Most people think of Alan Rickman as the sneering Professor Snape or the dryly villainous Hans Gruber. When you think of Norman Reedus, you probably see the grease-stained, crossbow-wielding Daryl Dixon. They feel like they belong to entirely different cinematic universes. One is a titan of the British stage; the other is the king of the American cult classic.
But back in 1998, their worlds collided in a way that still has fans digging through old DVD bins and Reddit threads today.
The movie was Dark Harbor. It’s a weird, atmospheric, and deeply underrated psychological thriller set against the foggy backdrop of Maine. If you haven’t seen it, honestly, you’re missing out on one of the most bizarrely erotic and tension-heavy pairings in 90s indie cinema. It wasn't just a professional gig. According to Rickman's own published diaries, this shoot was something... different.
That Ending Everyone Missed
Dark Harbor starts out like a typical "stranger in our midst" thriller. Rickman plays David Weinberg, a prissy, high-strung lawyer married to Alexis (Polly Walker). They’re driving to their private island in a rainstorm when they find a nameless, beaten-up young man—played by a very young, very "pretty-grunge" Norman Reedus—on the side of the road.
For 90 minutes, you’re led to believe this is a classic love triangle. You think Reedus is seducing the wife. You think Rickman is the jealous, cuckolded husband.
Then comes the twist.
The final scene reveals that David and the "Young Man" were actually lovers the entire time. They orchestrated the whole weekend to murder the wife for her inheritance. The movie ends with Reedus and Rickman sharing a cold, wet, and genuinely shocking kiss on the shore. It was a massive subversion of expectations at the time, especially for an actor of Rickman’s stature.
What Rickman Really Thought of Norman Reedus
When Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman was released posthumously, fans finally got a glimpse into what was happening behind the scenes of that Maine set. Rickman wasn't just "showing up" for the paycheck.
His entries about Reedus are fascinatingly candid. On September 29, 1997, Rickman wrote about a "long lunchtime chat" with Norman. He described Reedus as someone who had "had a life"—mentioning his time as a tennis champ and living on an Indian reservation.
Rickman admitted: "I’m dazzled by his openness. He could achieve anything with it."
It’s rare to see Rickman, a man known for his rigorous standards and sometimes intimidating presence, sound so genuinely "dazzled" by a young co-star. There’s a particular entry where Rickman mentions giving Reedus a head massage. It suggests a level of intimacy and comfort that went beyond just being "work colleagues."
The Coded Entries
A lot of the diary entries from the Dark Harbor period are written in what editors and fans call "code." Rickman mentions being "into someone" during the shoot and describes specific scenes (like Scene 105) as being "very difficult to describe in coded form."
While we can't definitively claim there was a real-life romance—Rickman was famously devoted to his wife, Rima Horton—the diaries clearly show a profound, intense connection between the two men. Rickman even noted that Reedus "reads beautifully" during the initial table reads. He saw something in the young actor long before The Walking Dead made him a household name.
The Disaster of the First On-Screen Kiss
Norman Reedus has his own stories from the set, and they’re a lot more "classic Norman."
In recent interviews, including a sit-down with Entertainment Weekly, Reedus recounted his absolute lack of experience with on-screen romance back then. Dark Harbor featured his first big "passionate" movie kiss.
The kicker? It wasn't with Rickman. It was with Polly Walker.
Reedus admits he was "hysterical" and had no idea what he was doing. He apparently used his tongue way too much (twice in a row!), leaving Walker bewildered. He eventually had to ask the director, Adam Coleman Howard, for a literal tutorial on how to kiss for the camera.
When it came to the kiss with Rickman, Reedus has been more reflective. He’s often spoken about how intimidating it was to work with a legend like Alan, yet how much he learned from him. There was no tongue-drama there—just a calculated, chilling moment that remains one of the boldest scenes in both of their careers.
Why This Connection Matters in 2026
We live in an era of "shipping" and obsession over celebrity friendships, but the Rickman-Reedus connection feels more substantial than a meme. It’s a snapshot of two artists from completely different backgrounds finding a shared language.
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- The Mentor-Protégé Dynamic: Rickman saw the potential in Reedus’s "raw" energy.
- Breaking Taboos: In 1998, a mainstream leading man like Rickman playing a closeted murderer was a huge risk.
- The Lasting Influence: Reedus’s understated, often silent acting style in The Walking Dead bears a striking resemblance to the "less is more" philosophy Rickman championed.
Honestly, if you watch Dark Harbor now, the chemistry is undeniable. You can see Rickman "testing" Reedus in their scenes together, and you can see Reedus rising to the challenge.
Next Steps for Fans
If you want to experience this weird piece of cinema history yourself, here is how to dive deeper:
- Watch the Movie: Dark Harbor is frequently available on YouTube or through niche independent streaming services. Look for the scene where Reedus does a Marilyn Monroe impersonation—it explains a lot about the character's "hustler" energy.
- Read the Diaries: Pick up Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman. Look specifically for the entries from late 1997. It gives context to the "coded" language he used while filming in Maine.
- Check the "Deleted" Context: Research the original opening of the film. There was a deleted scene where Rickman’s character punches Reedus in a hotel room, which establishes their pre-existing relationship much earlier. Knowing this makes their performance in the rest of the film even more nuanced.