Every now and then, a film character in a supporting role is either extremely well written or so underwritten but full of promise, that they deserve a picture of their own. It doesn't always happen, but every now and then the public's prayers are answered and we get films like U.S. Marshals and Annabelle that give us a little more time focused on those most notable characters we latch onto while watching the main narrative. With that in mind, here's a list of ten supporting characters that were so captivating in their time on screen, that they should be given a chance to have a solo away from the band!
Rocket Raccoon, from Guardians Of The Galaxy
Rocket Raccoon is an absolute no brainer, as everyone seems to have latched on to this character with the fervor of a stand alone Marvel superhero. With his trusty friend Groot by his side, there's no telling the sorts of adventure and misadventure the pair could get into, while defending peace and justice in the galaxy as members of the Nova Corps. Marvel's already "getting weird" after Guardians Of The Galaxy became a massive hit, so why not keep the train rolling with everyone's new favorite woodland law man?
Jesus Quintana, from The Big Lebowski
Jesus Quintana is a character that probably every fan of The Big Lebowski wishes would get his own project. Even John Turturro himself has been seeking the blessing of the Coen Brothers to elevate Jesus into a film of his own. Should this ever happen, it would be a glorious day, as Jesus most certainly handles the other non-bowling aspects of his life with the same flamboyance and "pull the trigger 'til it goes click" gusto that he shows in a League match.
Sif, from Thor/Thor: The Dark World
After her role on Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D Lady Sif has shown that there's potential for a solo spin-off in the Marvel universe. Of course, if one wanted to, they could also throw in the rest of Thor's band of merry Asgardians under her command. With nine realms, countless foes, and a lot of attitude that's been wasted in the Thor series thus far, Marvel could start getting a little more progressive (as well as directly compete with Wonder Woman,) by putting Lady Sif on the front lines.
Joe Brody, from Godzilla
This one's more than a little hard, as it's the only entry on the list with a dead man in its lead role. Still, it's not a big stretch to believe that the Monarch Division saw Joe Brody's notes on Godzilla and the M.U.T.O. Phenomenon, and decided that he would be so good of a resource that he would be more valuable to them dead on paper. With his new "ghost" privileges, Brody can globe trot around the world to investigate creatures of unusual size, while reporting to no one officially, as he's so top secret that not even his son knows he's alive.
Lucy McClane, from Live Free Or Die Hard
After the events of Live Free Or Die Hard, it's hard to think that Lucy McClane would return to civilian life that easily. Considering A Good Day To Die Hard managed to bring John McClane's son into the fold, and flopped at the box office, the continuing adventures of Lucy McClane could be a viable option for continuing the Die Hard series for another film or two. Not to mention, after seeing her in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, we know Mary Elizabeth Winstead isn't uncomfortable with kicking some ass.
Tanner Bolt, from Gone Girl
The character that inspired this list was Tyler Perry's darkly comic performance in Gone Girl. A balancing act of humor and blunt reality, Tanner Bolt is the type of guy that makes you wish Boston Legal made it to the movies, only so he could go head to head with James Spader and William Shatner. There's plenty of accused murderers/thieves/criminals waiting out there for their day in court: and Tanner Bolt is their man! Following his process from accusation to sentencing would be a welcome sight, and could also give Tyler Perry a little bit more of that magic he somehow taps into when someone else is directing his performance.
Alan Bradley/Tron, from Tron / Tron Legacy
With a 28 year gap between Tron and Tron Legacy, the stories of both Alan Bradley and Tron are sketched in for the most part. However, for a character pair as important as these two, there's so much more that could be learned from Alan's battles to keep Encom out of the clutches of Edward Dillinger Jr. Developing on a parallel track would be, of course, the story of how Tron went from the great defender of the Users to the henchman Rinzler that would serve alongside Clu 2.0. It would also be nice to finally see the film acknowledge the fact that Lori (his girlfriend, now wife, from the original) is still alive.
Nancy Tremaine, from Disney's Enchanted
While Disney's really good at creating side characters to root for, they're also known for creating leading/supporting characters that are important to the story, yet still come up short in their development. Such was the case with Idina Menzel's character, Nancy Tremaine, in the 2007 film Enchanted. With a sequel in development, Amy Adams tied up in the D.C. Cinematic Continuum, and Menzel being a huge hit in Frozen, it wouldn't be that hard of a move to make the next film about Nancy and her adjustment to the animated kingdom of Andalasia. Here's hoping Disney will actually let her carry a film of her own this time.
Ellen Abbott, from Gone Girl
Ellen Abbott is one of those characters you love to hate, but still hate with a burning passion at the end of the day. With a Tanner Bolt film acting as a perfect bookend to this project, Ellen Abbott's story could be about the relentless persecution of the accused, long before they even go to trial. It's similar ground that was indeed covered in Gone Girl itself, but a dark parody of the inner workings of such a program (in the style of Paddy Chayefsky's Network,) could be the type of mirror society needs to see held up to its face.
Maximus, from Disney's Tangled
Just a fair warning, you're going to see quite a bit of Disney on this list, and for two different reasons. In the case of Maximus, the law and order serving steed from Tangled, this is a character that's so much fun to watch in their small moments in the film that you'd wish they could have an adventure of their own. Of course, without Rapunzel's pet chameleon, Pascal, along for the ride, it wouldn't be as funny. Tangled Ever After aside, it's time for these buddies to team up and make the kingdom a little safer.
