Justin Long shared a rare BTS photo of Alan Rickman

Galaxy Quest celebrates its 25th anniversary Justin Long looks back with sincere gratitude – not only for the film itself, but also for the wonderful people with whom he shared the experience, including the late Alan Rickman.

Long made his big screen debut in the 1999 sci-fi comedy co-starring Tim AllenSIgorny Weaver, Tony Shalub, Sam Rockwelland Rickman. The film, a loving parody of Star Trek fans, follows the cast of the cult sci-fi television series who are unexpectedly thrown into a real intergalactic crisis by aliens who believe their show was real.

On Wednesday, December 25, Justin Long celebrated the milestone anniversary by sharing a couple of nostalgic photos from the set.

One touching shot showed Long with Rickman, who died in 2016 aged 69, and their co-star Jeremy Howard.

“It was my first time on set, my first time in Los Angeles, one of my first airplane rides, and my first time meeting Sam Rockwell,” Long shared with his followers. “This photo of me, Alan Rickman and Jeremy Howard (who played my friend in the movie and could have blown his head off in ‘Admitted’) was taken at a party that Alan threw for everyone in the cast and crew.”

Hadn’t met Rickman for a long time before the party, though he “had an idea” of who the actor might be, “based only on the incredible performances I’ve seen him play as villains in movies like Die Hard and “Robin Hood”. ‘”

“My experience with him as a person was the complete opposite of that…he was so kind, generous and yes, dry (VERY dry) but so playful, spirited,” admitted Long. “I think about him often, and when I look back on that experience a quarter of a century later, one of the greatest gifts I got from it was knowing and working with an actor like Alan. And Sam. Now I know how rare they are.”

Later in the caption, he thanked Jeremy Howard for sending a photo of BTS featuring “one of the greatest actors of all time (and people) graciously serving two giddy young actors who are just about to embark on a fun and action-packed 25-year adventure “.

He then praised all the fans “for helping it go on for so long.”

“And as always @bonnieezane for sending my feed to your sister Debra who ended up casting me in the movie,” he concluded.

Reflecting on the film during an episode of the Happy Sad Confused with Sam Rockwell podcast, Justin Long shared his thoughts on the possibility of a sequel.

“There were drafts (of the TV series) that were going to be shot on Amazon before Alan died,” he said. “They were all willing to do it and Alan had to miss the pilot episode. But then he felt it would be better for the second episode. So it was that close.”

The late Alan Rickman remains one of the most iconic and versatile actors in contemporary film and theatre. Known for his deep booming voice and ability to portray both heroes and villains with equal skill, Rickman created a legacy that continues to captivate audiences around the world. From Hollywood blockbusters to stage plays, his work has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to his craft and a rare depth of talent.

In 1988, Rickman made his Hollywood debut as the unforgettable villain Hans Gruber in Die Hard opposite Bruce Willis. Although this was his first major film role, Rickman made a career out of mixing intelligence, charm and menace to create one of cinema’s most iconic antagonists. With the image of Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series, he became famous again.

Rickman has won numerous awards throughout his career, including a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

On January 14, 2016, Alan Rickman died at the age of 69 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer. His death came as a shock to both fans and colleagues, with ears pouring out from all over the world.

Rickman’s final roles in Eye in the Sky and Alice Through the Looking Glass were released posthumously, leaving fans with one last glimpse of his genius.