Helen Mirren Tipped to Succeed Alan Rickman in Dogma Sequel

Kevin Smith, best known for his work on the Clerks series, is pressing ahead with a long-discussed follow-up to his 1999 religious satire, Dogma. Having recently reclaimed the rights and overseen a 4K re-release of the original, Smith is now developing Dogma 2, promising a fresh approach to one of the film’s most memorable figures.

With Alan Rickman sadly no longer with us to reprise his role as Metatron, Smith has already revealed his preferred choice for the character’s next incarnation—and it’s not Adam Driver. In a recent interview, Smith explained that he envisions Helen Mirren taking on the part, bringing her own gravitas to the role.

Smith’s Vision for Metatron’s Return

Smith clarified that he is not planning to simply swap the character’s gender. Instead, he hopes Mirren will offer a performance that both honours Rickman’s legacy and introduces a new interpretation for contemporary audiences. As he put it,

I want to write it for Helen Mirren. She is incredibly Alan-adjacent.

Mirren and Rickman shared a notable connection, having worked together on Eye in the Sky and as Antony and Cleopatra in the late 1990s. This shared history gives Smith’s casting hopes a personal resonance. He recalled meeting Mirren alongside Rickman at an awards ceremony, saying,

She’s not playing Metatron, but she plays this film’s version of Metatron. For me, I met her years ago with Alan, at this Empire movie awards ceremony… ‘Helen Mirren, aside from being one of my favourite actors on the planet, I had that crossover moment with her and Alan at one point.’

Reimagining a Classic Character

Smith is writing the new version of Metatron specifically with Mirren in mind, believing she can pay tribute to Rickman without simply mimicking his performance. He explained,

As a writer and a romantic, you’ll make any connection or any justification you can. But it started me thinking, maybe it would be Helen Mirren. So I’m writing it for Helen Mirren.

Mirren’s portrayal would not be a direct continuation of Rickman’s Metatron, but rather a reimagined figure crafted for the sequel. Smith is confident that Mirren’s blend of elegance and authority makes her the ideal choice to carry the character forward.

Adam Driver Overlooked Once More

Although Smith initially considered Adam Driver as a potential successor, noting his resemblance to a young Rickman and his commanding presence, the idea was ultimately set aside. Smith admitted,

When I was thinking, ‘Well, I don’t have Alan,” at one point I was like, “Well, Adam Driver looks like a young Alan Rickman, just taller.’ But then I was like, no.

This is not the first time Driver has been passed over for a role associated with Rickman. When the Harry Potter television reboot was announced, many fans lobbied for Driver to play Severus Snape, a part made famous by Rickman. Instead, the role went to Paapa Essiedu, sparking both praise and debate over the casting decision.

Now, with Dogma 2, Driver finds himself once again edged out of a role many considered a natural fit. Rather than a direct replacement, Smith’s approach this time involves a gender-flipped reinterpretation, with Mirren set to bring her own style to the part.

Dogma is currently available to rent or buy on Prime Video.