10+ Iconic Characters Who Stayed In Our Hearts And Surprisingly Returned To The Screen Years Later

Sometimes, we think back on our favorite movies and wonder how many years they go by. Perhaps, the movie plots are so interesting, sometimes 1 or 2 seasons are not enough for some. Additionally, we often remind the characters that impact a part of our lives. Most of the characters are ones with the most memorable or quotable lines, or even they become someone’s nightmares.
Many fans hope that their beloved characters can come back on screen as soon as possible. Luckily, some directors seemingly realized that and decided to bring back the stories that stole millions of hearts. Then, many new adventures are starting.
We’ve rounded up 11 characters that came back after a long time with the original actors.

#1 Laura Dern and Sam Neill: Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World Dominio

Source: © Jurassic Park III / Universal Pictures and co-producer, © Jurassic World: Dominion / Amblin Entertainment and co-producers

The last time we see Dr. Ellie Sattler and Dr. Alan Grant was in the third installment of “Jurassic Park”. Finally, after over 2 decades, we can see the chemistry between them again.

#2 Harrison Ford: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and the untitled fifth Indiana Jones film

Source: © Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull / Paramount Pictures and co-producers, Sicily1 / IPA / SIPA / Sipa Press / 

Do you still remember the brave Indiana Jones in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”? The last time we saw the character, played byHarrison Ford was 19 years ago. However, the script for the fifth installment was completed and the movie will release in 2023.

#3 Val Kilmer: Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick

Source: © Top Gun / Paramount Pictures and co-producer, © Top Gun: Maverick / Paramount Pictures and co-producers

It is a piece of happy news for Val Kilmer’s fans when the character Tom “Iceman” Kazansky he portrayed came back. In the sequel, his character becomes an admiral who considers Maverick not to abandon the group of pilots.

#4 Amy Adams: Enchanted and Disenchanted

Source: © Enchanted / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producers, © Disenchanted / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producers

Amy Adams who portrayed Giselle takes the crown again after 15 years. The actress shared “The last time I really danced as much as is required here, I was 20. It feels different at 40”.

#5 Willem Dafoe: Spider-Man 3 and Spider-Man: No Way Home

Source: © Spider-Man 3 / Columbia Pictures and co-producers, © Spider-Man: No Way Home / Columbia Pictures and co-producers

Willem Dafoe appeared in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” after 14 years of starring in “Spider-Man 3”. Willem Dafoe said that his character Green Goblin became a villain who sneaked into Tom Holland’s character’s dimension.

#6 Andrew Garfield: The Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man: No Way Home

Source: © The Amazing Spider-Man™ 2 / Marvel Enterprises and co-producers, © Spider-Man: No Way Home / Columbia Pictures and co-producers

After the failure of “The Amazing Spider-Man”, Andrew Garfield continued to take part in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. In the 2021 blockbuster, he showed off his hero skills well.

#7 Ernie Hudson: Ghostbusters II and Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Source: © Ghostbusters II / Columbia Pictures and co-producers, © Ghostbusters: Afterlife / Columbia Pictures and co-producers

Ghostbusters II is a 1989 supernatural comedy film, starring Ernie Hudson as Winston Zeddemore. In 2021, he returned to the role of Winston Zeddemore in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”. For him, it was an interesting experience.

#8 Sharon Stone: Basic Instinct and Basic Instinct 2

Source: © Basic Instinct / Carolco Pictures and co-producer, © Basic Instinct 2 / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and co-producers

Sharon Stone rose to fame for her role as Catherine Tramell in ‘Basic Instinct”. It was a major driving force for filmmakers to produce the second sequel. Unfortunately, it was not successful.

#9 Bill Pullman: Independence Day and Independence Day: Resurgence

Source: © Independence Day / Twentieth Century Fox and co-producer, © Independence Day: Resurgence / Twentieth Century Fox and co-producers

“Independence Day”, in which Bill Pullman embodied Thomas J. Whitmore, was the highest-grossing film of 1996. 20 years later, the sequel was released in theaters and the actor reprised his role.

#10 Keanu Reeves: The Matrix Revolutions and The Matrix Resurrections

Source: © The Matrix Revolutions / Warner Bros. and co-producers, © The Matrix Resurrections / Warner Bros. and co-producers

Keanu Reeves’s had to wait 18 years to see the actors in the role of Neo in “The Matrix Resurrections”. Before that, he starred in “The Matrix Revolutions” as a cybercriminal and computer programmer.

#11 Hayden Christensen: Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Source: © Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith / Lucasfilm and co-producers, © Obi-Wan Kenobi / Lucasfilm and co-producer

Hayden Christensen received a lot of praise from critics and movie buffs when portraying Anakin Skywalker in ‘Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith”. In 2022, he returned to the screen to bring back the memorable Darth Vader.