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Bill Nighy: 'I was proud to be considered' for Alan Rickman's film part Bill Nighy: I was proud to be considered for Alan Rickman's film part
(about 1 hour later)
Actor Bill Nighy has said he is proud to fill the role intended for the late Alan Rickman in his latest film, The Limehouse Golem. The actor Bill Nighy has said he is proud to have filled the role intended for Alan Rickman in his latest film, The Limehouse Golem.
Rickman, who died of pancreatic cancer in January aged 69, was set to star in the adaptation of Peter Ackroyd’s novel but was forced to pull out due to his illness. Rickman, who died of pancreatic cancer in January aged 69, was to star in the adaptation of Peter Ackroyd’s novel but was forced to pull out because of his illness.
Nighy, 66, said he was a great admirer of Rickman. He takes over the role of police inspector John Kildare, who investigates a series of brutal killings in Victorian-era London. Nighy, 66, said he was a great admirer of Rickman. He took over the role of the police inspector John Kildare, who investigates a series of brutal killings in Victorian-era London.
He said: “I didn’t have any reservations. I was very proud to be considered in those terms. I knew Alan reasonably well and I was a great admirer, like everyone else who came into contact with him.He said: “I didn’t have any reservations. I was very proud to be considered in those terms. I knew Alan reasonably well and I was a great admirer, like everyone else who came into contact with him.
“At the time we didn’t really know how ill he was. Obviously it was a great loss to everybody.”“At the time we didn’t really know how ill he was. Obviously it was a great loss to everybody.”
Nighy, who starred in Love Actually and Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, said he was a fan of superhero movies but believed there was an increasing market for smaller films. Nighy, who has starred in Love Actually and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, said he was a fan of blockbusters such as superhero movies but believed there was an increasing market for smaller films.
“I think the market will get bigger and bigger because of the way of the digital revolution, people are just going to need more stuff,” he said. “I think the market will get bigger and bigger because of the way of the digital revolution, people are just going to need more stuff,” he said. “People will always want other kinds of stories. I like all those superhero movies. I like all those blockbusters, I’m for everything if it’s any good.”
“People will always want other kinds of stories. I like all those superhero movies. I like all those blockbusters, I’m for everything if it’s any good.”
Discussing the success of British actors in the film industry, Nighy said: “I don’t think it has much to do with where you come from, it’s just those are the breaks.Discussing the success of British actors in the film industry, Nighy said: “I don’t think it has much to do with where you come from, it’s just those are the breaks.
“There’s a tradition, there are precedents, because we’ve been making films for a long time and therefore younger people coming through see that possibility. But I think it’s happening all over.“There’s a tradition, there are precedents, because we’ve been making films for a long time and therefore younger people coming through see that possibility. But I think it’s happening all over.
“I don’t think anybody should be discriminated against depending on their background. I think everybody should have equal opportunities.”“I don’t think anybody should be discriminated against depending on their background. I think everybody should have equal opportunities.”
The Limehouse Golem had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs until 18 September.The Limehouse Golem had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs until 18 September.