20 memorable characters who were introduced in sequels

OK, we took some liberty with this one. We obviously met Don Vito Corleone in the original with the legendary Marlon Brando in the role. But in the smash sequel, another legend, Robert De Niro, brilliantly portrays the younger, ambitious and ruthless Corleone as he builds the family business and empire while in New York City. De Niro earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his sensational performance. 

Sure, Lando can't be trusted, at least during his initial appearance in Empire, but he's certainly one suave customer. Too bad he didn't have a six-pack of Colt 45 waiting for Han Solo and Co. when they landed in Cloud City. The original owner of the Millennium Falcon, Lando's brightest moment comes in Return of the Jedi when he's responsible for destroying the Death Star.

Yes, we first met this famed bounty hunter in the special edition cut of A New Hope, but in the trilogy's original form, we did not see Boba Fett until Empire. The sinister Darth Vader hired him to capture Han Solo. Of course, Han gets his revenge in Return of the Jedi. Though Boba Fett doesn't say much, he exudes a villainous cool and has become a favorite of Star Wars die-hards over the years. We learn more about him and his upbringing in 2002's Episode II – Attack of the Clones.

There might not be a more beloved character introduced in a sequel than Yoda. The Jedi master who trained young Luke Skywalker was also a respected general of the clone army and one of the wisest men in the Star Wars franchise. Spry for his age (he died in Jedi at a reported age of 900) and diminutive stature, Yoda is arguably the most powerful character in the galaxy — and most fearless.

This is one sequel that most Star Trek fans should agree is better than the 1979 original Star Trek: The Motion Picture. That has a lot to do with the character of Khan (Ricardo Montalbán), the genetically enhanced villain who seems interested only in taking down one James T. Kirk. The superhuman Khan remains one of the most memorable science-fiction bad guys of all time. 

It took a little time for heroine Ripley to warm up and eventually trust the android Bishop (Lance Henriksen) in this stellar follow-up to 1979's Alien. In the end, it was Bishop's sacrifice that helped save Ripley and her child sidekick, Newt. There are many great characters from Aliens (Bill Paxton's loud-mouth Hudson, for one), but Bishop's overall contributions and actions make him a must on this list. 

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover already had a good thing going with the first installment of this buddy action-comedy. Throw a guy like Joe Pesci into the mix, and how can things go wrong? They didn't. Pesci's Getz, a federal witness in need of protection by the two main characters, is annoying, obnoxious, and everything we'd expect from a role this veteran actor would shine in.

In this sequel to the 1984 hit, Arnold Schwarzenegger is "baaack," but as a good Terminator. Though less advanced and lethal than his current opponent, this version has compassion and will do anything to protect instead of kill.

While Arnold will forever be associated with The Terminator, Robert Patrick's version in this sequel seemed the most deadly. The liquid-metal, shape-shifting villain is a handful for Schwarzenegger's T-800, Sarah and John Connor. He's basically unstoppable, or so we think. Still, this is one of the scariest and most lethal action film bad guys of all time.

It's important never to take the tale of Bill and Ted seriously. So when "Death" comes knocking at their door, and they need to retrieve their souls, it's quite humorous. From giving him a "Melvin" to playing family games, the pair's interaction with a physical version of "Death" (William Sadler) is ridiculous and hilarious all at once.

First, there was no need for a sequel to this great baseball comedy original. However, David Keith's Parkman is one of the film's bright spots. He's a great power-hitting catcher, and he knows it — pompous, arrogant, and a total me-first guy in the clubhouse. That doesn't sit well with the Cleveland Indians, who ship him to Chicago, where he comes face-to-face against Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn with a trip to the World Series on the line.

Voiced by the versatile Joan Cusack, Jessie was part of Woody's Roundup gang. Though she did not make her first appearance until this sequel of the 1995 mega-hit, she blossomed into one of the most popular characters within the film franchise. Jessie is confident yet insecure, but she's ultimately dependable, especially when it comes to her relationship with Buzz Lightyear.

Technically, Gollum debuted in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, but just barely. The real introduction came in The Two Towers sequel. A rather unattractive, pale, hobbit-like creature is not easy to look at. But he serves as a valuable guide to Frodo and a memorable part of this ultra-successful film franchise. 

Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), Brian O'Conner's boyhood friend, just can't seem to stay out of trouble. That's what makes this former criminal so enigmatic yet extremely entertaining. Though he tends to take things personally, Roman is dependable when popping up here and there throughout this massive film franchise. It can be argued he's become the most recognizable star of the series.

This is one of the few characters in film history — spanning any genre — to get his own film from a spinoff of a sequel. In the Shrek sequel, the swashbuckling feline teams up with the main character and Donkey. Puss (superbly voiced by Antonio Banderas) is dashing yet provides some needed and welcomed comic relief that is perfectly timed.

A brilliant mind and major influence on Peter Parker, Dr. Octavius (Alfred Molina) turns misguided following the death of his wife during a fusion accident. That tragedy put the Doctor out of whack and opened the door for his alter ego, Doc Ock. Complete with those mechanical arms, he maintains his controversial experiments that do nothing but put the world in harm, as well as offer a challenge to Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man. 

There have been several portrayals of Batman's ultimate nemesis, but Heath Ledger's dark, disturbing take must be at the top of the list. The late Ledger literally put everything he had — physically, emotionally, and mentally — into the role, and some believe he never fully recovered from the experience. On-screen, his Joker in this sequel to Batman Begins might be the gold standard for comic book-based villains.

When we first meet Finnick (Sam Claflin) in the wildly successful second installment of the uber-popular film series, he's brash, full of himself, and confident. Perhaps the most unheralded part of the The Hunger Games franchise, whether on the screen or the pages, is his unique and almost soulmate-like relationship with Katniss.

Steve Rogers' best friend from his childhood, Bucky (Sebastian Stan), believed to have died during World War II, essentially became a brainwashed assassin. He's one of the more complex characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and even his contemporaries, or Avengers, don't know what to make of him in the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger. However, after debuting in his one film, he became vital to the franchise's future. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier debuted on Disney Plus in spring 2021.

Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) proves to be a worthy challenge for Spider-Man (Tom Holland). It does not start that way, though Beck cleverly earns the trust of both Nick Fury and Peter Parker before we figure out his real intentions. Beck/Mysterio is also an interesting representation of any love/hate relationship those within the Marvel Cinematic Universe have for superheroes.