Stakeholders in Hollywood have long pulled in audiences for their IP-based franchises by making major actors reprise their iconic roles after decades. This makes sense as most of these reprisals are actually also demanded by their respective audiences. This phenomenon transcends mere casting choices — as the main goal with such big returns is to take viewers into a realm where nostalgia meets the relentless march of time.
Think how badly MCU fans want Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) or Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) to return to the MCU now somehow. It’s emotional and takes us back to the good times and that’s exactly why it sells. So in this article, we’re going to detail 7 such actors who have actually pulled this off and culminated it all into an extremely wholesome journey for their fanbase. So without any further ado, let’s get started!
1. Tobey Maguire — Spider-Man
Tobey Maguire, widely celebrated for his portrayal of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy (2002-2007), made a much-anticipated return to his iconic role in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). This film brought him back into the Spider-Man universe alongside Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield, in a multiverse-themed narrative that bridged different iterations of the character. Maguire’s reprisal of the role after approximately 14 years was met with massive love from fans and critics alike. The film ended up grossing over $1.9 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2021, and one of the highest-grossing films of all time!
Watch Spider-Man Trilogy on Prime Video
2. Michael Keaton — Batman
Michael Keaton first donned the cape and cowl in Tim Burton‘s Batman back in 1989 and returned in Batman Returns (1992). Although his initial casting as Batman was met with skepticism in the 1980s, he still managed to build a good standing among his critics with his portrayal. Keaton reprised his iconic role as Bruce Wayne/Batman in DC’s The Flash in 2023.
His return to the role after more than 30 years was highly anticipated and generated considerable buzz among fans and the media alike. So while Keaton’s Batman is not as famous as Maguire’s Spider-man, his fans from the 80s loved his return! In fact, Keaton’s Batman was considere a bit crazy and socially awkward and remained the best for a long time!
3. Ralph Macchio — Cobra Kai
Ralph Macchio, best known for his role as Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid films, made a well-celebrated return to the character in the hit series Cobra Kai. For those who don’t know — this series debuted on YouTube Red in 2018 before moving to Netflix and managed to reignite interest in the whole Karate Kid saga. The reboot explored the lives of the original characters several decades after the events of the films. Macchio’s role was iconic and not only did he return as Daniel LaRusso in the Cobra Kai, but he also made an appearance celebrating his role in How I Met Your Mother.
4. Andrew Garfield — Spider-Man
There are three Spider-Men and all three of them are massively loved! Andrew Garfield‘s return as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home wasn’t just a comeback; it was a celebration. It was necessary. It was amazing. A decade after he first put on the suit, Garfield stepped back into the role that captured hearts with a mix of earnestness and quick wit. His reunion with the Spider-Verse wasn’t just a nod to fans — it was a critical and commercial smash hit, proving that Garfield’s take on the character had left an indelible mark on the franchise and that it was necessary.
Watch Spider-Man: No Way Home on Netflix
5. Keanu Reeves — Neo
Keanu Reeves re-entered the Matrix as Neo in The Matrix Resurrections, nearly two decades after the original trilogy concluded. His comeback was a journey back to the dystopian world, yet it felt distinctly new. Reeves’ portrayal of Neo remains a defining role and his return brought depth and complexity to the beloved character. Especially now that the whole Matrix narrative is an actual thing in pop culture. The film navigated themes of reality and love, reaffirming Neo’s status as a cinematic icon. It was a bold move and ended up being super nostalgic for the franchise’s fanbase!
Watch The Matrix Resurrections on HBO
6. Christopher Lloyd — Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown
Christopher Lloyd‘s reprisal of Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown was a delightful jaunt back to the future. Playing the quirky genius once again with his timeless energy, reminded fans why they fell in love with the Back to the Future series in the first place. Lloyd first returned to voice Doc Brown in the Back to the Future: The Game series, which was released starting in 2010.
Later on, he reprised his role for various commercials and special projects, including a notable appearance for a Back to the Future-themed episode of The Big Bang Theory in 2016 and a 2015 short film titled Doc Brown Saves the World, released as part of the 30th-anniversary celebration of the original film. His appearances in various media over the years, therefore, have kept the spirit of Doc Brown alive, proving that some characters are indeed timeless!
Watch Doc Brown Saves the World Trailer on YouTube
7. Harrison Ford — Indiana Jones and Han Solo
The quintessential action hero, Harrison Ford, brought back two of cinema’s most iconic characters with aplomb. Ford first appeared as the adventurous archaeologist Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1989 — with two more follow-up sequels after it, culminating the sprint in 1989. Later on, after nearly two decades, Ford reprised his role as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in 2008.
His return as Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was equally impactful, and it provided a poignant, much-needed closure to the character’s journey. Ford had played the role of Han Solo in three movies earlier (from 1977 to 1983). So his return actually came after three decades of the original Star Wars trilogy. You will also want to check out this list of 7 actors who faded into obscurity after winning an Oscar.
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