We’ve all been there. You’re watching a present for the principle plot, however your eyes maintain darting towards that one character lurking within the nook of the body—the one cracking the sly jokes, or carrying extra emotional gravity than the lead ever does—or may.
Generally, these so-called “supporting” roles go effectively past simply complementing the story. They hijack it. They radiate a lot charisma and depth that you end up whispering, “I want I may get to see extra of them.”
This text is a love letter to these scene-stealers. They’re the misfits, the masterminds, the sidekicks, and the schemers who usually find yourself extra beloved and interesting than the supposed stars of their tales. They make you need to hit pause, replay their scenes, and even daydream about what they’d be doing off-screen.
And truthfully? Their untold tales are begging for the highlight.
So right here it’s—a celebration of these unforgettable figures who earned their place in popular culture not by being front-and-center, however by dominating from the sidelines. From sharp-tongued aristocrats to eccentric witches, from animated icons to icy villains, listed here are 14 characters who broke out of the ensemble and completely deserve their very own spin-off sequence.
The Standards: What Makes a Spin-Off-Worthy Character?
Earlier than we begin handing out imaginary contracts, let’s set some floor guidelines. Not each aspect character is a spin-off materials—some are good in small doses, like a touch of spice you don’t need ruining the stew. However the ones on this listing have one thing particular. 4 issues, to be precise.
First, confirmed depth and unexplored backstory. These characters carry hints of wealthy, advanced histories we solely glimpse on the display screen. Possibly they’ve obtained a mysterious previous, an unstated trauma, or a skillset that feels criminally underexplored. They virtually beg for enlargement.
Second, standalone narrative potential. You possibly can think about their world current outdoors the unique present or film. They’re not tethered to the principle character’s journey—they may simply carry certainly one of their very own, whether or not it’s a political thriller, a darkish comedy, or an intergalactic drama.
Third, simple viewers demand. These are the characters who development on Twitter, encourage fan artwork, and steal the highlight in each evaluation. Once they’re on display screen, the vitality shifts—and audiences can’t get sufficient.
Lastly, the elusive “It” issue. Name it charisma, magnetism, or plain previous star energy—it’s the intangible high quality that makes you need to observe them anyplace, even right into a spin-off about their Tuesday grocery run. In case you can think about them headlining a narrative and making it work, they’ve obtained it.
With that in thoughts, let’s dive into the listing—the 14 scene-stealing legends who deserve their very own spin-off greater than anybody.
1. Luna Lovegood – Harry Potter sequence
Portrayed by: Evanna Lynch
Spin-Off Title: The Misplaced Chronicles of Luna Lovegood
Launched in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Luna stood out along with her dreamy voice, unusual logic, and quiet braveness. Evanna Lynch turned what may’ve been comedian reduction into an icon of individuality.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Fantasy Thriller
Logline: After the conflict, Luna roams the wizarding world chasing uncommon creatures and forgotten histories.
World: A mixture of travelogue and thriller, with eccentric allies, skeptics, and magical conspiracies alongside the best way.
Why It Would Work: Luna’s worldview is her superpower. A spin-off would mix whimsy and knowledge, celebrating the extraordinary within the ignored.
2. Arya Stark – Recreation of Thrones
Portrayed by: Maisie Williams
Spin-Off Title: West of Westeros
Arya advanced from a mischievous tomboy to a deadly murderer throughout Recreation of Thrones (2011–2019). Maisie Williams gave her grit and vulnerability, making Arya certainly one of TV’s most beloved arcs.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Epic Journey
Logline: Having left Westeros, Arya sails west to chart unknown lands and carve her personal future.
World: Countless—new continents, cultures, and risks past the map’s edge.
Why It Would Work: Arya’s curiosity and resilience make her good for a frontier story. Her spin-off may develop the Thrones universe whereas giving her the liberty to jot down her personal legend.
3. Donkey – Shrek sequence
Portrayed by: Eddie Murphy
Spin-Off Title: The Misadventures of Donkey
Launched in Shrek (2001), Donkey’s nonstop chatter, optimism, and shocking coronary heart made him the franchise’s comedian engine. Eddie Murphy’s supply turned him into an immediate favourite.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Animated Comedy
Logline: Donkey and Dragon increase their hybrid brood whereas stumbling into absurd quests.
World: A fairy-tale sandbox filled with weird creatures, riddles, and ridiculous kingdoms.
Why It Would Work: Donkey thrives in chaos. A spin-off may push the franchise’s humor additional whereas exhibiting how coronary heart anchors comedy.
4. Karen Walker – Will & Grace
Portrayed by: Megan Mullally
Spin-Off Title: Simply Karen
Karen Walker in Will & Grace (1998–2006, 2017–2020) was a brash boozehound who was side-splittingly humorous. Megan Mullally’s fearless efficiency made her a sitcom icon.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Office/Wealth Comedy
Logline: After Grace strikes on, Karen “manages” her fortune, companies, and new social disasters.
World: Luxurious penthouses, artwork auctions, and upper-class absurdity.
Why It Would Work: Karen’s larger-than-life persona deserves the highlight. Her outrageous antics can simply carry a sequence filled with biting humor.
5. Steve Harrington – Stranger Issues
Portrayed by: Joe Keery
Spin-Off Title: Babysitter’s Apocalypse
Steve began as a cliché jock in Stranger Issues (2016–). However Joe Keery’s appeal flipped him into the present’s MVP: reluctant babysitter turned monster fighter.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Supernatural Journey
Logline: After Hawkins, Steve and a brand new crew confront weird threats in small-town America.
World: Monster-of-the-week format with 80s nostalgia and coronary heart.
Why It Would Work: Steve is endlessly watchable. A spin-off may mix horror and comedy whereas letting him shine as an unlikely hero.
6. Gus Fring – Breaking Unhealthy
Portrayed by: Giancarlo Esposito
Spin-Off Title: The Rise of Fring
In Breaking Unhealthy (2008–2013), Gus Fring embodied calm menace. Giancarlo Esposito’s precision made him certainly one of TV’s best villains.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Crime Thriller
Logline: Earlier than Heisenberg, Gus constructed an empire. That is the untold story of his Chilean previous and rise in Albuquerque.
World: A mix of cartel wars, enterprise technique, and ethical darkness.
Why It Would Work: Followers need to understand how Gus turned Gus. His backstory is ripe for drama, suspense, and character examine.
7. Lord Voldemort – Harry Potter sequence
Portrayed by: Ralph Fiennes
Spin-Off Title: Tom Riddle: The Making of a Monster
Although central, Voldemort usually lurked in shadows throughout the movies (2001–2011). Ralph Fiennes gave him chilling gravitas, however Tom Riddle’s transformation remained largely unseen.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Darkish Fantasy
Logline: The lifetime of Tom Riddle—from orphan to darkish lord—informed in harrowing element.
World: Hogwarts halls, forbidden magic, and the darker corners of the wizarding world.
Why It Would Work: Audiences crave villain origins. Voldemort’s rise may discover ambition, corruption, and the price of energy.
8. Bellatrix Lestrange – Harry Potter sequence
Portrayed by: Helena Bonham Carter
Spin-Off Title: Bellatrix Unleashed
Helena Bonham Carter’s wild-eyed Bellatrix electrified the display screen with chaos and cruelty. She was terrifying and oddly magnetic.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Gothic Thriller
Logline: A twisted journey by Bellatrix’s youth, indoctrination, and repair to Voldemort.
World: Pure-blood society, Azkaban horrors, and cult-like Loss of life Eater circles.
Why It Would Work: Bellatrix represents pure chaos. Her backstory could possibly be a chilling dive into fanaticism and worry.
9. Edna Mode – The Incredibles sequence
Portrayed by: Brad Fowl
Spin-Off Title: Mode: Superhero Stylist
First showing in The Incredibles (2004), Edna Mode turned a scene-stealer with only a few minutes of display screen time. Her wit and design genius made her unforgettable.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Animated Office Comedy
Logline: Edna juggles eccentric superheroes, outrageous costume calls for, and her personal aptitude for drama.
World: A style home colliding with the world of superheroes.
Why It Would Work: She’s fabulous. A spin-off may have fun her eccentricity whereas satirizing each style and hero tradition.
10. Dwight Schrute – The Workplace
Portrayed by: Rainn Wilson
Spin-Off Title: Schrute Farms
Dwight was eccentric, intense, and endlessly quotable in The Workplace (2005–2013). Rainn Wilson gave him absurdity and coronary heart.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Mockumentary Comedy
Logline: Dwight runs Schrute Farms whereas chasing energy in small-town Pennsylvania.
World: A rural oddball setting ripe with quirky neighbors and beet-based humor.
Why It Would Work: Dwight’s quirks deserve full exploration. His world is bizarre sufficient to gasoline years of comedy.
11. Gloria Pritchett – Trendy Household
Portrayed by: Sofía Vergara
Spin-Off Title: Gloria!
Gloria wasn’t simply Jay’s fiery spouse—she stole scenes along with her wild backstories, fierce character, and Sofía Vergara’s unmatched comedian timing. She blended coronary heart and hilarity in methods no different Trendy Household character may.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Household Comedy, Prequel
Logline: From chaotic household feuds in Colombia to single-mom struggles within the US, Gloria’s life is filled with misadventures, cultural clashes, and surprising triumphs.
World: Flashbacks to her rivalry along with her sister and eccentric Colombian family, combined along with her early US days, would make for infinite storylines.
Why It Would Work: Gloria has depth the sitcom solely hinted at—humorous, resilient, and bigger than life. A spin-off would present each her outrageous humor and her inspiring journey.
12. Melisandre – Recreation of Thrones
Portrayed by: Carice van Houten
Spin-Off Title: The Purple Lady
Melisandre was one of the crucial enigmatic forces in Recreation of Thrones. From her fiery prophecies to her morally gray decisions, she embodied the present’s stability of religion, worry, and fatalism. Each time she appeared, the stakes felt larger.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Darkish Fantasy-Drama
Logline: Centuries earlier than the Struggle of the 5 Kings, a younger lady from Asshai discovers the Lord of Gentle and grows into the Purple Lady we all know—mystic, manipulator, and believer.
World: This sequence may dive deep into shadowbinding, Asshai’s eerie tradition, and her lengthy, winding path throughout Westeros. Cameos from legendary figures in Essos and flash-forwards of her visions would weave a wealthy mythos.
Why It Would Work: Her story is tragic but inspiring. A spin-off may shine a light-weight on resilience and justice within the Thrones universe.
13. Thanos – Marvel Cinematic Universe
Portrayed by: Josh Brolin
Spin-Off Title: Thanos Rising
Although a villain, Thanos in Avengers: Infinity Struggle (2018) turned oddly relatable, due to Josh Brolin’s layered efficiency. His ideology made him unforgettable.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Sci-Fi Epic
Logline: The early lifetime of Thanos—exile from Titan, rise to energy, and warped imaginative and prescient of “stability.”
World: Cosmic settings throughout alien planets and intergalactic wars.
Why It Would Work: Audiences need to perceive their villains. A Thanos origin may rival the very best area operas.
14. Olenna Tyrell – Recreation of Thrones
Portrayed by: Diana Rigg
Spin-Off Title: The Queen of Thorns
Olenna Tyrell delivered among the sharpest strains in Recreation of Thrones. Diana Rigg’s wit and presence made her unforgettable.
The Spin-Off Pitch:
Style: Fantasy, Political Drama
Logline: Olenna’s rise in Home Tyrell, mastering politics with wit sharper than any sword.
World: Highgarden and King’s Touchdown intrigue earlier than the conflict.
Why It Would Work: Olenna proves energy doesn’t all the time want armies—it wants technique. A prequel would highlight intelligence because the deadliest weapon.
The Future is Vivid and Filled with Potential
Fan adoration is, after all, a unifying issue amongst these characters, however what actually sticks them collectively is the unexplored richness packed into them. They’re layered, magnetic, and infrequently extra compelling than the protagonists they supported. Every carries the seed of a standalone story that might thrive in the appropriate palms.
Spin-offs succeed after they seize lightning in a bottle once more, not by copying, however by shifting perspective. Think about Luna discovering hidden worlds, Arya charting the unknown, or Gloria constructing her personal empire. These are extra than simply aspect plots. These are tales ready to occur.
So right here’s the query: if these spin-offs had been to occur, which one would you watch first?
Or higher but—who did we miss?
Drop your dream spin-off concepts within the feedback, or shout them out on-line with #SpinOffWorthy. As a result of if there’s one factor these scene-stealers show, it’s this: typically the very best tales are hiding in plain sight.
