...a privilege, a real privilege.
Felton's comments echo what he and other Harry Potter stars have said about Rickman in the past. They paint a picture of an actor who seemed intimidating due to his impressive career, but who was ultimately extremely kind, as Felton says. It sounds like the young ages of the majority of the Harry Potter cast, as well as Rickman's role as the imposing Professor Snape, factored into how Felton and others perceived him, at least initially. Luckily, as Felton alludes to, the cast was able to get to know Rickman better when they were working on the later Harry Potter films and didn't find him quite so intimidating.
Upon Rickman's passing, his Harry Potter co-stars had only warm words about him, and it's clear from Felton's comments why that was the case. It seems he was a joy to work with during filming despite his iconic status in the film industry. It's clear Rickman made a positive impression on his colleagues throughout his long career, Felton included.
Source: Peacock