Iconic Movie Villain Nearly Rejected Role 37 Years Ago – Find Out Who!

It has been 37 years since “Die Hard” first hit theaters, and while some elements of John McTiernan’s film may not have aged as well as others, the first installment of the renowned Die Hard series remains a pinnacle of action cinema.

The film continues to be a joy to revisit today, thanks to its numerous undeniable strengths that have stood the test of time: its compelling concept—a cat-and-mouse game across the floors of a towering skyscraper—its impeccable pacing, its protagonist played by Bruce Willis at his peak, and of course, its villain.

• He’s one of cinema’s greatest villains: 59 years ago, he was the star of this western masterpiece

The Criminal Hans Gruber

The German criminal Hans Gruber, leader of a group of robbers determined to steal the small fortune hidden in the basement of Nakatomi Plaza. Cruel and scheming, dressed in a flawless three-piece suit, his elegance sharply contrasts with his ruthless methods. Gruber’s charisma is undoubtedly amplified by his powerful lines and, more importantly, by the talent of his actor.

Now globally recognized for his role as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter saga, British actor Alan Rickman, who passed away nine years ago, had never stepped onto an American film set before embodying the dark-suited Gruber.

A Nearly 40-Foot Fall

Rickman’s years of treading the London stage boards and his natural flair for playing villains allowed him to bring a delicious theatricality and unforgettable presence to Die Hard’s antagonist. McTiernan’s film gave Rickman many opportunities to unleash his talent: Gruber’s terrifying countdown with Mr. Takagi, his delightful verbal sparring over the phone with John McClane, his impressive fits of rage, and his memorable final fall.

Rickman insisted on performing this stunt himself, released by the crew in the middle of the countdown to achieve a better surprise effect, according to reports.

“What I remember is the incredulous looks from the producers when I said I would do [the stunt] myself”, Rickman shared during a public appearance in December 2009.

“It was a fall of nearly 40 feet if I remember correctly, and it was a time when there was no CGI and you just said ‘let go of the actor, and hope he doesn’t spin like a top or fall on his head and kill himself!’ They made sure it was my last shot of the filming!”

A Few Minor Adjustments

While Rickman’s portrayal in “Die Hard” now seems like an obvious fit, it’s worth noting that he almost turned down the role after initially reading the script, as he revealed at the Baftas, according to an article in The Guardian.

Eventually persuaded by the script’s originality, he nonetheless suggested two small changes to his character: first, that he should wear a suit instead of military gear; second, that he should pretend to be one of the hostages in a scene.

“Joel told me: ‘Get out of here, you’ll wear what we tell you to wear.’ But when I came back, they handed me a new script. It shows that having a bit of theater experience pays off,” Rickman recounted, who years later would again leverage his suggestions to play the unforgettable sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

What is your favorite role in Alan Rickman’s career?

(Re)discover the trailer for “Die Hard”…