Big names sell big movies in Hollywood, and that isn’t just true of the actors and actresses. A famous character can have just as much pull with audiences as the person behind the costume, and in many cases, the brand of a character completely eclipses the real person. It’s for that reason that studios rarely let big characters die, even when the original actors are long past the concept. The question is, how much will those characters change to match the times?
James Bond
The last outing of Agent 007 saw the character quite definitively die. Without some supernatural or sci-fi shenanigans, it was a death that was fairly conclusive. Of course, the chances of the character getting retired are next to zero, considering the incredible revenue that the brand brings in. The conversation amongst fans has moved to what happens when the character is rebooted.
Given the current social and tech climate, many of Bond’s trademark activities could be set for an update. For example, given how dominant online casino has become, we may see the agent forgo the traditional casino scene for playing some slot games online. There’s a very real possibility of seeing Bond take a minute to play Big Bass Splash or maybe some Lightning Roulette in lieu of donning the tuxedo.
Indiana Jones
The consensus of long-term fans is that, as of the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Harrison Ford’s iconic role is coming to an end. The film surprised many by being a decent entry after the mess of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but it felt like a good place to stop on a relatively high point.
We’ve seen efforts to introduce younger versions before as in the case of the short-lived Mutt, but this may require a full reboot at this stage. Given how real-life archaeologists are now using advanced technology extensively, a new version of the character could easily be a tech-savvy one. The good news is that there are still many remote and mysterious locations out there to explore.
John Rambo
Sly Stallone last played grizzled war veteran Rambo back in 2019, and it’s widely agreed that this wasn’t a great idea. The original character was a deep, philosophical story of war and humanity, but each sequel has driven that message further and further away. Last Blood is almost certainly the last in the original run of movies, but it would be a shock to see the character disappear entirely.