Main characters are the least interesting part of a story, if we're being honest.
This isn't to say that main characters can't have interesting character arcs and resolutions, but when we look at the most popular films in history who are the coolest characters? Jack Sparrow is far more interesting a character than Will Turner. Han Solo is cooler than Luke Skywalker. Pick a wizard and odds are they're much more intriguing to the eye than Harry Potter.
And those are just the obvious ones that Hollywood has tried (mostly unsuccessfully) to capitalize on.
Reddit user, u/Trxxi, wanted to know what characters we should learn more about when they asked:
What fictional character deserves a spin-off the most?
Well Written Bad Guys Are Far More Interesting Than Heroes
Villains are the best, right? They have convictions, they stick to them (sometimes to the detriment of all humanity), and if it's done well enough, there's definitely a story there.
They Was Gonna Eat You!
Yondu from Guardians of The Galaxy
Nah it's too soon, they only just did a Mary Poppins reboot in 2018
Side Characters With Mysterious Backgrounds
While main characters are supposed to be living on the surface, sharing their thoughts and feelings with the audience, it's just the nature of their writing.
But that character? Her. In the background there. What's her deal?
His Name Was Strider. STRIDER.
Aragorn, he's got like 80 years of being a bad@ss ranger. Probably tons of stories of him fighting all sorts of creatures.
Absolutely, he shows up in LOTR without hardly any backstory. He's the ultimate protagonist and we know close to nothing about what he's done his whole life. We just know who his great great great great great (I have no idea how many greats) grandfather is.
The Legend Of...Who?
Zelda.
Her name's in the bloody title. Maybe she could actually get to do stuff one day.
I hope BOTW 2 doesn't just make us rescue her again, I kinda want a sort of duo thing where you can swap between Link and Zelda.
"Failure is only the opportunity to begin again."
Iroh from Avatar. His journey from Fire Nation Prince and General to Leader of the white lotus. Including the siege of Ba Sing Se, the Sun Warriors and Dragons and sadly Lu Ten.
The Seriously Most Engaging Stories
Sometimes it all comes down to what the audience wants. You've written your story, you've crafted your arc, and reached the finale.
Yet, your reader or viewer wants more. They want to learn every detail about the person you've crafted.
Troy And Abed In The Ocean!
I know Donald Glover quit Community to pursue his music career but I would 100% watch Troy Barnes sail around the world
I would both love to see this, but also be strangely sad/nostalgic over the rest of the cast missing (especially his relationship with Abed).
I Am Talking About The Greater Good!
Frozone from The Incredibles
A 1 hour movie of him arguing with his wife about his super suit.
Bingpot!
Young Captain Holt.
I heard he caught the Disco Strangler!
And the Freestyle Killer!
And a surprise cameos from young Hitchcock and Scully. That would be way too perfect.
BroBros Being BroBros
Great Uncle Ford and Gruncle Stan from Gravity Falls. I would kill to see a series of the sailing across the world on The Stan O' War.
I would love to see more of their wayward youth, also their relationship with the twins parents! We see Stan and Stanford's little brother as a baby when they're high school seniors, that had to be a unique relationship!
We might not always get the stories we want, which is why it's important to value the ones we're given. If there's a character you like in a story then try to make the best out of what the creators have given you.
You might not get more, but you have enough.
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