Long-running franchises often bring back characters from previous movies, and some ongoing franchise should consider reintroducing fan-favorites from the past. Bringing back minor characters is always a fun moment for hardcore fans who have been with franchises from the beginning, but it’s often much more than pure fan service. A well-timed reintroduction can create a moment of reflection.
While some major franchises likeStar Wars, James BondandJohn Wickstill have a few projects up in the air, it’s a good time to consider how their futures could be best served by returning to their pasts. It’s always a shame when a franchise introduces a fascinating character for a one-off, so bringing them back creates the oppportunity for more development. Just because a character is gone doesn’t mean they’re forgotten.
10Mags
The Hunger Games
Lynn Cohen plays Mags inThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire,but the prequel movies mean that there’s a chance fans could finally see a younger Mags competing in her first Hunger Games. Mags takes place in the Quarter Quell inCatching Fire,a special edition of the Games that features former winners.Mags is the oldest contestant, having won the 11th Hunger Games over 60 years earlier.
American model Grace Kull portrayed a young Mags in a series of promotional posters, but Lynn Cohen remains the only actor to play the character on-screen.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakesfocuses on the 10th Hunger Games, with Lucy Gray Baird as a tribute from District 10. Mags' big moment therefore takes place the next year in theHunger Gamestimeline. However, the franchise’s next movie,Sunrise on the Reaping,will follow a young Haymitch during the 50th Annual Hunger Games. While it may be too late to see Mags competing in the Games, it would still be interesting to bring back a popular and mysterious character.
9Enfys Nest
Star Wars
Solo: A Star Wars Storystands out as the one big commercial failure in theStar Warsfranchise, and its mixed reviews reflect the widely-publicized behind-the-scenes turmoil. There were still a few shining lights to take from the spinoff, though, and Enfys Nest is one of them. Erin Kellyman’s character leads the Cloud-Riders, a group of rebel pirates who cross paths with a young Han Solo.
After a few years of stalled projects and hit-and-miss TV shows, theStar Warsfranchise is finally gearing up for a return to the big screen. While there probably won’t be a place for Enfys Nest in the next movie,The Mandalorian & Grogu,there are so manyupcomingStar Warsmoviesthat she could have plenty of chances to make an appearance. There’s also a slim chance that she could return in the new season ofAndor,since the end ofSololeads into the events ofRogue One,with Saw Gerrera and Jyn Erso showing up.
8Nomi
James Bond
TheJames Bondfranchise has often been accused of a lack of compelling female characters throughout its long history, but there are signs that the franchise is evolving.No Time to Dieintroduces Ana de Armas' Paloma and Lashana Lynch’s Nomi, both of whom are more capable and nuanced than the typical “Bond girl” cliché. Out of the two, Nomi is the one who seems more likely to return. Lynch’s recent performance inThe Day of the Jackalis a reminder of how perfectly she fits into the world ofJames Bond.
The Bond franchise has a few returning characters that pop up in each new era.
The Bond franchise has a few returning characters that pop up in each new era, and there aren’t many others outside this select group that appear in more than one movie. Since there is still no concrete news about thenextJames Bondmovie, it’s becoming increasingly likely that every character will be recast for a franchise reboot. This meansthere’s only a small chance that Nomi will return, but it would be exciting to see her working alongside Bond again.
7Lord Farquaad
Shrek
The announcement ofShrek 5came as something of a surprise, sinceShrek Forever Afterseems like the end to the franchise, and not just because of the title. While very few details have been revealed aboutShrek 5,it’s still possible that the franchise could make room for the return of a classic villain. John Lithgow’s performance as Lord Farquaad is one of the highlights of the firstShrekmovie, and Lithgow has claimed that he would be eager to reprise his role.
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Farquaad was eaten by the dragon at the end ofShrek,but this might not necessarily spell the end for the pint-sized ruler.He appears inside the dragon’s stomach, very much alive, inShrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party,a DVD and VHS extra for the first movie. He can later be seen as a ghost in the theme park ride,Shrek 4-D.Shrek 5could easily treat his death as non-canon, since it doesn’t occur in one of the movies, paving the way for Farquaad’s revenge.
6Anamaria
Pirates Of The Caribbean
The lastPirates of the Caribbeanmovie,Dead Men Tell No Tales,came out all the way back in 2017, but there are fresh reports that the franchise could come roaring back for a new era. There have been many conflicting reports about the direction that the franchise is taking next, asPirates of the Caribbean 6and a female-led spinoff have both been mentioned.Zoe Saldana’s Anamaria would be a good pick to return for either one of these movies, or both.
The franchise never realy explains what happens to Anamaria.
Pirates of the Caribbean6has been described as a reboot, which could mean that none of the old characters will be back. Still, Anamaria could show up if the female-led spinoff ever comes to fruition. Zoe Saldana has had big roles in the MCU and theAvatarfranchise, so it could be time forPiratesto give her more attention with a movie of her own. The franchise never realy explains what happens to Anamaria, which leaves open the possibility that she’s been sailing the seas with a crew of her own ever sinceThe Curse of the Black Pearl.
5Jane Carter
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossiblelooks set to come to an end withThe Final Reckoning,which means there’s one last chance for the franchise to bring back some fan-favorite characters. With Ethan facing the biggest threat he has ever come across, he could enlist the help of some former IMF allies, with Jane Carter fromGhost Protocolbeing one of the strongest and most interesting characters he has worked with.
Reintroducing her could give the franchise a chance to explain her absence, and it would set up a show-stopping finale.
Jane is resourceful, intelligent and more than capable of holding her own in a fight. There’s also a romantic spark between her and Ethan that the franchise might want to explore in more depth before it wraps things up for good.Jane could easily have become a recurring member of the team, but she’s nowhere to be seen inFallout.Reintroducing her could give the franchise a chance to explain her absence, and it would set up a show-stopping finale.
4Akira Shimazu
John Wick
The ending ofJohn Wick: Chapter 4shows Akira approaching Caine with a knife in her hand, ready to avenge the death of her father Koji. While this could just be an ambiguous finale to end her story, it could also be a tease that there’s more to come from her. Akira is one of the characters who could potentially be given a bigger role inJohn Wick 5,especially as the shape of the sequel is such a mystery at this point.
TheJohn Wickfranchise is continuing to expand with spinoffs. First up is Ana de Armas’Ballerina,but there are plenty of different rumors about other characters who could be thrust into the spotlight. A Caine spinoff seems to be in the works, but other characters like Akira, Sofia and Mr. Nobody warrant more exploration.Akira could easily carry her own movie, or she could feature inJohn Wick 5if the sequel brings back some of the assassins fromChapter 4.
3Mark Kincaid
Scream
TheScreamfranchise has struggled a little to balance its legacy characters with the newer faces. After the controversy over Neve Campbell’s absence fromScream VI,she is set to return for the upcoming sequel, but there has been more turnover in the cast.Scream 7could look to bring in new characters, as well as reintroducing characters from previous movies, and Detective Kincaid would be a great choice.
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Patrick Dempsey’s detective character is a highlight ofScream 3.He’s a strong ally for Sidney when Ghostface strikes again, and he becomes a love interest too. Some dialogue in 2022’sScreammentions that Sidney is married to a man named Mark, but recent casting news forScream 7has revealed that it’s a completely different character, withCommunitystar Joel McHale taking on the role of Sidney’s husband. Still, Detective Kincaid should return at some point. Dempsey recently returned to the slasher genre in 2023’sThanksgiving.
2Detective Lieutenant Elliott
Knives Out
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mysteryseems to be continuing the franchise’s trend of adding an entirely new cast of characters for Benoit Blanc to deal with, as Glenn Close, Andrew Scott and Josh Brolin are all on board. If Rian Johnson ever decides to change his mind and bring back characters from previous movies, Detective Lieutenant Elliott would be one of the best choices.
Elliott and Blanc have an amiable rapport with one another, suggesting that they may have worked together before.
Elliott is the lead detective on the case of Harlan Thromby’s murder in the firstKnives Out,and he runs the show while Benoit Blanc continues his private investigation alongside him. Elliott and Blanc have an amiable rapport with one another, suggesting that they may have worked together before.It would be exciting to see them team up once again, especially if LaKeith Stanfield’s character could be given a slightly bigger role, perhaps as Blanc’s partner.
1Duke Caboom
Toy Story
Toy Story 5will continue Pixar’s biggest franchise in 2026, as part of a plan to mix original new movies with more sequels to old classics. There are plenty of great characters who could return, and there are endless possibilities while the story details remain unknown. The ending ofToy Story 4suggests that there could be more to see from Keanu Reeves' miniature Canadian daredevil Duke Caboom.
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Duke Caboom is one of the best new characters inToy Story 4,thanks in part to the way Reeves' deep voice contrasts with his character’s minute stature. He’s more than just comic relief, however, as his personal journey of overcoming his fears and feelings of inadequacy is vital to the story. If Buzz and Woody startToy Story 5apart, which seems likely, then Duke Caboom would be a great character to join Woody on his next adventure.
