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

A popular current example of this would beWicked , base on the acclaimed Broadway melodious , which inventively reimagines the iconic adversary ofThe Wizard of Oz . Wickedmay be the most recent , but it is far from the first film to put a new spin on a fabled character . From mirthful book villains to beloved childhood heroes , plenty of notable characters have been give a newfangled life in late films . Although they may have varying degrees of success , these movies fully reinvented the characters audience had amount to make love and love , extend a fresh , new take on their stories .

10Joker (2019)

A Dark Origin for the Iconic Villain

One of the most iconic villains in comic book history is undoubtedly the Joker . alfresco of comedian , this haunting , clown - like scoundrel has been impersonate in numerous movies and television shows over the age , but none dared to go up the character in the wayJokerdid . engineer by Todd Phillips , this Oscar - winning 2019 film explored the origin of the piece who came to be known by his " Joker " alter ego .

Warner Bros. Pictures officially announces Joker : Folie à Deux ’s streaming discharge particular date a little over two month after its theatrical opening .

The acclaimed film gave a newfangled level of depth to the character that had been becharm audiences for decades . Jokerhas fiddling to no connections to the strip or other interlingual rendition of the character . The movie follows Arthur Fleck ( played by Joaquin Phoenix ) , a fail clown whose struggling mental state is exaggerate by the toxic , violent city around him .

Joker getting married in Joker Folie a Deux

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aim by Todd Phillips , Joker is an origin story for Batman ’s most iconic baddie . Arthur Fleck ( Joaquin Phoenix ) is a down - on - his - luck goof who is trying to become a successful stand - up comedian . When things do n’t go according to plan , and Arthur feels Gotham is oppressing him and others with genial sickness , Arthur spark off a violent revolution within the city .

Although he subsist in the same world as fabled submarine like Batman , Arthur does not have superpowers of any form . The film paints him as an everyday individual motor to madness by the earth around him . ThoughJokerproved to be a highly divisive plastic film , it is unimaginable to abnegate that it offers a refreshfully unequaled take on the classic character reference .

9Lightyear (2022)

The Fictional Film Which Inspired the Beloved Toy

Pixar is no unknown to expanding the macrocosm of the studio ’s beloved motion picture , butLightyearwas for certain 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 article films , appearing as a prominent character in everyToy Storymovie . In 2022 , however , Pixar decide to take Buzz in a newfangled direction , collapse him a alone " root tale " of sorts . Lightyearacts as a sort of film - within - a - motion picture , present itself as the fictional movie that inspired Andy ’s dear distance ranger toy .

Disney Pixar branch the Toy Story franchise off with Lightyear , a narration that center on around a human edition of the Buzz Lightyear toy and his missionary station with Star command . Set during an exploration mission , Lightyear and his crew are assail during a exploratory survey missionary station by alien lifeforms and find themselves run aground on an unsung major planet . To help get everyone home , Lightyear voluntary on a dangerous mission to test pilot their mean home . However , each test light go past time and the character get on in his absence .

Lightyearreceived mixed reappraisal , partly because many were n’t solely certain what the film was supposed to be . Audiences were bemused about why the dear part now appear and sound quite different , and whether there was any material connection to theToy Storyfranchise at all . Although it may not have seize the same illusion as previousPixar movies , Lightyeardid superintend to present a unequalled premise , offering the studio apartment another chance to abuse a bit outside the boxful .

Michael B Jordan as Adonis Creed and Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa in Rocky And Creed Movies

8Solo: A Star Wars Story(2018)

How the Rebel Hero Came to Be

Widely have sex as one of the most iconic heroes in cinema history , Han Solo is one of the main character in numerousStar Warsmovies , making his screen debut in the 1977 feature that start it all . Throughout the original trilogy , although Han was a fan - preferred character , very little was known about his life story leading up toStar Wars .

This 2018 film finally evince interview how Han evolved from a misguided stealer into the hero audiences know and love .

That is , untilSolo : A Star Wars Storywas free . Directed by Ron Howard , this 2018 moving-picture show finally showed audience how Han develop from a misguided thief into the hero audience recognize and know .

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

Solo : A Star Wars Story explores the other escapade of Han Solo , showcasing his beginnings and cardinal encounter with substantial part in the Star Wars universe . fix in a backdrop of galactic convulsion , the film delves into the origination of his famed human relationship and his rise as a rebellious contrabandist .

Soloreceived 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 hot - natural action follow - up , Solodoes provide a fun , tight - paced dangerous undertaking for those face to casually experience a storey of intergalactic proportions .

7Cruella (2021)

An Exciting, Stylized Twist on the Classic Disney Villain

Fifty years after the initial acquittance ofOne Hundred and One Dalmatians , audiences at long last pay back to see a new side of the puppy - stealing villain , Cruella de Vil . While she was portray as a hardhearted goliath inDisney ’s original animated film , Craig Gillespie completely reimagined the character with his 2021 characteristic , Cruella . Starring Emma Stone in the nominal role , the pic explores how Cruella come to be the fashion - forward ikon she was known as , at the same time revealing her to be not nearly as malefic as she originally seemed .

Cruella is the live - action reimagining of the 101 Dalmatians villain and her origin chronicle . It stars Emma Stone as Estella , an aspiring fashion designer and talented grifter . After witness herself pitted against her boss , the Baroness ( Emma Thompson ) , she create the alter - ego Cruella , a life-threatening criminal who will do whatever it choose to get forwards in both the fashion earth and in life .

Cruellawas certainly one of Disney ’s boldest live - action film based on an revive classic , not shying out from the dark backstory of its champion , while also bring out a new , highly intimidating villain in the process . The film even managed to win the Academy Award for Best Costume Design , while also batten a nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling . Thanks to these elements and the impressive performances of the cast , Cruellaproved to be an exciting way to reinvent one of Disney ’s most iconic villain .

Imagery from Wicked, Maleficent and Lightyear

Custom image by Yeider Chacon

6Creed (2015)

A New Role for Stallone’s Legendary Character

Nearly forty years after Sylvester Stallone amazed audience with his first public presentation as Rocky Balboa , he render to put a new spin on the fabled pugilist inCreed . Directed by Ryan Coogler , Creedstars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed , an amateur bagger who turns to Rocky for aid explicate his skills in the gang .

With Creed III , the Rocky franchise now sweep 9 movies and 6 ten . We range every film in the pugilism movie series to obtain the champion .

Stallone may have aged forty twelvemonth betweenRockyandCreed , but he did n’t let that stop him from giving life to the character . Of of course , by the timeCreedbegins , Rocky is not the young packer he once was .

Joker Movie Poster

Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker is an origin story for Batman’s most iconic villain. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a down-on-his-luck clown who is trying to become a successful stand-up comedian. When things don’t go according to plan, and Arthur feels Gotham is oppressing him and others with mental illness, Arthur sparks a violent revolution within the city.

Creed is a spin - off / continuation of the boxing drama enfranchisement Rocky . Set old age after the original Rocky serial publication , Creed keep an eye on Adonis Johnson , the estranged son of Apollo Creed , on a journey to Philadelphia to find his father ’s friend / rival , Rocky Balboa . Now training to follow in his male parent ’s footsteps , Creed fights to become the best boxer in the world .

Instead , he consider on a much different role in the film . InCreed , the audience gravel to see him in his post - boxing living , running a eatery 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 .

5Dolittle (2020)

An Adventure-Driven Story for the Iconic Veterinarian

The role of Dr. Dolittle , the gifted veterinary with the power to verbalize to fauna , was first create for a series of children ’s books by Hugh Lofting , go out back as early as the 1920s . The character was then vulgarize in the world of motion picture with a serial publication of movies star Eddie Murphy in the late ' 90s and early 2000s .

Dolittle is a 2020 reboot of the Doctor Dolittle dealership starring Robert Downey Jr. The film is partly based on Hugh Lofting ’s novel The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle and centers on the titular character as he searches for a orphic island with his gang of talking fauna . The film receive poor reviews upon release and was also a box - government agency failure .

In 2020 , however , the type was reinvented , being portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. In the picture , Dr. Dolittle sets off on an adventure with his creature allies in an attempt to detect a witching yield that can heal Queen Victoria .

Headshot of Joaquin Phoenix

Unfortunately , this latest rebirth of the fiber was not nearly as successful ( critically or commercially ) as its predecessor .

Dolittlestruggled to bend a profits on its virtually 200 - million - dollar bill budget and was widely panned by critics . Even with its stellar cast , the cinema failed to put any exciting whirl on the lineament , leaving audiences generally unsatisfied . Dolittleserves as a admonisher that a movie ca n’t simply show off a preexisting character and have a bun in the oven to be a warrant success .

4Logan (2017)

A Gritty, Dramatic Spin on the Legendary Hero

Hugh Jackman has play the large 10 - Men hero , Wolverine , many clip , but none are quite like how the lineament is portrayed in the 2017 film , Logan . Directed by James Mangold , Logantakes place in the approximate future and boast an sr. , ailing Wolverine . Unlike old iterations , where the part seemed practically unbeatable , this dramatic moving picture cue audiences of the inevitableness of eld , and that even superpowers can start fade away over sentence . The cinema follows a much different level , having Logan act as a caretaker to both Charles Xavier and a young girl with whom he is deeply link up .

Logan is adjust in a near future where an age Wolverine , toy by Hugh Jackman , takes care of a frail Professor Xavier , portrayed by Patrick Stewart , at a secluded location near the Mexican border . Their secluded existence is break up by the arrival of a young variation , pursued by malevolent forces .

Even though ( or perhaps because ) it was boldly different from previous depictions of the character , Loganproved to be wide successful with critic and audiences alike . TV audience loved the more striking depiction of his grapheme and felt that this Modern storyline gave a proper ( albeit tragic ) sendoff to the beloved hero , although Jackman would finally return to reprize the persona once again inDeadpool and Wolverine . Though putting such an excited spin on an iconic superhero is n’t always well - take in , Loganproved that it can be an excellent choice if done with right care .

Headshot Of Robert De Niro In The 35th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Night

3Maleficent (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 hearing were last show who the character is , and why she does what she does . Maleficentreveals a more caring side to the intimidating character , depicting the development of her enate relationship to Aurora , and her remorse for arrange a curse on the innocent girl .

A live - natural process reimagining of the fairy story of Sleeping Beauty , Maleficent follows the titulary fairy witch ( Angelina Jolie ) in a benighted fantasy origin story . After falling in love with a homo , Maleficent is betrayed when he steals her wings . Swearing revenge , she curses his infant daughter , Princess Aurora , leading to a retelling of the beloved fairy story from an substitute perspective .

The moving-picture show gives Maleficent much more depth , allow her to make both good and bad choice , while at last redefining her as an unconventional hoagy . Maleficentreceived mixed review from critic , although consistent praise was given to Angelina Jolie ’s invigorate performance as the titular fiber .

Lightyear Movie Poster

Disney Pixar branches the Toy Story franchise off with Lightyear, a story that centers around a human version of the Buzz Lightyear toy and his missions with Star command. Set during an exploration mission, Lightyear and his crew are attacked during a scouting mission by alien lifeforms and find themselves stranded on an unknown planet. To help get everyone home, Lightyear volunteers on a dangerous mission to test pilot their means home. However, each test light passes time and the characters age in his absence.

The real challenge of villain origin story films is managing to change how the consultation assure a character without having to alter or detract from how they are shown in previous iterations .

Jolie managed to personify Maleficent in a way that evoked sympathy from the audience , while also being sure to acknowledge the misconduct of the character . The material challenge of villain beginning story movie is negociate to change how the interview sees a character without having to neuter or detract from how they are shown in late iterations . Maleficentsucceeds in find this live up to balance .

2Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

A Gripping, Post-Apocalyptic Origin Story

George Miller’sMad Maxfranchiseis full of fascinating , multilayered characters , and Furiosa is easily among the most compelling . The character was first introduced as a prominent part ofMad Max : Fury Roadin 2015 , immediately becoming a front-runner among fans , but very little was sleep together about how she became the iconic bomber seen in the moving-picture show . That finally transfer in 2024 , with the release ofFuriosa : A Mad Max Saga , which allow for the excited , activeness - pack backstory audiences had been craving .

A prequel to Mad Max : Fury Road , Furiosa is an legal action - adventure moving-picture show that secernate the origin story of the headstrong and hardy Furiosa . go under shortly after the beginning of the " end of the world , " Furiosa is kidnapped and brought before a hefty warlord , now force to work on for him . To notice her way back nursing home , Furiosa will conform to the newfangled abrasive and desiccated world as she grows into the Furiosa she becomes known to be .

AlthoughFuriosacertainly includes all the loud , explosive action audiences have come to expect from the enfranchisement , it never shies away from the deeply tragic nature of the character ’s blood . As a child , Furiosa was kidnapped from her beautiful home , and forced to spend much of her life living alongside a unbalance , violent warlord , constantly have to contend to survive . Although the film did n’t do well at the box post , it was received very well by critic , with extolment ease up to the exciting action and devout performances .

Headshot Of Chris Evans

1Wicked (2024)

A Musical Reinvention of Cinema’s Legendary Witch

​​​​​​​Wickedis doubtlessly among the most popular Broadway shows of all time , and , in 2024 , it has finally been reimagined to the big projection screen . Wickedoffers 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 toThe Wizard of Oz , the film follows the budding friendship between Elphaba and Galinda , two witch living in the country of Oz .

Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two - part film , following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba , assume with immature skin , and Glinda , a popular aristocrat , in the Land of Oz . As they navigate their contrast path , they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West .

Wickedhas been an overpowering success , both critically and commercially . The film features an all - star cast , head by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande , and is organise by the acclaimed film maker Jon M. Chu . Reinventing such an iconic character is no well-situated feat , but , with its dazzling performances and memorable melodious elements , Wickedoffers a novel interpretation of that existence that is mesmerizing audiences worldwide .

Headshot Of Keke Palmer

Solo A Star Wars Story Movie Poster

Solo: A Star Wars Story explores the early adventures of Han Solo, showcasing his beginnings and key encounters with significant characters in the Star Wars universe. Set in a backdrop of galactic turmoil, the film delves into the origins of his famed relationships and his rise as a rebellious smuggler.

Headshot Of Alden Ehrenreich

Cruella movie poster

Cruella is the live-action reimagining of the 101 Dalmatians villain and her origin story. It stars Emma Stone as Estella, an aspiring fashion designer and talented grifter. After finding herself pitted against her boss, the Baroness (Emma Thompson), she creates the alter-ego Cruella, a dangerous criminal who will do whatever it takes to get ahead in both the fashion world and in life.

Headshot Of Joel Fry

Headshot Of Emma Stone In The Premiere of ‘Kinds of Kindness’

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Creed is a spin-off/continuation of the boxing drama franchise Rocky. Set years after the original Rocky series, Creed follows Adonis Johnson, the estranged son of Apollo Creed, on a journey to Philadelphia to find his father’s friend/rival, Rocky Balboa. Now training to follow in his father’s footsteps, Creed fights to become the best boxer in the world.

Headshot Of Michael B. Jordan

Headshot Of Sylvester Stallone

Dolittle 2020 Poster

Dolittle is a 2020 reboot of the Doctor Dolittle franchise starring Robert Downey Jr. The film is partly based on Hugh Lofting’s novel The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle and centers on the titular character as he searches for a mysterious island with his crew of talking animals. The film received poor reviews upon release and was also a box-office failure.

Headshot Of Robert Downey Jr. In The 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony

Headshot Of Octavia Spencer In The 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards

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Logan is set in a near future where an aging Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, takes care of a frail Professor Xavier, portrayed by Patrick Stewart, at a secluded location near the Mexican border. Their secluded existence is disrupted by the arrival of a young mutant, pursued by malevolent forces.

Headshot Of Dafne Keen In The UK Premier Disney+ Series

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A live-action reimagining of the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent follows the titular fairy witch (Angelina Jolie) in a dark fantasy origin story. After falling in love with a human, Maleficent is betrayed when he steals her wings. Swearing revenge, she curses his infant daughter, Princess Aurora, leading to a retelling of the beloved fairytale from an alternate perspective.

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Headshot Of Sharlto Copley In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Universal Pictures ‘Monkey Man’

Furiosa A Mad Max Saga Poster Showing Anya Taylor Joy as Furiosa and Chris Hemsworth Standing in Front of a Motorcycle Gang

A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa is an action-adventure film that tells the origin story of the headstrong and fearless Furiosa. Set shortly after the beginning of the “end of the world,” Furiosa is kidnapped and brought before a powerful warlord, now forced to work for him. To find her way back home, Furiosa will adapt to the new harsh and arid world as she grows into the Furiosa she becomes known to be.

Wicked - Poster

Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Headshot Of Cynthia Erivo

Headshot Of Ariana Grande In The 2024 Met Gala

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