While the entertainment industry has created many prequels and spinoffs exploring individual characters in the past decade, some iconic movie and TV characters still have no backstory. At face value, a famous character’s past might seem like something fans should want to see. However, many movie characters who didn’t need an origin story but got one in the form of a prequel demonstrate the pitfalls of this approach.
Tropes including “Protagonist Without a Past,” “No Origin Stories Allowed,” and “The Noodle Incident” are exemplary of how a certain amount of mystery in a character’s past can be very satisfying, an effect that is ruined by an origin story. More unwanted upcoming sequels and spinoffs may overextend certain character arcs, while those in classic movies that actually can’t be remade or continued are supposedly safe. A handful of iconic characters are spectacular enigmas, and should always remain that way.
10 Yoda (Frank Oz)
From Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
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From his debut in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda has served Star Wars as the ultimate secretive and wise mentor. Generally, his advice should be followed, with the effects being focused on the protagonists rather than him. Most of his story as an individual has been kept in the dark.
Star Wars 10/10
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Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
Created by George Lucas First Film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope Cast Mark Hamill , James Earl Jones , David Prowse , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , Daisy Ridley , Adam Driver , Ian McDiarmid , Ewan McGregor , Rosario Dawson , Lars Mikkelsen , Rupert Friend , Moses Ingram , Frank Oz , Pedro Pascal TV Show(s) The Mandalorian , Andor , Obi-Wan Kenobi , The Book of Boba Fett , Ahsoka , The Acolyte , Star Wars: Skeleton Crew , Lando , Star Wars: The Clone Wars , Star Wars Rebels , Star Wars: The Bad Batch , Star Wars: Resistance , Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures , Star Wars: Visions Character(s) Luke Skywalker , Han Solo , Rey Skywalker , Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious , Obi-Wan Kenobi , Ahsoka Tano , Grand Admiral Thrawn , Grand Inquisitor , Reva (The Third Sister) , The Fifth Brother , The Seventh Sister , The Eighth Brother , Yoda , Din Djarin , Grogu , Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader , Leia Organa , Ben Solo/Kylo Ren Expand
George Lucas stopped Yoda’s species from being revealed or from the Jedi master being given any substantial backstory. One of the biggest breakthroughs in this regard was the introduction of Grogu a.k.a. “Baby Yoda” in The Mandalorian, an acknowledgment of this species’ continuation in the Star Wars universe.
Related 12 Star Wars Characters Whose Backstories Still Need To Be Told
Star Wars has many beloved characters, but some of their histories and backstories are lacking detail, a fact the franchise needs to remedy.
However, Yoda and Grogu’s species and homeworld are still unnamed. Bits of Yoda’s past have been revealed in tie-in materials, only saying that he joined the Jedi Order as a youngling, rose to the rank of master, and spent centuries training thousands of Jedi. Yet this is a standard Jedi career; most of Yoda’s singular history is intentionally shrouded in mystery.
9 The Doctor (Various Actors)
From Doctor Who (2005-2022)
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“The Doctor” has been a staple of TV and the sci-fi/fantasy genre for decades, played by numerous legendary actors. Yet they are also a figure whose backstory has always been kept vague. Some information about the Doctor’s supposed origins has always been a part of the canon, with it being said they are a Time Lord. This was until the controversial reveal during the Jodie Whittaker era that the Doctor is actually a Timeless Child and may be older than the setting itself.
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7.8/10 Doctor Who AdventureMystery Sci-Fi
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.
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*Availability in US Cast Ncuti Gatwa , Millie Gibson , Susan Twist , Michelle Greenidge , Angela Wynter , Jemma Redgrave , Yasmin Finney , Anita Dobson Release Date December 25, 2023 Network BBC Franchise(s) Doctor Who Writers Russell T. Davies , Dave Gibbons , Kate Herron , Steven Moffat
However, elements like the Doctor’s true name or familial relationships are either a closely kept secret or muddled at best. Other parts of their personal history have been rewritten by different creators, as well as being altered or obscured by in-story shifting timelines and memory loss. When the Doctor is a larger-than-life figure who makes all the fantastical adventures of the series happen, it is better that they have no past, which would ultimately make them too realistic.
8 V (Hugo Weaving)
From V For Vendetta (2005)
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V being no one conveys the theme that he can be everyone.
“V” in V for Vendetta is a massive mystery, having inexplicably acquired the skills and resources to do what he does in the movie. It is confirmed that V was at one point imprisoned by the dictatorship he aims to overthrow, but his real name and where he came from is never revealed. Evey’s intense connection with V develops even though she knows nothing about him, but she is attracted to his persona, which is only defined by his desire for revolution.
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7/10 V For Vendetta RThrillerDramaAction Sci-Fi
Based on the comic series by Alan Moore, V for Vendetta is directed by James McTeigue with a screenplay by the Wachowskis. The film stars Natalie Portman as Evey Hammond, a young woman living in a dystopian future who becomes involved with the vigilante V, an anarchist working against the Fascist government and attempting to rally support from the general population. Hugo Weaving portrays V, with a further cast that includes Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, and John Hurt.
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*Availability in US Director James McTeigue Release Date March 17, 2006 Cast John Hurt , Hugo Weaving , Stephen Fry , Stephen Rea , Natalie Portman Runtime 132 minutes
Ultimately, V being no one conveys the theme that he can be everyone. In the final act, thousands of people in the city dawn V’s signature Guy Fawkes mask to play a role in the downfall of an evil regime. V pointedly tells Evey that the point is not who he is but what he does, and his whole characterization revolves around his goal. V for Vendetta speaks of someone who gave up their identity for a cause, but Evey still says the individual meant something to her.
7 Danny Ocean (George Clooney)
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
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Frank Sinatra’s Danny Ocean from 1960’s Ocean’s Eleven is a World War II veteran, as are the others he recruits for his ambitious heist of robbing five casinos. Even this is arguably not a full backstory but a mention of what the protagonist was previously doing. However, because of the different setting, George Clooney’s iteration of Danny Ocean doesn’t have a major historical event in his immediate past that would have been a defining experience for him; his past is only a confused history of criminal activity.
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7.3/10 Ocean’s Eleven PG-13ThrillerCrime
A remake of the 1960 film and the first in a trilogy of movies by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven is an ensemble comedy-heist film that follows Danny Ocean and his friend Rusty Ryan who enlist the help of several specialized con men, safe-crackers, and experts to pull off a colossal heist of three casinos. Seeking revenge against the new husband of ex-wife Tess, Danny begins to tip-toe dangerously between the line of the job and revenge.
Director Steven Soderbergh Release Date December 7, 2001 Cast Brad Pitt , Don Cheadle , Julia Roberts , George Clooney , Matt Damon , Andy Garcia Runtime 116 minutes
In his 20s, Danny was a gambler in Las Vegas and learned from Reuben. After his wife Tess left him, Danny got involved in some other crimes before getting arrested. These scattered details are pretty much all the audience knows. Ocean’s Eight reveals that Danny has a sister and that their father was also a criminal. However, Debbie’s assertion that she wants to rob the Met Gala “because it’s what [she’s] good at” is as much of an explanation as either of them gives. Danny may also have had reason to fake his death.
6 Edna Mode (Brad Bird)
The Incredibles (2004)
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The exact hierarchy of superheroes and how they become so has never been fully explained in The Incredibles or Incredibles 2. Technically, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl don’t have backstories when it is not explained whether they inherited their powers from parents who were also supers or if they are naturally occurring; no mention is made of mentors or training either.
The Incredibles
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The Incredibles is a popular animated superhero franchise created by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The franchise began with the 2004 film The Incredibles, directed by Brad Bird, which introduced audiences to the Parr family, a group of superheroes trying to live a normal suburban life while secretly saving the world. The film was praised for its engaging story, humor, and action, becoming a critical and commercial success. The franchise expanded with a sequel, Incredibles 2 (2018), which continues the adventures of the Parr family as they battle new villains while balancing their family dynamics. The series is set in a retro-futuristic world that combines elements of classic superhero stories with a unique family-centered narrative.
First Film The Incredibles Latest Film The Incredibles 2 Upcoming Films Incredibles 3 Cast Craig T. Nelson , Holly Hunter , Sarah Vowell , Spencer Fox , Huck Milner , Samuel L. Jackson , Jason Lee , Brad Bird , Elizabeth Peña , Catherine Keener Character(s) Mr. Incredible , Elastigirl , Violet Parr , Dash Parr , Jack-Jack Parr , Frozone , Syndrome , Edna Mode , Evelyn Deavor , Winston Deavor
Somehow in this setting, various supporting jobs to the supers also arose. Government agencies help them maintain secret identities, while the charismatic Edna Mode made a career designing superhero attire. How she learned to make clothes accommodating supers’ various powers might actually be an interesting story.
Related The 20 Best Pixar Characters, Ranked
Pixar animation has introduced us to some heartwarming, whimsical, and realistic characters in the almost 30 years since the studio made its debut.
However, there is still much joy in Edna turning up unexplained in the family story of The Incredibles with her impossible sass, delivering some tough love to the Parr family. Such a confident and wild character is a delight to watch at work, especially when she just is.
5 Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem)
No Country For Old Men (2007)
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Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigurh is doubtlessly one of the most iconic movie villains of all time, demonstrating why no past is great for many villainous characters. Many of the best classic Disney villains weren’t given some tragic backstory before the rise of the live-action remakes — Maleficent’s only grief was not being invited to a party, but audiences love her for being magnificently evil. Similar is the case of the villain who serves his narrative purpose in the Best Picture winner with little story outside the movie’s events.
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7.8/10 No Country for Old Men RThrillerDramaCrime
No Country for Old Men is a western crime-thriller based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy and directed by the Cohen Brothers. Following three protagonists, the film centers around a large $2,000,000+ cache of dirty money lost near the Rio Grande. With a veteran who finds it, a hitman who will stop at nothing to get it, and a sheriff trying to investigate the crimes connected to it, all roads lead to death and mayhem as they find themselves in each other’s crosshairs.
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*Availability in US Director Joel Coen , Ethan Coen Release Date November 21, 2007 Cast Kelly Macdonald , Woody Harrelson , Josh Brolin , Javier Bardem , Tommy Lee Jones Runtime 122 minutes
Anton is a ruthless, violent criminal who slaughters everyone in his way as he hunts down a small fortune from a drug deal. His actions are not the result of a dark past, but the driving force behind the movie’s themes. No Country for Old Men is a discourse on confronting new criminals, making Anton the most vital part of the story, even if no one knows where he comes from or how he started his criminal career.
4 Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams/Donald Glover)
From Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
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Given Disney’s current attitude towards Star Wars, it seems like Lando will get a backstory eventually.
Shockingly, almost nothing is known about Landon outside his interactions with Han and the rest of the main Star Wars cast. Details are sparse on the Lando movie, initially proposed as a TV show. Between Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Empire Strikes Back, Landon is shown to be a successful smuggler who becomes the leader of Cloud City, with no exposition on how he achieves either of these things.
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9.2/10 Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back PGActionAdventure Sci-FiFantasy
1980 saw the continuation of the Skywalker Saga with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Although this was the second film in the Star Wars series itself, it would end up being the fifth film chronologically in the Skywalker Saga itself. Created by George Lucas and directed by Irvin Kershner, this sequel sees Darth Vader attempting to locate the Rebel Alliance after they destroyed the Death Star.
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*Availability in US Director Irvin Kershner Release Date June 18, 1980 Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Frank Oz , Billy Dee Williams , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Peter Mayhew , James Earl Jones Runtime 124 minutes Franchise(s) Star Wars
Various Star Wars tie-in materials also drop brief mentions of events in Lando’s past, primarily a range of criminal acquaintances and activities. Still, no full backstory has fully emerged. Lando’s backstory with a cameo by Han might have actually been better than fully fleshing out Han’s history, but Star Wars naturally returned to Han first. Given Disney’s current attitude towards Star Wars, it seems like Lando will get a backstory eventually.
3 Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
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Practically none of the characters in Pulp Fiction have real backstories, as it is a standalone movie showcasing vignettes of the criminals’ lives as they come to different conclusions about humanity and redemption. A movie about the Vega brothers — John Travolta’s Vicent in Pulp Fiction and Michael Madson’s Vic a.k.a. Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs — was discussed but never made. However, relating to Pulp Fiction‘s main theme, no one is more impactful than the hitman played by Samuel L. Jackson.
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8.3/10 Pulp Fiction RDramaCrime
Quentin Tarantino’s classic tale of violence and redemption follows the intertwining tales of three protagonists: hitman Vincent Vega, prizefighter Butch Coolidge, and Vincent’s business partner Jules Winnfield.
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*Availability in US Director Quentin Tarantino Release Date October 14, 1994 Cast John Travolta , Bruce Willis , Ving Rhames , Samuel L. Jackson , Uma Thurman , Christopher Walken , Tim Roth , Harvey Keitel , Eric Stoltz , Rosanna Arquette Runtime 154 minutes
At the end of the movie, Jules resolves to leave behind a life of crime after directing a reckless couple out of the robbery they attempt. Nothing of how Jules got this job in the first place is revealed, largely unimportant to the movie. Quentin Tarantino makes his characters deeply engaging in the moment with razor-sharp dialogue, with no extensive histories needed.
2 The Joker (Heath Ledger)
The Dark Knight (2008)
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The most famous Batman villain’s origins have always been mysterious and highly debated for decades. After 84 years, DC finale confirmed the Joker’s origin story as the version of events depicted in The Killing Joke. Meanwhile, Joker as a movie was more of a hypothetical character study, showcasing another possible origin for the Joker.
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9.6/10 The Dark Knight PG-13ActionThrillerDramaCrimeSuperhero
Christian Bale once again embodies the man behind the mask in The Dark Knight, reuniting Bale with Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman has been making headway against local crime—until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City. To stop this devious new menace—Batman’s most personal and vicious enemy yet—he will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront his beliefs if he hopes to stand a chance against the Clown Prince of Crime.
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*Availability in US Director Christopher Nolan Release Date July 18, 2008 Cast Christian Bale , Heath Ledger , Michael Caine , Morgan Freeman , Nestor Carbonell , Ritchie Coster , Cillian Murphy , Chin Han , Gary Oldman , Eric Roberts , William Fichtner , Aaron Eckhart , Maggie Gyllenhaal , David Dastmalchian , Anthony Michael Hall Runtime 152 Minutes Expand
On the other hand, the most famous cinematic version of the character was given no past, allowing Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance to be the main attraction. The Dark Knight‘s Joker wants to prove Batman’s philosophy wrong by corrupting Harvey Dent because that is his worldview, not because of a tragic event in his past.
Related 8 Movie Villains Inspired By Heath Ledger’s Joker
Heath Ledger’s landmark performance as the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight inspired actors playing all kinds of villains, up to today.
The Joker throws around some backstory-like comments that may or may not be true during The Dark Knight, but they aren’t really the point of his character. Alfred tells Bruce: “Some men just want to watch the world burn.” The Joker believes he has a point to make by taking on Batman, which is mostly justified by his take on the world revolving around chaos and destruction.
1 Bill Cipher (Alex Hirsch)
From Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
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The biggest takeaways from Gravity Falls’ The Book of Bill include the closest fans have come to an origin story for the villain Bill Cipher yet. Bill is implied to have destroyed his home, the “second dimension.” The main issue with this account is that it is Bill’s and cannot be fully trusted. Bill searched for other dimensions to rule and worked with some of the ancient peoples of Earth. However, Bill’s psychedelic nature as a character and his being an unreliable narrator throughout the book make this a less solid backstory than some.
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9.7/10 Gravity Falls AnimationComedyAdventure
When Dipper and Mabel Pines are dropped off to spend the summer with their uncle in Gravity Falls, they discover that all is not as it seems in this small town. When Dipper discovers a strange journal in the forest, the twins team up to solve the town’s mysteries.
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*Availability in US Cast Jason Ritter , Alex Hirsch , Kristen Schaal , Linda Cardellini , Kevin Michael Richardson , Kari Wahlgren , John DiMaggio , Jennifer Coolidge Release Date June 15, 2012 Seasons 2 Showrunner Alex Hirsch
The bigger elements of The Book of Bill are Bill’s confirmed survival after the events of Gravity Falls and his various insights into the phenomena of the multiverse. In both the book and show, Bill’s backstory is an amalgamation of half-explained implications of pure chaos, while he exists presently as a pure evil villain who simply loves destruction. He is another character who is most effective with only minimal backstory details, existing as he is for the sake of it.