Top 10 Iconic Action Heroes Deserve A Comeback!

Even though some moviegoers lament the abundance of sequels and franchises today, there are still remarkable action heroes who haven’t had their moment in the spotlight recently and deserve another chance. Movies like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Blade Runner 2049” show that rejuvenating long-dormant series can resonate with both audiences and critics. Considering this, some timeless figures from past decades could make a significant return to the screen.

In the annals of cinematic history, some remarkable action heroes have vanished following only a handful of appearances, sparking an enduring hunger among viewers for additional adventures. Although performers such as Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger have revisited numerous iconic roles, even these veterans possess characters whose complete potential remains unexplored, making them ideal choices for a long-overdue comeback. However, poorly executed sequels based on legacy can tarnish the franchise’s image; when armed with a compelling script and skilled artists, they can offer a richly nostalgic and fulfilling cinematic experience.

10. Pierce Brosnan As James Bond

James Bond (1962 – Present)

Each person might have their preferred James Bond, but it’s hard to argue against Pierce Brosnan embodying the role perfectly with his striking looks, captivating charm, and significant influence during his time as 007. One of the franchise’s finest moments, GoldenEye, showcases this brilliance. Unfortunately, Brosnan’s swan song, Die Another Day, didn’t live up to expectations. However, there’s a possibility for redemption by bringing Brosnan back for a final hurrah in a legacy sequel before handing over the franchise to a new, youthful actor for the next phase.

In an unusual twist, just as Sean Connery did for the film “Never Say Never Again” in 1983, which was not part of the regular Bond series, there’s a possibility that Pierce Brosnan might reprise his role as James Bond. This precedent has been set, and Brosnan himself has shown interest, saying, “How could I not be interested?” With Amazon now having full creative control over Bond, a legacy sequel featuring Brosnan could serve as a smooth transition before a new actor takes on the role.

9. Clint Eastwood As Harry Callaghan

Dirty Harry (1971 – 1988)

Clint Eastwood is undeniably a legendary figure in the world of Hollywood, renowned particularly for his roles such as “The Man with No Name” in Sergio Leone’s famous “Dollars Trilogy,” which cemented his status as a Western film icon. His reputation grew further with the debut of “Dirty Harry” in 1971, a series of five films centered around Inspector Harry Callaghan of the San Francisco Police Department’s Homicide Division. As a hard-nosed police officer who operates outside the norm, the characterization of Dirty Harry significantly shaped the crime genre.

After the debut of “The Dead Pool” in 1988, Eastwood chose to end his involvement with the series and hasn’t revisited it since, even poking fun at the idea of a film where Harry would be “retired, chasing bad guys with a walker.” Though this might seem far-fetched, there is a possibility that a sixth Dirty Harry film featuring an elderly Harry in the 90s could have been engaging. Eastwood is one of the rare Hollywood legends who, despite his advanced age, remains active and capable of leading an action movie, as demonstrated by “Cry Macho” in 2021.

8. Liam Neeson As Bryan Mills

Taken (2008 – 2014)

It would be fantastic if Liam Neeson, who is planning to step away from action roles around 2025, returned for one last hurrah in a legacy sequel of the Taken franchise. The original Taken film was instrumental in launching Neeson’s career as a leading action star in Hollywood following his more dramatic roles earlier on. With its memorable lines and intriguing plot, Taken paved the way for the 21st-century trend of older actors transitioning into action heroes, including Michael Caine (Harry Brown), Bob Odenkirk (Nobody), and Denzel Washington (The Equalizer).

Despite the Taken franchise expanding with a Bryan Mills origin story on NBC’s TV series, it would be thrilling if Liam Neeson concluded his action hero career by starring in one last film in the series. Over ten years have passed since we last saw Neeson portraying Mills, and a possible Taken 4 could undoubtedly offer an intriguing opportunity before he retires from this role for good.

7. Mel Gibson As Max Rockatansky

The Mad Max Trilogy (1979 – 1985)

The initial “Mad Max” trilogy, created by George Miller, left a lasting impact on action films, introducing a distinctive dystopian film universe that continues to captivate audiences. Mel Gibson initially played the role of the resistant hero Max Rockatansky; however, due to off-screen issues and production delays, Tom Hardy took over in the eagerly anticipated fourth part, “Mad Max: Fury Road,” released in 2015. This exceptional sequel sparked a renewal of interest in the series, but some fans were saddened that they didn’t get to see Gibson reprise his role as an older Max.

With Gibson regaining momentum in his career and reprising action roles such as in “The Continental: From the World of John Wick,” it’s conceivable that he might take on the role of Max one last time. Given that George Miller’s plans for another Mad Max film, titled “Mad Max: The Wasteland,” have been delayed due to the underperformance of his prequel “Furiosa,” this situation could pave the way for the series to explore a fresh direction and potentially bring back Gibson as an older, weathered Max, compelled to confront the twisted denizens of this world once more.

6. Arnold Schwarzenegger As Dutch Schaefer

Predator (1987)

The film “Predator” was one of the top action movies from the 1980s, and it has remained a franchise ever since due to its success. Unlike other series that initially featured Arnold Schwarzenegger as a main character, Major Dutch Schaefer, who was portrayed by Schwarzenegger in the first movie, did not reappear in subsequent films. However, Dutch has made appearances in video games and books related to the “Predator” franchise. Despite numerous attempts to have Schwarzenegger return to the role, it never came to fruition.

It seems that not including Dutch in the entire Predator film series is a missed chance, and reintroducing him now, after so many years, could create a significant cinematic spectacle and potentially draw back viewers who stopped following the series due to numerous underwhelming sequels. Although the latest prequel, Prey, has revived interest in the franchise, having Arnold Schwarzenegger face off against a Yautja once more would be an epic event, perhaps even legendary.

5. Sigourney Weaver As Ellen Ripley

Alien (1979 – Present)

Unlike the Dutch character in the Predator franchise being left out of sequels, audiences had plenty of Sigourney Weaver’s portrayal of Ellen Ripley in the Alien series. Given that Ripley is one of the most well-known heroines in action, horror, and sci-fi genres, it’s not surprising that fans continue to anticipate her potential return in future installments. Throughout the series, Ripley has developed a profound connection with the Xenomorph species – in Alien 3, she became host to a queen embryo, and Alien Resurrection depicted her being cloned to extract alien DNA.

In the films directed by Ridley Scott and Fede Álvarez, such as ‘Alien: Covenant’ and ‘Alien: Awakening’, it’s been proven that the Alien franchise can thrive without Ellen Ripley. However, one cannot help but contemplate the possibility of Sigourney Weaver reprising her iconic role in a sequel that honors the series’ history. Bringing back Ripley as another clone might seem repetitive or forced, but considering it’s science fiction, anything is conceivable. There are numerous creative ways to advance her narrative beyond her heroic demise in ‘Alien 3’. While some argue it would be best to preserve Ripley’s legacy untouched, a well-crafted story could make her return truly remarkable.

4. Jean-Claude Van Damme As Agent Max Walker

Timecop (1994)

Despite not achieving mainstream action stardom like peers such as Bruce Willis, Keanu Reeves, or Will Smith during their time, Jean-Claude Van Damme still boasts a collection of cult classics. Unfortunately, his characters seldom get considered for legacy sequels. However, it’s fascinating to imagine Jean-Claude Van Damme reprising the role of Agent Max Walker from Timecop again.

Among Van Damme’s best films, the concept of Timecop, where Max Walker explored time-related crimes, had the potential for numerous sequels. However, only a single lackluster direct-to-video sequel without Van Damme was produced, and it primarily influenced other sci-fi movies like Looper. Despite Van Damme’s career having its highs and lows, a well-crafted sequel to Timecop could capitalize on the audience’s fondness for the original and be quite successful.

3. Nicolas Cage As Cameron Poe

Con Air (1997)

After triumphantly winning an Oscar for his heartrending performance in the film “Leaving Las Vegas”, Nicolas Cage displayed a fresh facet of himself by becoming a prominent action star, with films like “The Rock”, “Con Air”, and “Face/Off” hitting screens in quick succession. Although a sequel to “Face/Off” has been in development for quite some time, it seems like a missed opportunity that Cage hasn’t returned to play the character Cameron Poe from “Con Air”. This is because Cameron Poe was one of the most captivating heroes of the 1990s and bringing him back would have been a great addition to his legacy.

In a recent turn of events, Cameron Poe, a man who was paroled after serving time for involuntary manslaughter while defending his pregnant wife from dangerous gangsters, had an intriguing past and the charisma to spearhead his own action series. Regrettably, fans never got to witness Nicolas Cage reprise his role with Cameron’s thick mane and signature white tank top. One individual who shares this sentiment is director Simon West, who has expressed interest in a Con Air 2 sequel (as reported by CBR), and has also suggested that the plot could unfold in space.

2. Sylvester Stallone As John Spartan

Demolition Man (1993)

In contrast to the multiple comebacks of Rocky Balboa, John Rambo, and Barney Ross, it’s unfortunate that Sylvester Stallone only had a single cinematic adventure as John Spartan in Demolition Man. This futuristic sci-fi film, which portrays a crime-free utopia, features Stallone and his arch-nemesis, Simon Phoenix (played by Wesley Snipes), being thawed from their frozen states to engage in another battle. The film’s unique concept, remarkably prescient for its 2032 setting of the future, makes Demolition Man one of the most entertaining sci-fi action movies from the 1990s.

The film “Demolition Man” offered a thrilling journey, showcasing an early role from Sandra Bullock, as well as some intriguing foreshadowing about the concept of non-contact social interactions that made it seem surprisingly relevant in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Being one of Sylvester Stallone’s most entertaining and unconventional films, it now seems fitting to bring back John Spartan and potentially expand “Demolition Man” into another successful franchise in Stallone’s filmography.

1. Kurt Russell As Jack Burton

Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

Kurt Russell and John Carpenter have worked together on numerous impressive projects, such as the timeless masterpiece “The Thing” and the beloved “Escape from New York”. Despite attempts at remakes and sequels for these movies, a character that deserves another outing in a follow-up is Jack Burton, from “Big Trouble in Little China”. This dynamic, stylish action film may not have been successful initially, but its status has only improved over time, and it’s now widely regarded as one of Carpenter’s most enjoyable works.

In a world richly satirizing B-movies and kung fu films, the amusing tributes in “Big Trouble in Little China” might resonate more deeply with modern audiences, who have been exposed to martial arts spoofs like Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill.” Jack Burton, a compelling action hero, saw his full potential unexplored after the financial flop of this film. This thought excites me immensely, as I can’t imagine anything more thrilling than Carpenter and Russell teaming up once again for a highly anticipated legacy sequel.

2025-04-28 19:59