10 Movies That Fully Reinvent Iconic Characters

Some characters are so iconic, their stories must be told over and over again. Of course, audiences aren’t typically going to buy tickets to see the same movie multiple times. Because of that, creators often capitalize on opportunities to reinvent beloved characters; keeping their identity the same, but showing off a new side of them that perhaps the audience had never considered before. This gives viewers an exciting, new experience, while still making the most of the character’s preexisting popularity.

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A popular current example of this would be Wicked, based on the acclaimed Broadway musical, which inventively reimagines the iconic antagonist of The Wizard of Oz. Wicked may be the most recent, but it is far from the first film to put a new spin on a legendary character. From comic book villains to beloved childhood heroes, plenty of notable characters have been given a new life in later films. Although they may have varying degrees of success, these movies fully reinvented the characters audiences had come to know and love, offering a fresh, new take on their stories.

10 Joker (2019)

A Dark Origin for the Iconic Villain

One of the most iconic villains in comic book history is undoubtedly the Joker. Outside of comics, this haunting, clown-like villain has been portrayed in numerous movies and television shows over the years, but none dared to approach the character in the way Joker did. Directed by Todd Phillips, this Oscar-winning 2019 film explored the origins of the man who came to be known by his “Joker” alter ego. The acclaimed film gave a new level of depth to the character that had been captivating audiences for decades.

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Joker has little to no connections to the comics or other versions of the character. The film follows Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix), a failing clown whose struggling mental state is amplified by the toxic, violent city around him. Although he exists in the same universe as legendary heroes like Batman, Arthur does not have superpowers of any kind. The film paints him as an everyday individual driven to madness by the world around him. Though Joker proved to be a highly divisive film, it is impossible to deny that it offers a refreshingly unique take on the classic character.

9 Lightyear (2022)

The Fictional Film Which Inspired the Beloved Toy

Pixar is no stranger to expanding the universe of the studio’s beloved films, but Lightyear was certainly among the most creative ways of doing so. The character of Buzz Lightyear has been around for as long as Pixar has been making feature films, appearing as a prominent character in every Toy Story movie. In 2022, however, Pixar decided to take Buzz in a new direction, giving him a unique “origin story” of sorts. Lightyear acts as a sort of film-within-a-film, presenting itself as the fictional movie that inspired Andy’s beloved space ranger toy.

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Lightyear received mixed reviews, partially because many weren’t entirely sure what the film was supposed to be. Audiences were confused about why the beloved character now looked and sounded quite different, and whether there was any real connection to the Toy Story franchise at all. Although it may not have captured the same magic as previous Pixar movies, Lightyear did manage to present a unique premise, offering the studio another chance to step a bit outside the box.

8 Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

How the Rebel Hero Came to Be

Widely known as one of the most iconic heroes in cinema history, Han Solo is one of the main characters in numerous Star Wars movies, making his screen debut in the 1977 feature that started it all. Throughout the original trilogy, although Han was a fan-favorite character, very little was known about his life leading up to Star Wars. That is, until Solo: A Star Wars Story was released. Directed by Ron Howard, this 2018 film finally showed audiences how Han evolved from a misguided thief into the hero audiences know and love.

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Solo received mixed reviews from critics, although praise was given to the performances by the cast, which included Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, and Donald Glover, among many others. While the film underperformed at the box office and never received any live-action follow-up, Solo does offer a fun, fast-paced adventure for those looking to casually experience a story of intergalactic proportions.

7 Cruella (2021)

An Exciting, Stylized Twist on the Classic Disney Villain

Fifty years after the initial release of One Hundred and One Dalmatians, audiences finally got to see a new side of the puppy-stealing villain, Cruella de Vil. While she was portrayed as a heartless monster in Disney’s original animated film, Craig Gillespie completely reimagined the character with his 2021 feature, Cruella. Starring Emma Stone in the titular role, the film explores how Cruella came to be the fashion-forward icon she was known as, simultaneously revealing her to be not nearly as malevolent as she originally seemed.

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Cruella was certainly one of Disney’s boldest live-action films based on an animated classic, not shying away from the dark backstory of its protagonist, while also introducing a new, highly intimidating villain in the process. The film even managed to win the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, while also securing a nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Thanks to these elements and the impressive performances of the cast, Cruella proved to be an exciting way to reinvent one of Disney’s most iconic villains.

6 Creed (2015)

A New Role for Stallone’s Legendary Character

Nearly forty years after Sylvester Stallone amazed audiences with his first performance as Rocky Balboa, he returned to put a new spin on the legendary boxer in Creed. Directed by Ryan Coogler, Creed stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed, an amateur boxer who turns to Rocky for help developing his skills in the ring. Stallone may have aged forty years between Rocky and Creed, but he didn’t let that stop him from giving life to the character.

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Of course, by the time Creed begins, Rocky is not the youthful boxer he once was. Instead, he takes on a much different role in the film. In Creed, the audience gets to see him in his post-boxing life, running a restaurant in Philadelphia, before ultimately agreeing to act as a trainer and mentor for Adonis. For bringing the role in such a new direction, Stallone received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

5 Dolittle (2020)

An Adventure-Driven Story for the Iconic Veterinarian

The character of Dr. Dolittle, the gifted veterinarian with the ability to speak to animals, was first created for a series of children’s books by Hugh Lofting, dating back as early as the 1920s. The character was then popularized in the world of film with a series of movies starring Eddie Murphy in the late ’90s and early 2000s. In 2020, however, the character was reinvented, being portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. In the film, Dr. Dolittle sets off on an adventure with his animal allies in an attempt to find a magical fruit that can heal Queen Victoria.

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Unfortunately, this latest rebirth of the character was not nearly as successful (critically or commercially) as its predecessor. Dolittle struggled to turn a profit on its nearly 200-million-dollar budget and was widely panned by critics. Even with its stellar cast, the film failed to put any exciting spin on the character, leaving audiences generally unsatisfied. Dolittle serves as a reminder that a movie can’t simply show off a preexisting character and expect to be a guaranteed success.

4 Logan (2017)

A Gritty, Dramatic Spin on the Legendary Hero

Hugh Jackman has played the prominent X-Men hero, Wolverine, many times, but none are quite like how the character is portrayed in the 2017 film, Logan. Directed by James Mangold, Logan takes place in the near future and features an older, ailing Wolverine. Unlike previous iterations, where the character seemed practically invincible, this dramatic film reminds audiences of the inevitability of age, and that even superpowers can start fading away over time. The film follows a much different story, having Logan act as a caretaker to both Charles Xavier and a young girl with whom he is deeply connected.

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Even though (or perhaps because) it was boldly different from previous depictions of the character, Logan proved to be widely successful with critics and audiences alike. Viewers loved the more dramatic depiction of his character and felt that this new storyline gave a proper (albeit tragic) sendoff to the beloved hero, although Jackman would eventually return to reprise the role once again in Deadpool and Wolverine. Though putting such an emotional spin on an iconic superhero isn’t always well-received, Logan proved that it can be an excellent choice if done with proper care.

3 Maleficent (2014)

An Unseen Side of the Imposing Villain

Very little was known about Maleficent when she first appeared in the 1959 Disney film, Sleeping Beauty. It was not until 2014 that audiences were finally shown who the character is, and why she does what she does. Maleficent reveals a more caring side to the intimidating character, depicting the development of her maternal relationship to Aurora, and her remorse for putting a curse on the innocent girl. The film gives Maleficent much more depth, allowing her to make both good and bad choices, while ultimately redefining her as an unconventional hero.

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Maleficent received mixed reviews from critics, although consistent praise was given to Angelina Jolie’s inspired performance as the titular character. Jolie managed to embody Maleficent in a way that evoked sympathy from the audience, while also being sure to acknowledge the wrongdoings of the character. The real challenge of villain origin story films is managing to change how the audience sees a character without having to alter or detract from how they are shown in previous iterations. Maleficent succeeds in finding this satisfying balance.

2 Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

A Gripping, Post-Apocalyptic Origin Story

George Miller’s Mad Max franchise is full of fascinating, multilayered characters, and Furiosa is easily among the most compelling. The character was first introduced as a prominent part of Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, immediately becoming a favorite among fans, but very little was known about how she became the iconic hero seen in the film. That finally changed in 2024, with the release of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which provided the emotional, action-packed backstory audiences had been craving.

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Although Furiosa certainly includes all the loud, explosive action audiences have come to expect from the franchise, it never shies away from the deeply tragic nature of the character’s origins. As a child, Furiosa was kidnapped from her beautiful home, and forced to spend much of her life living alongside a deranged, violent warlord, constantly having to fight to survive. Although the film didn’t perform well at the box office, it was received very well by critics, with praise given to the exciting action and heartfelt performances.

1 Wicked (2024)

A Musical Reinvention of Cinema’s Legendary Witch

Wicked is undoubtedly among the most popular Broadway shows of all time, and, in 2024, it has finally been reimagined to the big screen. Wicked offers a complex, inspiring reinvention of one of the most iconic villains in the history of cinema: The Wicked Witch of the West. Serving as a prequel of sorts to The Wizard of Oz, the film follows the budding friendship between Elphaba and Galinda, two witches living in the land of Oz.

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Wicked: Part 1 builds up Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, leading to a tense ending in The Emerald City that sets the foundation for Wicked: Part 2.

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Wicked has been an overwhelming success, both critically and commercially. The film features an all-star cast, led by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and is directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu. Reinventing such an iconic character is no easy feat, but, with its dazzling performances and memorable musical elements, Wicked offers a new interpretation of that universe that is mesmerizing audiences worldwide.

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