13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters

Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) first appeared as the villain inRocky IVDrago, an ice-cold Soviet fighting machine reigning in the ring during the Cold War, was the closest thing to a pure villain the Rocky franchise ever had. Killing Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) in the ring without apology or remorse makes him villainous.

Creedkicked off a sequel series for theRockyfilms, with Sylvester Stallone taking over as Rocky Balboa, now training Apollo Creed's son, Donnie (Michael B. Jordan). Thirty-three years after playing Drago inRocky IVLundgren played Drago again inCreed IIwhich showed Drago's son Viktor fight Donnie.

TheThe three main charactersfrom the originalJurassic ParkAlan Grant (Sam Neil), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) have all appeared in the series. Malcolm returned in an enhanced rolefor the second film but skipped the third, which featured Grant and Sattler returning.for the second film but skipped the third, which featured Grant and Sattler returning.

Malcolm returned to the franchise recently inJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom21 years after his previous appearance inThe Lost WorldGrant and Sattler also waited 21 years to return to the franchise, asJurassic World: DominionJurassic World: Dominion reunited all three original cast members for the first time since the original classic.

Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) first appeared inRaiders of the Lost Arkmarking her arrival by winning a drinking contest with many shots. Then, she meets her old flame, Indiana Jones, as they stop Nazis from getting the Ark of the Covenant.

True to the adventure serials Indiana Jones inspired, the following movieIndiana Joneswas inspired by, the movie isTemple of Doombasically had a new cast and was its own adventure.

Marion did not return until the 2008 filmIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullwhere the series shifted from its original feel and tried to complete the look of an aging Indy.Last CrusadeLast Crusade first showed Indy's family life with his father. Marion returns after 27 years, and the story reveals she and Indy have a son, Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf). Marion appears one last time briefly in the 2023 film.Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross plays a big part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He led the effort to capture Cap and Bucky inCivil Warsetting up his role in putting together the Thunderbolts in a later MCU movie. Rumors say he could use his Red Hulk form from the comics in 2024'sCaptain America: Brave New World.

Because Ross became more important, fans might forget Ross was gone from the MCU for eight years between his first appearance inThe Incredible Hulkand his return inCivil WarHarrison Ford took over Ross's MCU role from William Hurt.He quickly spoke up after his first appearance.

Audiences first meet Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) as the IMF director in the first Mission: Impossible.Mission: ImpossibleKittridge became a major obstacle for Ethan Hunt, believing him a mole. Ethan proved his innocence, and his teammate Luther gave Kittridge the missing info.

When Kittridge returns—27 years later—he and Ethan seem to have fixed their fights. The CIA director, Kittridge, asks Ethan for help finding a key to The Entity's source code. Still, Kittridge wants the key for himself, suggesting trouble looms.

Jamie Lee Curtis played Laurie Strode as the main character in the first two Halloween films.HalloweenProducers wanted to shift the series away from Michael Myers after the first two films.Halloween III: Season of the WitchBecause Halloween III proved less popular, the series brought Michael Myers back for the fourth film.This is the fourth film.Laurie Strode was killed off-screen, and the series moved forward without Jamie Lee Curtis.

The series became messy, a pattern seen in Halloween.HalloweenProducers decided to ignore Halloween.Halloweens 3-6, and started the series after Halloween II.Halloween IILaurie Strode returned for H20.H20, with Curtis playing her again in the full title, 20 Years LaterThe sequel shows Laurie Strode faking her death and starting a new life under a different name in California.

Harry PotterHarry Potter and the Deathly HallowsPart 1Several absent characters returned with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1. John Hurt played Ollivander again in the first Harry Potter film.Harry PotterThe character Griphook also returned from the first entry, played by Warwick Davis instead of Verne Troyer. Dobby the House-elf was perhaps the most notable return.

Toby Jones voiced Dobby, who first appeared in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsThe novels show Dobby returning two books later, continuing appearances in later installments. Movies either cut Dobby scenes or replaced his role with Neville Longbottom. Dobby appeared for his emotional death scene in Deathly Hallows.Deathly HallowsFilmmakers banked on fans caring about this character eight years after his last screen appearance.

Natalie Portman's Jane Foster was key in the first two Thor movies.ThorThor: RagnarokThor: RagnarokJane was dropped, with dialogue explaining Jane and Thor broke up. Editors showed Jane in archival footage in.Description of 'Thor: Love and Thunder' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Portman choosing not to reprise the role confirmed she was done with the franchise.

Many fans were surprised because Jane returned in.Description of 'Thor: Love and Thunder' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Jane returned after nine years. Portman played the Mighty Thor version of Jane. Jane died at the end of.Description of 'Thor: Love and Thunder' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Description of 'Thor: Love and Thunder' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'

Description of 'Scream' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Description of 'Scream' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Fans theorize Stu Macher, one of the two original killers, lived after Matthew Lillard's cameo in.Scream 2.Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich), his partner, died in the first film. He took a bullet to the head at point blank range. This made Ulrich's return in Scream 5 more surprising.Scream 5.AKA.Description of 'Scream' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Description of 'Scream' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'

Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), a lead, is Billy's daughter. Sam has hallucinations of Billy several times. Ulrich played Billy again after being out of the franchise for 26 years.

Tobe Hooper's original.Texas Chain Saw Massacre.Sally Hardesty (Madilyn Burns) survives Leatherface's attack. Mentioned briefly in later films, Burns made a non-speaking cameo as the character in 1995, even though someone said she died in an earlier movie.

Sally returns as a full character in the 2022 film.Description of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Seventeen years passed since Burns's silent cameo and 48 years since the character spoke dialogue. Olwen Fouéré played Sally in this film because Madilyn Burns died before it was made.

Description of 'Clerks III' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'This film series is interesting. Each installment comes at least twelve years apart.Description of 'Clerks III' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Description of 'Clerks III' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'

Marilyn Ghigliotti played Dante's girlfriend Veronica in the original movie. Veronica reappears as Dante's love interest in this film after the odd decision to kill Rosario Dawson's character and her baby between movies. Ghigliotti appeared in the first film 28 years earlier.Description of 'Clerks III' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'After the odd decision to kill Rosario Dawson's character and her baby between movies, Veronica returns as Dante's love interest.Description of 'Clerks III' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Description of 'Clerks III' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'

Han Lue (Sung Kang) was a fixture in Fast and Furious 9.Description of 'Fast and Furious 9' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Description of 'Fast and Furious 9' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Description of 'Fast and Furious 9' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Description of 'Fast and Furious 9' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'Description of 'Fast and Furious 9' in the list '13 Sequels That Brought Back Long-Gone Characters'The events of later installments depend on retconning.Retconning happens.Fans demanded justice for the favorite character after learning Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) caused Han's death.

Fans wanting justice for Han hoped Shaw would take a beating from their favorite.FastCrew members would have faced difficulty pulling off such a fight.Statham and his co-stars had fight contracts.Eight years passed after Han appeared inFast & Furious 6Justice arrived as Han surprisingly returned inF9The film shows Han faked his death. Mr. Nobody planned this scheme so Han could work on a secret mission anonymously. Shaw served as a pawn to make the trick work, stopping the conflict without Statham taking a punch beyond his contract limits.

Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) was defeated at the end ofReturn of the JediThe defeat of Emperor Palpatine seemed to end the first Empire. Yet, every sequel after thatStar Warsrelease after that has cast doubt on this idea.JediMany of Palpatine's lackeys, like Thrawn and Moff Gideon, stayed. The Empire seemed to never leave, or no one had a new villain idea.

By the time the promisingStar Warssequel trilogy finished withThe Rise of SkywalkerNew ideas barely considered. Palpatine returns from the dead in the title crawl, serving as the film's final villain. Darth Vader's heroic sacrifice gets copied by Kylo Ren. Palpatine's return lowers the movie's plot, but Ian McDiarmid acts like the evil Emperor, showing he kept his edge after 14 years away from the role.