10 Stars Who Stepped Back Into Iconic Roles We Thought They Left Forever

There’s something magical about seeing your favorite actors step back into the roles that made you laugh, cry, or sit on the edge of your seat years ago. Whether it’s for a nostalgic sequel, a long-awaited spin-off, or a surprise cameo, these returns remind us why we fell in love with these characters in the first place. From superheroes to beloved rom-com leads, here are the stars who proved that sometimes, coming back is the best move of all.

1. Jackie Chan in Karate Kid

You might remember Jackie Chan playing the wise old sensei, Mr. Han, teaching a young Jaden Smith a thing or two about Kung Fu back in 2010. Well, Chan reprised this role in 2025 in the newly released, Karate Kid: Legends as the same wise old mentor.

He wasn’t the only one to return. Starring alongside him was Ralph Macchio, a familiar face in the even earlier movie, The Karate Kid, shot in 1984.

2. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine

After officially hanging up the claws in 2017’s Logan, Hugh Jackman shocked fans by announcing his return as Wolverine in the Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). Jackman admitted he missed playing the grumpy yet lovable mutant, saying, “It was astonishing to watch — and yet to know that as hard as that is, that was the Trojan horse for heart warmth, for a story of friendship and redemption, for legacy.”

3. Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy

Who can forget the infamous line, “My father will hear about this,” from none other than the snobbish Slytherin, Draco Malfoy? Well, actor, Tom Felton, is coming back, reprising his breakthrough role. But, this time, he’ll be acting in the Broadway show, Cursed Child.

According to Felton, “Joining this production will be a full-circle moment for me, because when I begin performances in Cursed Child this fall, I’ll also be the exact age Draco is in the play.”

4. Keanu Reeves as Neo

Fans never thought they’d see Neo dodge bullets again after The Matrix Revolutions (2003). But Keanu Reeves reprised his role nearly two decades later in The Matrix Resurrections (2021). Carrie-Anne Moss also returned as Trinity, adding to the nostalgia overload.

5. Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice

Once starring as the creepy poltergeist only known as Beetlejuice (don’t say it thrice), Michael Keaton leaned right back into the role around 36 years later. The renowned actor revealed that Tim Burton, the film’s director, convinced him to reprise this difficult role to fill.

He wasn’t the only one to make a return. Actress, Winona Ryder, also returned to her role as Lydia Deetz, this time playing a mother to the main protagonist, Astrid Deetz, who was played by Jenna Ortega.

6. Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield as Spiderman

Spiderman: No Way Home saw the return of not one, not two, but four old-school Spiderman legends. We see Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprising their role as Spiderman, but from different dimensions. We also see the rise of the notorious Green Goblin and Otto Octavius, played by the iconic Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina.

7. Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia

The epic return of Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in the new Star Wars sequel trilogy did not go unnoticed. In an interview with Time Magazine, Fisher was asked if it was a hard decision to reprise the role, to which she responded, “I long ago accepted that I am Princess Leia. I have that as a large part of the association with my identity. There wasn’t a lot of hesitation.”

8. Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis in Freakier Friday

The mother-daughter swap flick reigned supreme in the early 2000s. And it’s coming back after over two decades. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are taking back their roles in the new release, Freakier Friday. It’s no surprise, considering how both actresses loved working with each other.

In an Instagram post, Curtis referred to Lohan as the “ULTIMATE movie daughter.” More twists and turns await, as more stars from the old cast are also reprising their roles, including Chad Michael Murray and Mark Harmon as Jake and Ryan, respectively.

9. Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw

Sarah Jessica Parker’s portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City (1998–2004) became a cultural phenomenon, turning Manolo Blahnik heels and cosmopolitans into lifestyle statements. Nearly two decades later, Parker slipped right back into Carrie’s stylish shoes in the sequel series And Just Like That... (2021), reuniting with the original cast in a modern New York landscape.

10. Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones

It’s hard to imagine anyone else to fill in Bridget Jones’ shoes other than the famed Renée Zellweger. It all started in 2001 and now, 24 years later, Bridget is still going strong as her life of love and drama barely dries up in the newest release, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

Seeing these actors return to their old roles feels like catching up with an old friend — comforting, exciting, and a reminder of how stories continue to live on. Whether it’s on the big screen or streaming at home, these comebacks show that the characters we grew up with still have stories worth telling. Let us know which return you were most excited to see!