Alan Rickman nearly quit 'Harry Potter' but stayed because Snape's redemption was a 'cliff edge to hang on to'

• "Harry Potter" star Alan Rickman wanted to quit the Wizarding World between 2002 and 2005.

• The Guardian published extracts from his diary, revealing his honest thoughts about the franchise.

• Rickman considered leaving during "Chamber of Secrets," "Prisoner of Azkaban," and "Goblet of Fire."

Extracts from the diary of "Harry Potter" star Alan Rickman reveal that the actor behind Professor Snape wanted to quit the franchise in the mid-2000s, but stayed because the potion master's redemption arc was a "cliff edge to hang on to."

Rickman starred in all eight "Harry Potter" movies from 2001 to 2011, with Snape starting out as an antagonistic teacher at Hogwarts, before transforming into a tragic antihero in later films.

The Guardian recently published a series of eyeopening extracts from the British star's diary, which detail his experience working on the hugely successful franchise.

Rickman wrote that he originally considered leaving around the time he was working on "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

In January 2002, the "Die Hard" alum said that working on a franchise felt neverending. He wrote: "Nice to see them all again but it's a dreamlike thing, as if it has never stopped. And in a way, it hasn't – and won't …"

And later in December 2002, Rickman first mentions discussions of exiting the role.

"Talking to [agent] Paul Lyon-Maris about HP exit, which he thinks will happen. But here we are in the project-collision area again. Reiterating no more HP. They don't want to hear it," he said.

Rickman expressed how annoying it was to work within the studio system in a number of other entries, even recalling one moment when "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" director Alfonso Cuarón went "quietly ballistic" at him after an accident on set.

After venting about the stresses of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," Rickman eventually signed on for the fifth film, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" in January 2006 — shortly after he was treated for prostate cancer.

He wrote: "Finally, yes to HP 5. The sensation is neither up nor down. The argument that wins is the one that says: 'See it through. It's your story.'"

Rickman star was equally honest about what kept him going while working on the franchise, revealing that "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling had told him about Snape's story arc involving his unrequited love for Lily Potter, played by Ellie Darcey-Alden and Geraldine Somerville.

"I have finished reading the last Harry Potter book," he wrote. "Snape dies heroically, Potter describes him to his children as one of the bravest men he ever knew and calls his son Albus Severus. This was a genuine rite of passage. One small piece of information from Jo Rowling seven years ago – Snape loved Lily – gave me a cliff edge to hang on to."

Audiences will remember that Snape has had feelings for Lily ever since meeting her as a young boy, and his love for her is what keeps him going even as the Order of the Phoenix's double agent in Voldemort's ranks. He ultimately redeems himself by protecting Harry on numerous occasions over the course of the franchise.

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