Alan Rickman’s Surprising U-Turn on Die Hard’s Script

Alan Rickman’s first encounter with the script for Die Hard was anything but enthusiastic. At a BAFTA gathering, he didn’t mince words about his initial reaction:

“What the hell is this? I’m not doing an action movie.”

Not exactly the response one might expect from the man who would go on to play one of cinema’s most memorable antagonists.

On paper, Die Hard looked like a standard late-80s action flick. Directed by John McTiernan and starring Bruce Willis, the film hit cinemas in July 1988, quickly raking in $143 million worldwide and earning a solid 8.2 on IMDb. Yet, beneath the surface, there was more at play than just explosions and wisecracks.

Spotlight on Representation

What ultimately swayed Rickman wasn’t the promise of blockbuster success or the chance to square off against Willis. Instead, he was struck by the way the script handled its Black characters. In an era when action films routinely relegated them to the background or worse, Die Hard quietly bucked the trend. Rickman observed,

“Every single black character in that film is positive and highly intelligent. So, 28 years ago, that’s quite revolutionary, and quietly so.”

He noted that these roles weren’t just there for comic effect or to fill a quota. Whether on the side of the law or among the villains, they were written with nuance and agency, shaping the story’s direction in meaningful ways. For Rickman, this subtlety signalled a script with more on its mind than the usual action fare.

Theatre Instincts on Set

Rickman, still relatively new to the film industry at the time, brought a stage actor’s sensibility to the set. He wasn’t shy about questioning choices or suggesting alternatives. When it came to Hans Gruber’s wardrobe, for instance, Rickman argued that a sharp suit would serve the character better than military garb. The suggestion didn’t go down well with producer Joel Silver, who reportedly snapped,

“Get the hell out of here, you’ll wear what you’re told.”

Yet, not long after, a revised script landed on Rickman’s desk, reflecting his input.

He later remarked that it

“showed it pays to have a little bit of theatre training.”

That background didn’t just inform his performance; it helped shape the character into something more layered and memorable than the genre typically allowed.

Legacy of a Reluctant Villain

Rickman’s initial reluctance gave way to a performance that would define his early film career. Hans Gruber, with his tailored suit and icy composure, became a template for sophisticated villains. The actor’s insistence on depth and detail—qualities honed on the stage—elevated the role far beyond the standard action baddie.

For those keen to revisit Rickman’s turn as Gruber, Die Hard remains available to stream on Prime Video in the US. It’s a reminder that sometimes, a second look at a script can make all the difference.