Some fans will always hope for one of their favorite actors to return to their most famous role, no matter how unlikely this is in reality. However, for every unwanted movie sequel or remake, there are some that are actually promising. Additionally, the best legacy movie sequels of all time prove that such continuations can work, especially when the talent and charisma of a particular actor is all the movie really needs to be a hit. If the biggest draw of the original movie was watching one character be amazing, people would naturally want to see more of just that.
On the other hand, some actors left major movie franchises or ongoing TV shows and people still miss their characters. Depending on the genre of the property and the circumstances of the character’s departure, there is always the lingering possibility that a fan-favorite character could return in the sequel or the next season. Rumors and denials of character returns and legacy sequels are everywhere in Hollywood, but more than likely, the fans will believe what they want despite the odds of it actually happening.
10 Matt Smith
The Doctor
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David Tennant has made his return to Doctor Who, and now people are waiting on Matt Smith. Regarding his potential return, Smith said in an interview with BBC: “Never say never!” Smith’s tenure as the eleventh Doctor with Karen Gillan as his companion Amy Pond ended a decade ago; since then, both actors’ careers have flourished. Gillan only gained more popularity when she took on the role of Nebula in the MCU, while Smith achieved a higher status in the industry with the critically acclaimed dramas The Crown and House of the Dragon.
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The latest season of Doctor Who introduces the Fifteenth Doctor, joined by new companion Ruby Sunday. Their first adventure begins with “The Church on Ruby Road,” where they face powerful new foes and unravel the mystery surrounding Ruby’s origins. The Doctor grapples with the aftermath of a unique regeneration event and battles enemies more formidable than ever before.
Cast Ncuti Gatwa , Millie Gibson , Susan Twist , Michelle Greenidge , Angela Wynter , Jemma Redgrave , Yasmin Finney , Anita Dobson Release Date December 25, 2023 Seasons 2 Writers Russell T. Davies , Dave Gibbons , Kate Herron , Steven Moffat
Related 7 Ways Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor & Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Copy Each Other
Doctor Who and Sherlock possess much in common, not least of all the same showrunner which helped guide both characters in similar ways.
Aside from delighting the fans, Smith’s return to Doctor Who would elevate the show after making such strides. The exact nature of his return is up in the air, with some people proposing he becomes the Sixteenth Doctor, rather than just making a cameo. There is also an option for Gillan to return with him, now that she has no Guardians of the Galaxy movies on the horizon. Needless to say, Smith is still a fan-favorite Doctor and people will always love to see him in any form in the show.
9 Krysten Ritter
Jessica Jones
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Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin have made their way into the MCU, but arguably the next most popular character from the Netflix Marvel universe has yet to reappear. Krysten Ritter led Netflix’s Jessica Jones as the title character for three seasons, ending around the time Disney and the MCU subsumed the fringe Marvel properties into their complex. After the Netflix shows sort of implied that they were taking place in the MCU, the massive superhero franchise officially confirmed it with Daredevil’s inclusion in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Kingpin’s in Hawkeye.
Meanwhile, theories about Jessica’s MCU return have been circulating; people want her back.
Marvel’s Jessica Jones 1
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Having left her brief career as a superhero behind, Jessica Jones works as a private investigator. When Kilgrave, her abusive former partner who possesses mind-control powers, resurfaces, it’s up to Jessica to stop him.
Cast Krysten Ritter , David Tennant , Mike Colter , Rachael Taylor , wil traval , Erin Moriarty , Eka Darville , Carrie-Anne Moss , J.R. Ramirez , Terry Chen , Leah Gibson , Janet McTeer , Benjamin Walker , Sarita Choudhury , Jeremy Bobb Release Date November 20, 2015 Seasons 3 Showrunner Melissa Rosenberg Expand
Meanwhile, theories about Jessica’s MCU return have been circulating; people want her back. Ritter told The Hollywood Reporter: “I am ready and I would, of course, be there in a heartbeat. […] So if the opportunity calls, I may or may not have an extra jacket already.” There is no multiverse excuse needed here: Jessica is free to appear in the MCU whenever and wherever. It seems fairly easy and the fans and the actress want it — the MCU just needs to make it happen.
8 Regé-Jean Page
Simon Basset
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Regé-Jean Page and Pheobe Dynevor were the breakthrough romance stars of the year when Bridgerton debuted, and everyone assumed that they were going places. Dynevor has made some appearances in later seasons of Bridgerton and done some other work with Netflix, but Page has mostly disappeared from this realm of TV. Because Bridgerton shifts its focus to a new couple each season, Page’s Simon Basset does not need to be there for the show to work. However, while Bridgerton season 3 confirms that it doesn’t need Simon, his fans still want him to at least cameo.
Bridgerton 7
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From Shondaland and creator Chris Van Dusen, Netflix’s Bridgerton is based on the romance novels of the same name by author Julia Quinn. The series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth, as they search for love during the social season and navigate life in Regency-era England.
Cast Will Tilston , Rege-Jean Page , Ruth Gemmell , Luke Thompson , Isabella Cortese , Martins Imhangbe , Julie Andrews , Phoebe Dynevor , Ruby Stokes , Ruby Barker , Claudia Jessie , Adjoa Andoh , Nicola Coughlan , Golda Rosheuvel , Charithra Chandran , Ben Miller , Jonathan Bailey , Florence Hunt , Polly Walker , Shelley Conn , Joanna Bobin , Luke Newton , Simone Ashley Release Date December 25, 2020 Seasons 4 Creator(s) Chris Van Dusen Expand
By now, it has been widely reported that Page has no plans to return to Bridgerton, seeing Simon and Daphne’s story as a one-season arc (via popsugar.com). While this is completely true, it does not mean that he could not cameo to remind people that he exists in this world. Anthony and Kate have more of an arc in season 3, but Daphne simply glides through in season 2. Page does not have to film anything extensive for Bridgerton season 4 because just hinting about Simon’s ongoing life is all that the fans want.
7 Jensen Ackles & Jared Padalecki
Sam & Dean Winchester
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Even before rumors of Supernatural season 16 happening arose, there was constant talk about when Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki would return to playing the Winchester brothers. While there are reasons Supernatural season 16 would be a bad idea, more hilarious shenanigans with Sam and Dean will always be fun to watch. Additionally, after the Supernatural series finale came as a disappointment to many fans, a revival would give the show a chance to have a better final outing for the characters.
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Created by Eric Kripke, Supernatural is a fantasy/drama series that premiered in 2005. The series follows the adventures of Dean and Sam Winchester – two men wronged by supernatural beings as children who now spend their days investigating and hunting demons, ghosts, and monsters across the United States.
Cast Jensen Ackles , Misha Collins , Jim Beaver , Jared Padalecki , Katie Cassidy , Lauren Cohan , Mark A. Sheppard , Mark Pellegrino , Alexander Calvert Release Date September 13, 2005 Seasons 15 Showrunner Eric Kripke
Ackles and Padalecki teased a new Supernatural project last year, which may not necessarily be a straightforward continuation of the original show. Supernatural previously tried to go for a spinoff, but The Winchesters was canceled after only one season. Perhaps this show’s problem was simply that it failed to grab fans without the dynamic lead duo, while they would certainly watch any Supernatural-related project starring Ackles and Padalecki.
6 Christian Bale
Bruce Wayne/Batman
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Christian Bale is open to returning to the role of Bruce Wayne after the conclusion of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy more than a decade ago. However, Bale’s condition upon returning to the Dark Knight is that Nolan is involved, while the director is uninterested in making any more superhero movies. It is possible that his brother Jonathan Nolan could take his place, while the Oscar-winning director will be involved in another capacity. While The Dark Knight Rises is generally regarded as a disappointing conclusion, a legacy sequel could be an interesting continuation.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight franchise, also known as The Dark Knight Trilogy, is a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film series directed by Christopher Nolan. It is a darker and more realistic take on the Batman character, exploring themes of justice, chaos, and redemption. The trilogy revitalized the Batman film series and is often credited with raising the bar for superhero films, particularly through its exploration of complex moral dilemmas and the iconic portrayal of villains like the Joker.
Created by Christopher Nolan , David S. Goyer Cast Christian Bale , Michael Caine , Gary Oldman , Morgan Freeman , Heath Ledger , Tom Hardy , Anne Hathaway , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Liam Neeson , Aaron Eckhart Character(s) Batman , Alfred Pennyworth , Commissioner Gordon , Lucius Fox , Bane , The Joker , Catwoman , Two-Face
Delving too deep into multiverse plots wouldn’t suit the tone of Nolan’s trilogy, but the legacy sequel could do with the barest hints at it being in the same universe as The Batman. Otherwise, this could be a strong legacy sequel showcasing Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Robin or another character responsible for Batman’s legacy, with Bale playing a mentor figure. Although The Dark Knight 4 may be unlikely, fans still want to see the movie and Bale’s Batman again.
5 Uma Thurman
Beatrix Kiddo
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Quentin Tarantino has made it clear that there are no plans for Kill Bill Vol. 3, planning on his next movie being his last before retirement (via Deadline). This has not stopped people from talking about the possibility of Uma Thurman reprising her famous action role when the timing and casting choices are perfect. When Tarantino still talked about the possibility of Kill Bill 3, he said that the story could be about Nikkia, the daughter of one of the women Beatrix killed, now seeking revenge for her mother’s death.
It is a perfect continuation of the movie’s themes, with Beatrix now forced to reckon with being on the other side of the revenge quest.
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Kill Bill Kill Bill: Vol. 2 Director Quentin Tarantino Quentin Tarantino Release Date 2003-10-10 2004-04-16 Cast Lucy Liu, Uma Thurman, Michael Madsen, David Carradine, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah Ambrosia Kelley, Uma Thurman, Michael Madsen, David Carradine, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Parks, James Parks, Daryl Hannah Rating R R Runtime 111 minutes 137 Minutes Genres Thriller, Action, Crime Thriller, Action, Crime
Related 10 Actors Quentin Tarantino Has Cast Over And Over
These 10 actors work with Quentin Tarantino the most and help define the director’s career, from favorite genres to general approaches to casting.
It is a perfect continuation of the movie’s themes, with Beatrix now forced to reckon with being on the other side of the revenge quest. The most popular casting choice is Zendaya as Nikkia, originally suggested by Vivica A. Fox, the actress who played Nikki’s mother (via comicbook.com). Meanwhile, Maya Hawke responded favorably to Kill Bill casting rumors about her playing B.B., the daughter of her mother’s character. When the stars all align in this way, people really want to see “the Bride” back in action, but the sequel would face the insurmountable challenge of finding a director to replace Tarantino.
4 Constance Wu
Rachel Chu
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Crazy Rich Asians was a smash hit rom-com, riding on the performances of relative newcomers Constance Wu, Henry Golding, and Gemma Chan, supported by industry legend Michelle Yeoh. Crazy Rich Asians 2 was swiftly announced in the aftermath of the first movie’s success but has been stalled for years now. Conflicting reports have arisen about an Astrid and Charlie spinoff and even a Crazy Rich Asians TV show, leaving the series’ future uncertain.
Crazy Rich Asians 4
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Based on the global best-selling series Crazy Rich Asians is a romantic comedy that follows New York Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family. However, she soon discovers her significant other is hiding a secret – his family is one of the wealthiest families in Singapore – and her mother already disapproves of her and her origins. Rachel will attempt to find her place in the madness and prove her own worth to a family of unflinching prejudice.
Director Jon M. Chu Release Date August 15, 2018 Cast Gemma Chan , Chris Pang , Awkwafina , Jimmy O. Yang , Michelle Yeoh , Ken Jeong , Henry Golding , Sonoya Mizuno , Jing Lusi , Constance Wu Runtime 121 Minutes
It is astounding that Hollywood has neglected to follow up on Crazy Rich Asians when it was such a success. Particularly, people are yearning to see Wu again play the brave, intelligent, and romantic Rachel Chu. Wu’s biggest title since Crazy Rich Asians is Hustlers alongside Jennifer Lopez, also one of Keke Palmer’s best movies. However, Crazy Rich Asians still stands out in Wu’s career, a role she deserves to return to and further develop.
3 Ian McKellen
Gandalf
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It would make a lot of sense for Ian McKellen to return in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, as Gandalf is directly involved with this plot point off-screen during the events of The Lord of the Rings. McKellen has also said that he is open to returning (via Variety). It has been 10 years since McKellen last played the legendary wizard in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, portraying some mysteriously heartwarming interactions with Bilbo as he did with Frodo in the original trilogy.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
Movie(s) The Lord of the Rings (1978) , The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring , The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers , The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King , The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug , The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies , The Lord of The Rings: The War of The Rohirrim Created by J.R.R. Tolkien Cast Norman Bird , Anthony Daniels , Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler , Viggo Mortensen , Sean Astin , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Orlando Bloom , Christopher Lee , Hugo Weaving , Sean Bean , Ian Holm , Andy Serkis , Brad Dourif , Karl Urban , Martin Freeman , Richard Armitage , James Nesbitt , Ken Stott , Benedict Cumberbatch , Evangeline Lilly , Lee Pace , Luke Evans , Morfydd Clark , Mike Wood , Ismael Cruz Cordova , Charlie Vickers , Markella Kavenagh , Megan Richards , Sara Zwangobani , Daniel Weyman , Cynthia Addai-Robinson , Lenny Henry , Brian Cox , Shaun Dooley , Miranda Otto , Bilal Hasna , Benjamin Wainwright , Luke Pasqualino , Christopher Guard , William Squire , Michael Scholes , John Hurt Character(s) Frodo Baggins , Gandalf , Legolas , Boromir , Sauron , Gollum , Samwise Gamgee , Pippin Took , Celeborn , Aragorn , Galadriel , Bilbo Baggins , Saruman , Aldor , Wormtongue , Thorin Oakenshield , Balin Dwalin , Bifur , Bofur , Bombur , Fili , Kili , Oin , Gloin , Nori , Dori , Ori , Tauriel , King Thranduil , Smaug , Radagast , Arondir , Nori Brandyfoot , Poppy Proudfellow , Marigold Brandyfoot , Queen Regent Míriel , Sadoc Burrows Expand
McKellen’s ability to convey Gandalf’s gravitas and compassion is key to the character and will be in Hunt for Gollum if he interacts with Gollum. Meanwhile, the ongoing theory about the Stranger being Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power could result in a surprising role for McKellen in the show. While the character is portrayed by Daniel Weyman, utilizing both actors could contribute to the surrealism and timelessness that has always characterized Gandalf.
2 Channing Tatum & Jonah Hill
Jenko & Schmidt
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A decade after the successful release of 22 Jump Street, 23 Jump Street could benefit from the high anticipation of being a kind of legacy sequel. Of course, what fans actually want is to see more of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill’s hilarious adventures. In a recent interview, Tatum said (via Entertainment Weekly): “There is a project that was written and it’s still the best script that I’ve ever read for a third movie […] I would love to do it with Jonah, and Jonah I know wants to do it. We would love to just get to go play again.”
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21 Jump Street 21 Jump Street 2 Director Christopher Miller, Phil Lord Phil Lord, Chris Miller Release Date 2012-03-14 2014-06-13 Cast Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, DeRay Davis, Brie Larson, Rob Riggle, Dave Franco Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill Rating R R
Having been stalled in development for 10 years, 23 Jump Street has some obstacles to overcome, even if the script and actors are ready. There is, as Tatum says, “just a lot of bureaucracy” to go through. However, another 21 Jump Street sequel would be an easy hit, which the fans would welcome when all it needs is the actors doing what they do best. The movies starring Tatum and Hill have been the most successful parts of the 21 Jump Street franchise, and deserve to be a complete trilogy.
1 Chris Evans
Steve Rogers/Captain America
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Following the explosive announcement that Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU in the new role of Dr. Doom, people are more curious than ever about how and when they may see Steve Rogers again. Steve’s close friend Sam Wilson took up the mantle of Captain America following his retirement and is now set to be the star of Captain America: Brave New World. With time travel and the multiverse now established parts of the MCU, there are a multitude of ways to bring Steve back into the story.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) 0
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The monolithic franchise that kicked off with Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), is one of the industry’s longest-running and largest cinematic franchises. Based on the heroes from Marvel Comics, the MCU is a new way for fans and newcomers alike to enjoy the ever-expanding universes of some of the world’s most famous superheroes. Releasing as “Phases,” Marvel Studio’s first three Phases came to be known as “The Infinity Saga,” which surrounded the formation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their showdown with the Mad Titan known as Thanos as he sought to collect the Infinity Stones. With his ultimate goal of indiscriminately wiping out half of all life in the universe, this plot ultimately reveals itself over ten years of films, ending in a two-part finale that changed the world’s fate – and the core cast forever. Currently, the MCU is preparing to enter the fifth phase, focusing on Kang the Conquerer as the new core series villain.
Created by Kevin Feige First Film Iron Man Latest Film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever First TV Show WandaVision Latest TV Show She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Related 10 Superhero Movie Actors Who Did Better Their Second Time Round
Several actors have portrayed more than one superhero movie character over the years, but they often don’t get it right until their second time round.
Chris Evans has already returned to the MCU, playing the Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine. On the other hand, Evans could end the MCU’s multiverse saga as an older version of Steve serving as a mentor to the new Avengers. Bringing back the character while respecting the new era of MCU properties is a challenging task, but the hope behind all reprisals of famous roles is that it will please fans while still telling a good story.
Source: BBC, The Hollywood Reporter, popsugar.com, Deadline, comicbook.com, Variety, Entertainment Weekly