History AscendedExtra / Film

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* Every doll besides 9 and 5 in the film ''WesternAnimation/{{Nine}}''. In the original short film, the remaining seven dolls ''did'' appear, but only for a few seconds at the end of the film. The feature film takes all of them and gives them larger roles and actual personalities (as well as complete character make-overs).
* Quite a few of the extras from ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTailFievelGoesWest'' went on to become recurring characters in ''[[RecycledTheSeries Fievel's American Tails]]''.
** Speaking of which, Tanya got quite a bigger role in ''Fievel Goes West'' when compared to the original movie, where she only has a couple of lines and could easily be cut from the story, practically only existing to give Fievel someone to sing his DistantDuet with.
* In the original ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'', Ronno is an unnamed stag who fights over Faline with Bambi. In [[WesternAnimation/BambiII the midquel]] he's a fleshed out buck and the central antagonist of the movie.
* ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'':
** In the first movie, [[BlobMonster Blobby]] was a LivingProp at best. In ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania2'', he would have a more prominent role in the plot. Unfortunately, he got DemotedToComicRelief in the [[WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania3SummerVacation third movie]].
** Winnie Werewolf has become a more prominent character in the sequels compared to the first movie where she was only a RecurringExtra with a SuddenlySpeaking moment near to the climax.
* ''Franchise/TheIncredibles'':
** Baby Jack-Jack in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' only appears in a few scenes and is mostly separated from the family during their adventure. He would later have a [[WesternAnimation/JackJackAttack short film]] that showed what happened when his family was away and he was alone with his babysitter. By the [[WesternAnimation/Incredibles2 sequel]] though, he becomes just as important to the story as the rest of his family, and even has an active hand in saving the day. He is again a main character in ''WesternAnimation/AuntieEdna'' which shows what happened when he was with Edna, while Bob was sleeping.
** Kari [=McKeen=] in ''WesternAnimation/Jack-Jack Attack'' is one of the two main characters, along with Jack-Jack, after playing a very small part in the film..
** Edna Mode in ''WesternAnimation/Auntie Edna'' has a much more prominent role than in the films..
** The Underminer is only introduced in the last minutes of the first movie. ''VideoGame/TheIncrediblesRiseOfTheUnderminer'' promoted him to BigBad status. He is also the StarterVillain of the sequel.
** Tony Rydinger is now a prominent character in Violet's story arc. In the first film, he had only two scenes.
* ''WesternAnimation/KronksNewGroove'':
** While Kronk was part of the original movie’s main cast, he had the smallest role out of the five. But he was such an EnsembleDarkHorse that he’s main character in this one.
** Despite only showing up for two scenes in the first film, Rudy has a major role in the sequel mainly during the flashback to Kronk getting involved in Yzma's plot to sell a potion which is supposed to restore youth to Rudy and the village's other senior citizens.
* In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'', the Furious Five were little more than window-dressing. In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', they have a much more active role, particularly Tigress. Over the course of the entire series, Mr. Ping, Po's adopted father, goes from a minor character to one of the main protagonists of ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda3''.
* Ariel's sisters from ''WesternAnimation/{{The Little Mermaid|1989}}'' get a major role in the prequel ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaidIIIArielsBeginning''.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MarvelRisingInitiation'' , Kamala Khan/Miss Marvel and Doreen Green/Squirrel Girl were major supporting characters while Gwen Stacy/Ghost Spider was the lead. In ''WesternAnimation/MarvelRisingSecretWarriors'', Gwen underwent Main/ChuckCunninghamSyndrome while Kamala and Doreen were the lead characters.
* [[WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}} Jiminy Cricket]] was originally a nameless cricket who, in the original book, got squashed by Pinocchio in one chapter ([[BrickJoke and came back as a ghost much later]]). In the film, he becomes Pinocchio's friend and adviser and has since appeared in countless other Disney projects.
* In ''WesternAnimation/RockADoodle'', the Grand Duke of Owls is the main antagonist and the cause of all the trouble in the movie. In the play ''Chanticler'' by Edmond Rostand, the Grand Duke is only a minor villain - instead, the main villains are the Blackbird and the rival rooster who fights Chanticler. The former receives AdaptationalHeroism while the latter is DemotedToExtra.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', the introduced fairytale creatures are all minor characters who don't do anything relevant to the plot aside from kicking off the main part of the story by showing up in Shrek's swamp and leading Shrek to go and see Farquaad. In the sequels, the Gingerbread Man, Pinocchio, the Three Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Blind Mice all get this treatment, [[spoiler:with them being the ones to break Shrek, Donkey and Puss out of prison]] in ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'' and playing a part in defending the castle and being involved in the final showdown in ''WesternAnimation/ShrekTheThird''.
* In the comic version of ''ComicBook/SupermanBatman'' arc, "Public Enemies", ComicBook/AmandaWaller only appeared in one scene, only to be mentioned as having been arrested in the end. In [[WesternAnimation/SupermanBatmanPublicEnemies its animated adaptation]], she's appeared throughout and has undergone AdaptationalHeroism, being the [[OnlySaneMan Only Same Woman]] working for Luthor and ordering his arrest.
* In the ComicBook/{{Tintin}} comic ''The Secret of the Unicorn'', the minor character Ivan Sakharine is a pushy but ultimately harmless model ship collector who is [[RedHerring briefly suspected]] of stealing Tintin's model of the ''Unicorn''. In the film adaptation of the same comic, however, he is the [[BigBad main villain]] [[spoiler: and the descendant of the pirate Red Rackham.]] Ironically, in the comic Sakharine is later attacked by the ''real'' thief, and if a brief cameo appearance in ''Red Rackham's Treasure'' is anything to go by he eventually made his peace with Tintin.
* WesternAnimation/ToyStory:
** In the first film, Woody and Buzz were the real focus of the film and all the other toys were relatively minor characters. The second film gives much more screen time to Slinky, Rex, Hamm, and Mr. Potato Head. And likewise, Mrs. Potato Head only appeared in the beginning and end of the second film while Barbie was only in one scene roughly past the middle; they both had much bigger roles in the third movie.
** This also applies to the Little Green Men from the claw machine scene of the first movie. Apparently becoming an EnsembleDarkHorse, they went on to having a signifcantly larger role in the second movie, became recurring characters in ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'', and were major characters in the third film [[spoiler:even being the BigDamnHeroes]].
** In the first two movies, Bo Peep was Woody's love interest and voice of reason, but was otherwise away from the action. After being absent in the third movie, she becomes the deuteragonist of the fourth.
* Kanga and Roo were usually the most sparsely seen characters in the original ''Franchise/WinnieThePooh'' animations and even in the ''New Adventures'' series, had only a handful of moments in the limelight. Starting from ''WesternAnimation/TheTiggerMovie'' Roo started to become a more central character, with Kanga getting more importance from relation. ''[[WesternAnimation/WinnieThePoohSpringtimeForRoo Springtime for Roo]]'' and ''WesternAnimation/PoohsHeffalumpMovie'' in particular have Roo as the pseudo-lead. [[WesternAnimation/WinnieThePooh2011 The 2011 movie]] demotes them back, though even then has Kanga and Roo take part in a lot more humour than before.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}'', Finnick has very minimal screen time in the movie. However, there is an implied history between him and Nick Wilde, one of the protagonists, and in the video game, ''Zootopia Crime Files'', he has a supporting role as one of the suspects in a case.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' introduced The Space Jockey, which was an ominous creature that appeared to be the pilot of the Derelict. It had been killed and fossilized before the events of [[Film/{{Alien}} the first film]], and it was at the centre of much speculation among the fandom, as well as many non-canon stories in the EU, for over 30 years before its identity was revealed in ''Film/{{Prometheus}}''.
* ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartII'': Biff Tannen's 1955 gang plays a bigger part than in the first film. In the alternate 1985, it's shown that they're still working with Biff when he's become insanely wealthy, and when Marty is back in 1955, they chase him into the gym where Marty's other self in the first film is playing, and they go backstage to fight "him", so Marty has to stop them in a way that won't impede upon the first film's chain of events.
* In ''Film/BoratSubsequentMoviefilm'', the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is only passingly mentioned as a gag in the [[Film/{{Borat}} previous movie]] ("come grasp mighty penis of our leader"), but in this movie he is the primary instigator for the plot, and the [[spoiler:mastermind behind COVID-19]].
* In ''Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'', Arthur Slugworth doesn't even appear in person, he is only ''mentioned'', along with a couple of Wonka's other competitors. In the movie ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'', however, he not only appears in person, [[spoiler:he is secretly Arthur Wilkinson, a loyal employee of Wonka, used to provide a SecretTestOfCharacter to the contest winners, which only Charlie passes.]]
* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' book ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe,'' a fox appears for approximately one page whose main hobbies include hosting dinner parties and [[InnocentBystander Innocently Bystanding]]. In [[Film/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe the movie version]], he gets to show off [[CunningLikeAFox his pedigree]] a bit more, and is upgraded to the SacrificialLion, though he got better. He was also used as a device to make Edmund [[spoiler: [[ButNotTooEvil a bit kinder]] than the book version before his HeelFaceTurn]].
* ''Film/{{Cinderella 2015}}'':
** In [[WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}} the animated film]], Ella's birth parents were both dead. In this film, they appear onscreen and play more important parts in the introduction.
** The Fairy Godmother only appears once in the original film. Here she narrates the film, and appears throughout it disguised as an old woman.
** Even the prince qualifies, as he barely had any screen time in the animated film.
* In ''Film/TheCrow'', there's that one little girl whom Eric helps that has a name similar to his dead fiancee's, yeah that one... Well, she gets a name change (Sarah), a big role in [[Film/TheCrow the film]] (the bestest buddy of Shelly and Eric), and her mom's involvement with Funboy is upped. From there, she becomes the love interest in [[Film/TheCrowCityOfAngels the sequel]] and once again is in [[Series/TheCrowStairwayToHeaven the series]].
* ''Film/DazedAndConfused'''s David Wooderson. Originally a more minor character, Richard Linklater was so impressed with Matthew [=McConaughey's=] performance, he ended up writing much more dialogue for him.
* In the original ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' novel the Brides only make two appearances and are unimportant side characters. Many of the film adaptions, like ''Film/BramStokersDracula'' or''Film/VanHelsing'' greatly expands their roles, making them Dracula's right hand women and powerful combatants.
* Playing with this trope, Guy Fleegman in ''Film/GalaxyQuest'' was just playing another RedShirt who got killed in the original series. But after going on a real space adventure with the crew, he gets his own starring role in the new ''Galaxy Quest'' series.
* Roadblock isn't exactly one of the leading members of the G.I. Joe team, but plays a big role ''Film/GIJoeRetaliation''.
** Likewise Jinx had a brief cameo in ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra'', but becomes one of the main Joe characters in ''Film/GIJoeRetaliation''.
* The Chief Elder of the Community from ''Literature/TheGiver'' is a minor character, but is bumped up to be the BigBad (as the representation of the totalitarian authority) in 2014's ''Film/TheGiver''. To a lesser extent, Asher and Fiona (who just...stop appearing in the narration after a certain point in the book) have far more to do in the film adaptation than they do in the book.
* ''Film/TheGreatestGift'', the short story that inspired ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', says nothing about Mr. Potter other than the fact he owned a photography studio. The movie turns him into a CorruptCorporateExecutive who owns nearly all of the town and seizes a couple opportunities to ruin the protagonist's life..
* Deborah Myers in ''[[Film/{{Halloween2007}} Rob Zombie's Halloween]]'' is a very literal example, since the character actually ''was'' an extra in the [[Film/{{Halloween1978}} original John Carpenter film]], appearing in only one scene toward the beginning standing beside her son after he kills his sister, and had no dialogue. In Rob Zombie's reimagening, she was played by the director's wife, was written to be a stripper, and was the secondary character in the whole first act of the film before [[spoiler:she kills herself]]. She also appears in [[Film/{{Halloween II|2009}} Zombie's sequel]] in various dream sequences with a white horse, which many viewers took as Zombie's excuse to once again cast his wife in the film.
** It happened with other characters too. Judith Myers was hardly an extra in the original film, but she did only appear in one (important) scene before she's killed by her little brother. This happens a bit later in Zombie's film, where she had several scenes. Her boyfriend is also given an expanded appearance, and [[spoiler: is even killed]]. Paul, Annie's boyfriend, is also given a large appearance in the adaptation. In the original film, he only "appeared" as a voice on the phone (voiced by [[CreatorCameo John Carpenter himself]]). Laurie's parents were also given expanded, more important roles, with her dad appearing in only one scene in the original film, and her mom not appearing at all (though she did turn up in a flashback in the first sequel).
** Tommy Doyle in ''Film/HalloweenTheCurseOfMichaelMyers'', where he was the main character (and played by a then-unknown Creator/PaulRudd in his first role). In the original film, he had some screen-time as the kid Laurie was babysitting, but hardly the main character.
** Nurse Marion Chambers was a fairly minor unimportant character in the original film, but had a decent supporting role in the [[Film/{{Halloween II|1981}} first sequel]]. She turned up again 17 years later in ''Film/HalloweenH20TwentyYearsLater'', where she's [[spoiler:killed in the opening scene]].
* In the third movie in the ''Film/{{Halloweentown}}'' series, ''Halloweentown High'', Ethan (a warlock) was a minor character who was mainly a rival to Marnie but who wasn't important to the story. In ''Return to Halloweentown'', he is a love interest to Marnie. This may be because Lucas Grabeel, who played Ethan, had just been in ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'' and Disney was trying to promote him.
* ''Film/HaloNightfall'': Randall Aiken, a.k.a. Randall-037, existed long before ''Nightfall'' was even thought of, having already been mentioned a few times in the ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' novels as being one of the few Spartan-[=IIs=] who were genuinely MIA[[note]]To buttress the propaganda that the Spartans were invincible, those that were killed in action were always listed as missing in action instead[[/note]], and having had a minor on-screen role in the short story ''[[Literature/HaloEvolutions Pariah]]''.
* Scabior in the ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'' films. He appears very briefly in the books when he and other snatchers capture the trio and take them to Malfoy Manor. After that, he disappears from the plot, though there is speculation that he is killed by Voldemort after the trio escapes with Dean, Luna, Griphook and Olivander. He appears much more in the films peppered about to the point where he even appears in bits of Part 2 that he didn't appear in during that part of the book.
* In ''Film/TheHangover'' trilogy, Leslie Chow goes from a minor role in the first, to a bigger supporting role in the second, and the main antagonist in the third.
* Pinhead of the ''Franchise/{{Hellraiser}}'' series was a minor component in the original novel ''The Hellbound Heart''. Come [[Film/{{Hellraiser}} the film adaption]], the more prominent Cenobites from the novel either couldn't speak (Butterball) see ''or'' speak (Chatterer) or had their motion limited by their complicated makeup (Female Cenobite). So, Pinhead took the lead, and quickly became the face of the franchise.
* In ''Film/TheHobbit'', several characters go through varying levels of this. Azog, The Pale Orc, who had been briefly mentioned [[PosthumousCharacter (and had never appeared)]] in the books became the main villain of (at least) the first movie. Radagast, the Brown Wizard, was also promoted from a bare mention to a major, plot-important character, though to a lesser degree than Azog.
* In ''Literature/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas'' (both the original book and cartoon), Cindy Lou Who is just a character who exists to show that the Grinch is a liar, with only one line. In the movie version, she practically becomes the co-star, playing a more vital role in the plot than any character other than the Grinch himself.
* ''Film/TheHungerGames'': Seneca Crane, Caesar Flickerman, and Claudius Templesmith have a lot more to do, with the movie showing scenes that Katniss is not present for. President Snow also has much more to do than he did in the novel but as the BigBad of the series, this was necessary.
** Effie's role in ''Mockingjay'' was a bit part, but with ''Mockingjay Part 1'', her role expanded due to the popularity of Elizabeth Banks' performance.
* Q receives this treatment in a couple of the ''Film/JamesBond'' movies. While usually he's just there to give Bond his new devices and then takes off, in ''Film/{{Octopussy}}'' he actually helps Bond when he [[StormingTheCastle raids the villain's hideout at the end]] and travels to Isthmus City to help Bond out in ''Film/LicenceToKill'' after 007 goes rogue to get revenge on Sanchez, even ignoring Bond's request that for his own good he should return to London.
** Also, M in every other Bond film just gave Bond orders and info on the mission. In ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'', she was given a backstory and protecting her was the driving force.
* The ''Jason Bourne'' Series: Nicolette Parsons in ''Identity'' started out as a bit of an inexperienced analyst who had subtle ties to Bourne and was on the sidelines for the whole movie. ''Supremacy'' had Nicky be the one to attest to the fact that Bourne had amnesia and she allowed for herself to be sent out in the field to meet with him and learned his side of the story as to the deaths of their agents earlier (albeit while being held at gunpoint). ''Ultimatum'' had Nicky become the possible new love interest, had Bourne run into her again and team up with her to learn about Blackbriar and expose the conspiracy. In the first movie, Julia Stiles received 10th billing for her role, in the second one, she received 4th billing for her role and in the third one, she was billed only 2nd to Matt Damon.
** Subverted with ''Jason Bourne'' as she not only goes from 2nd billing to 5th billing in this one (lower than the last two had her), but it readily becomes apparent that she is primarily [[spoiler:BackForTheDead]].
* The Bishop in ''Film/LesMiserables2012'', as compared to his role in the musical [[note]]But not the book -- he is one of the first characters we meet, even before Valjean, and receives several chapters worth of exposition, as [[DoorStopper befits Victor Hugo's writing]] [[/note]]. In the musical, he is given one song at the beginning and is never seen again ([[Literature/LesMiserables the book]] has a scene where Valjean, as Monsieur Le Mayor, receives a letter saying that he has passed away). The film has him appear at the end, [[spoiler:as Valjean is dying]], replacing Eponine's role in the scene. [[spoiler:Eponine is still visible on the barricade in heaven, indicating that she still has her somewhat-happy ending]].
* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'':
** In the novels, Arwen appears only briefly in the main narrative with the majority of her and Aragorn's story relegated to a chapter in the appendix. In Peter Jackson's version, she is featured prominently in all three films and replaces several minor characters, like Glorfindel who aids Aragorn and the Hobbits as they flee the Ringwraiths. Not only does Arwen replace Glorfindel, she's given the additional task of personally carrying Frodo upon her horse, and her SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome -- "If you want him, come and claim him!" -- is a unique addition to the film. In the novel, Glorfindel places Frodo on his horse and then stays behind with Aragorn and the Hobbits to do what he can to slow the Ringwraiths' pursuit, at which point the narrative focus shifts to Frodo.
** Bret [=McKenzie=]'s bit part as an elf at the Council of Elrond in the [[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing first film]] was expanded into a speaking role in the [[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing third film]] purely because of an Internet meme that had sprung up about the character from fans.
* The ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'' has several:
** Agent Phil Coulson is one of the most triumphant examples ever. He started out as a minor comic relief character in the first ''Film/IronMan1'' movie. His popularity led to his role becoming recurring in ''Film/IronMan2'' and ''Film/{{Thor}}''. Then he became the main character of two of the Film/MarvelOneShots short films. Then he got a role in the ''[[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' animated series and became a CanonImmigrant to the main 616 universe in the comics. Then he got a much bigger role in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', even appearing on some versions of the poster. And now [[spoiler: he's BackFromTheDead]] and is starring in [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD his own series]]. All within five years since his first appearance.
** "Happy" Hogan, Tony Stark's bodyguard in ''Film/{{Iron Man|1}}'' played by director Creator/JonFavreau, has considerably more lines in the second movie; in addition, he gets to beat down a guard, ram [[BigBad Ivan]] with his car, and has Comicbook/BlackWidow (aka Creator/ScarlettJohansson) put him in a headlock with her legs.
** ''Film/IronMan2'': [[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0970642/ Jack White]] was originally hired as the food stylist who prepared and served the salmon carpaccio to Vanko in the aircraft hangar, but he ended up appearing in several scenes as [[TheDanza Jack]], Hammer's assistant.
** In the comics, ComicBook/PeggyCarter is, at best, an important footnote to Steve and his primary love interest, [[ComicBook/{{Agent 13}} Sharon Carter]]. In the films, though, she's become one of the most prominent supporting characters, even after ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' seemingly concluded any more adventures in the 40s. The first issue of the 2011 ''Captain America'' series even uses her death from old age as a jumping-off point specifically because she'd now be familiar to audiences. It's worth noting that the filmmakers have tried to use Peggy in every single (Earth-bound) MCU vehicle after ''The First Avenger''. Creator/JossWhedon wrote a scene for her in ''The Avengers'', and she has cameos in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'', ''Age of Ultron'', and ''Ant-Man'', plus, she took center stage in ''Film/AgentCarter'', which was such a huge hit that it [[SpinOff spun off]] into [[Series/AgentCarter her own regular TV series]].
** In Creator/WarrenEllis' ''Extremis'' story, Aldrich Killian only appeared in two pages before committing suicide. In ''Film/IronMan3'' he's the [[spoiler: ManBehindTheMan and the true BigBad of the film]]. He's also [[AdaptationalAttractiveness much sexier]] to boot.
** In the comics, the Iron Legion were an extremely minor group that only appeared in two issues back in the 90's. In the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]], they have pivotal roles in both ''Film/IronMan3'' and ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron''.
** Hope Van Dyne is an extremely minor character from the comics, and only appeared in the ''ComicBook/MarvelComics2'' continuity. In ''Film/AntMan1'', she's promoted to major character status and is effectively the film's female lead. She becomes the new Wasp in TheStinger, and even gets her name in the title of [[Film/AntManAndTheWasp the sequel]].
*** Likewise, Darren Cross doesn't have the same scale of villainy in the comics as he does as the movie's BigBad. He's also [[AdaptationalBadass MUCH cooler looking]] in the movie.
** ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'':
*** ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}, the Avenger that got the least amount of screentime in the previous movie, gets a considerably larger role in the sequel. [[spoiler:His family is even briefly shown]].
*** J.A.R.V.I.S. in a sense, he ascends from an A.I. created for the MCU to become [[spoiler: ComicBook/TheVision]].
*** Dr. Helen Cho. In the comics, she's an extremely minor PosthumousCharacter, and is only notable for being the mother of Amadeus Cho. Here, she's more fleshed out and [[spoiler: takes Phineas Horton's place as the creator of the Vision]].
*** [[spoiler:Laura Barton. She was a very minor character in ''Comicbook/TheUltimates'' who only appeared in two issues, and is most notable for [[CollateralAngst dying to advance]] ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'s storyline. She is not only alive in the movie, but has a fairly sizable role and gets some great lines]].
** Kraglin had barely a handful of lines in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' and accomplished no more than the nameless Ravagers. In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'', he plays an important part in both Taserface's mutiny and [[spoiler:Yondu's subsequent escape, and effectively becomes the Guardians's getaway pilot during the fight with Ego. He also has a large role in Yondu's funeral]].
** [[Characters/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyModern Nebula]]'s role as TheDragon in the first ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' film was relatively minor; she had maybe a dozen lines, and was there primarily so Gamora had someone interesting to fight. She has an expanded role in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'' -- and then [[spoiler:becomes one of the main ensemble in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', and the catalyst for the third act.]]
** Maria Rambeau is an extremely minor character in the comics, but plays a major role in the ''Film/CaptainMarvel'' movie, where she's Carol's {{Heterosexual Life Partner|s}}.
** The Stark Industries scientist William Ginter Riva only appears in one scene in ''Film/IronMan1'', in which Obadiah Stane yells at him for not being able to miniaturize Tony Stark's arc reactor. In ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'', he's now [[spoiler:Mysterio's chief programmer.]]
* ''Film/TheMazeRunnerSeries'':
** Although a character in [[Literature/TheMazeRunner the books]] and is frequently referenced by other characters, as well as e-mails she sends to WICKED which readers are shown as epilogues to each book, Chancellor Ava Paige never appears in person or has any interaction with the Gladers during the original trilogy [[note]]Her one interaction in ''Literature/TheDeathCure'' with Thomas occurs whilst he is unconscious and only able to hear her voice meaning she still only appears off-page[[/note]]. In the films she actually does physically appear on screen, played by Creator/PatriciaClarkson, appearing at the end of ''Film/TheMazeRunner2014'' in a video directly addressed to the Gladers where she is killed off, later revealed to have been faked, and in ''Film/MazeRunnerTheScorchTrials'' she is present during the climax when WCKD attacks The Right Arm and the surviving Gladers.
** ''Film/MazeRunnerTheScorchTrials'':
*** Assistant Director Janson a.k.a. "The Rat Man" only appeared in one chapter near the start of ''Literature/TheScorchTrials'' and didn't appear again until the next book -- ''Literature/TheDeathCure'', where he became the BigBad. Here he’s promoted to main antagonist status and spends most of the film pursuing the protagonists.
*** ''Literature/TheScorchTrials'' briefly featured a Crank nicknamed "Blondie", who appeared briefly to kidnap Thomas and Brenda forcing them to drink hallucinogenic-spiked drinks and party with him and two other Cranks. The film turns the character into Marcus, who the Gladers have been searching for in order to find The Right Arms’ base of operation, which he would know the location of as a former member of said organization. His aforementioned actions from the book are changed from the delusional actions of someone going insane from The Flare virus, to [[spoiler:a deliberate ploy to drug, capture and sell Immunes to WCKD]].
* Both the Worm Guys and Frank the Pug in ''Film/MenInBlack'' were one-off jokes in the first movie, but had expanded roles in [[Film/MenInBlackII the second movie]] and [[WesternAnimation/MenInBlack the series]].
* Captain Billy Cutshaw in ''Film/TheNinthConfiguration''. The film is a StealthSequel to ''Film/TheExorcist'', and Cutshaw was the astronaut who was confronted by possessed Regan [=MacNeil=] and told that he would "die up there." ''Configuration'' opens with Cutshaw suffering a nervous breakdown moments before a space flight, resulting in him being committed to a military-run insane asylum.
** The other sequels to ''The Exorcist'' also give supporting characters bigger roles. Minor character Sharon serves as a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute for Chris in the second film, while the third film centers around Lt. Kinderman and gives Father Dyer a bigger role.
* ''Film/OceansEleven'': Denny the whale (uber-producer Jerry Weintraub) has a tiny cameo in the first film, causes the second film by unwittingly bragging about the heist to two European master thieves, and makes amends in the last film when he convinces the other big spenders to leave Bank's casino. Also, the mansion seen in the last movie is one of Jerry's BigFancyHouse[=s=].
* Angela who get left behind in ''Literature/PaperTowns'' during the road trip, gets to go in [[Film/PaperTowns the film]] giving her a bit more focus.
* Koba has only one important scene for his appearance throughout ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'', but is elevated to the role of main antagonist in ''Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes''.
* ''Film/Poltergeist2015'': Griffin, the counterpart of Robbie from the original film series, is essentially the reboot's main protagonist and [[TheHero hero]]. He has the most focus of the Bowens, and is actually the one who [[spoiler:saves Maddie from the other dimension]], as opposed to the original's Diane (the counterpart of the reboot's Amy).
* Ulla in the original film ''Film/TheProducers'' is nothing but a walking sex joke, barely speaking any English and only showing up to dance occasionally. In the musical, she's made into a fully developed character who speaks English more or less fluently, and becomes Leo's love interest.
* In the original ''Film/{{Rocky}}'', Little Marie appears in one scene where Rocky walks the 12-year-old home. Three decades later, Marie shows up in the sixth film ''Film/RockyBalboa'' as the lead female character and love interest (after Adrian's death).
* The Meganulon (Giant dragonfly-like monsters) from ''Film/{{Rodan}}'' were only minor characters in the film. Later, they would become the major villains in ''Film/GodzillaVsMegaguirus''.
* Martin Clunes plays a supporting character in ''Saving Grace'', Dr. Martin Bamford. The character was expanded into two prequel tv films explaining his background. Sometime after that, the character was given a {{retool}}, and became the main character on the series ''Series/DocMartin''.
* Mark Hoffman appears briefly in one scene, and has two lines, in ''Film/SawIII''. He becomes [[FromNobodyToNightmare considerably more important]] in later sequels.
* In the original ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'', King Stefan was just a BumblingDad of a king who had only a couple scene. In ''Film/{{Maleficent}}'', he's a guileful, skilled warrior who was the titular character's childhood friend, and whose actions are what started the plot of the movie in the first place.
** Likewise, Diaval (changed from Diablo) was just Maleficent's raven familiar in the original. Here, he's her [[EmpathicShapeshifter shapeshifting]] [[TheConfidant confidant]], friend, [[TheDragon dragon]], and spy rolled into one. He also helps [[ParentalSubstitute raise Aurora]] [[labelnote:*]]the fairies were so bad at looking after her, he and Maleficent decided to step in to keep her alive until her DangerousSixteenthBirthday[[/labelnote]]and [[spoiler:is the one [[ScaledUp who becomes a dragon]] at the climax]].
** Aurora herself is this. Despite ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'' being about her, she lost screentime to the fairies and Maleficent in the first half of the film, and was comatose and mostly absent in the second half. In this film, she's much more active, seeking out the truth of her curse herself, riding off to her father's castle, and has an important role in the final battle.
* ''Film/SnowWhiteAndTheThreeStooges'' gave PrinceCharming an actual major role. Unfortunately it was at the expense of the title characters.
* In ''Film/SpiderMan3'', Elizabeth Banks and Ted Raimi receive billing after their smaller roles in the previous films led to slightly bigger ones in the third.
* Sandy Cheeks and Squidward Tentacles, who were both DemotedToExtra in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'' (the former especially), are now getting top billing in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOutOfWater''.
* Dizzy Flores from ''Film/StarshipTroopers'' combines this with GenderFlip. In the [[Literature/StarshipTroopers novel]] Dizzy is a man, and all you're told about him is that he died. In the [[Film/StarshipTroopers movie adaptation]] he's a she, and she's one of the major characters as well as a love interest for the main character. This was continued in the animated ''WesternAnimation/RoughnecksStarshipTroopersChronicles''.
* Khan Noonien Singh was a run-of-the-mill [[MonsterOfTheWeek Villain of the Week]] on ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''. In ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', he's the BigBad and has the distinct honor of [[spoiler:killing Mr. Spock]].
* So many characters in ''Franchise/StarWars'' that it would be impossible to list them all. For example, watch the cantina scene from the original film; ''every last patron'' has at least a name and a bit of backstory. Some actually get their own story in the anthology book ''Literature/TalesFromTheMosEisleyCantina''; several who hadn't been named ended up on the Star Wars Databank, where fans were allowed to come up with their own backstories and names, then vote on which ones were the best. After that, though, [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse they tend to never come up again]] - the Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse is infamous for this and a few characters do recur, but honestly, most characters in the EU were either named and had a line or two or are original creations who were never on screen. Even fan favorites like Boba Fett and Wedge Antilles, moving on to their own novels and appearing again and again, were minor non-mains who still had lines and plot significance.
** Remember that nameless red droid with a bad motivator from Episode 4? This trope was mocked in the non-canon comic ''Skippy the Jedi Droid'', where he was a Force-Sensitive droid who used to work for Jabba. He self-destructed on purpose because he could see the future and knew that R2 needed to go with Luke, or even Skippy's ParodySue skills couldn't stop the predictable from happening.
** How about, say, the silver protocol droid Threepio meets in Cloud City just before he gets blasted? [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/E-3PO E-3PO]].
** A good example of the difference ascension makes: This is a normal [[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/thumb/4/4f/RoyalGuard_EpII.jpg/180px-RoyalGuard_EpII.jpg Imperial Guard]]. And here's [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Image:Kirkanos1modified.jpg Kir Kanos]], who wasn't in the films but has a comics plotline of his own, in what could be a case of the ''job'' producing an Ascended Extra.
** Every character that ever appeared in the films has at least a name. Watch ''Film/ANewHope''. Red 6 (the fat guy in Luke's wing when they attacked the Death Star)? [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jek_Tono_Porkins Jek Porkins.]] The Stormtrooper who found 3P0's ankle ring? [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Davin_Felth Davin Felth.]] Remember the [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Endor_strike_team#Known_members Endor strike team?]]
** Several characters from ''Literature/DeathStar''. The guy manning the Death Star's main weapon, who appears once and says "Stand by"? There's a whole story about him.
** Wulff Yularen, originally an unnamed background officer on the Death Star in ''Film/ANewHope'' was given one in the collectible card game and then generally forgotten. Come 2008 and he's probably the largest Republic non-Jedi, non-clone military figure in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' for the first two seasons.
** Want to know about the extras in Jabba's palace in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''? There's ''Literature/TalesFromJabbasPalace''. Want to know about the bounty hunters in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''? Read ''Literature/TalesOfTheBountyHunters'' (though Boba Fett's story took a fair amount of {{retcon}}ning to make the story match up with ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'').
* ''Film/{{Tron}}'': Alan's co-worker had one line and was credited as "popcorn guy" because that sole line was asking to eat some of Alan's popcorn. However, since he was played by the same fellow (Dan Shor) as EnsembleDarkhorse Ram, which implied he was Ram's User, he was given a ''substantial'' role in the ''Film/TronLegacy'' ''Flynn Lives!'' AlternateRealityGame and publicity materials as Roy Kleinburg, an idealistic and stubborn man who refused to waver in his support of his former bosses, even after the new Encom management fired him.
* Creator/MichaelJaiWhite, who played a small part as an unnamed soldier in the first ''Film/UniversalSoldier'', later played the BigBad in ''Film/UniversalSoldierTheReturn''.
* ''Film/VIrus1980:'' General Garland only appears in one scene of the book, which lasts about two pages, but he's a regular presence for the first half of the movie.
* ''Film/WarCraft2016'' has Durotan be the main character on the orcs' side and makes him instrumental to stopping Gul'dan from [[spoiler:bringing the rest of the Horde to Azeroth]], while in the game, his biggest claim to fame is fathering famous Horde Warchief Thrall.
* In "Literature/TheWhispererInDarkness" by Creator/HPLovecraft, George Akeley, Henry Akeley's son, is a very minor character who is only mentioned a couple of times in his father's letters, is never seen in person, and clearly survives the events of the story, as Wilmarth explicitly keeps in contact with him afterward. In the [[Film/TheWhispererInDarkness movie]] based on it, he is a key liason between Henry and Professor Wilmarth early on. [[spoiler:Unlike the story, he is strongly implied to be [[DeathByAdaptation caught and killed offscreen]] by the Mi-Go when he tries to deliver the Black Stone to Wilmarth.]]
* In ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', the Wicked Witch of the East didn't really even rate as an extra, as she's only seen as a pair of feet sticking out from under Dorothy's house. In ''Film/OzTheGreatAndPowerful'', she's the one who initiates all the trouble: murdering the previous king, sending winged baboons against innocent villages, and [[spoiler: maliciously tricking her own sister into hating Oscar and becoming the Wicked Witch of the West]].
* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''
** William Stryker was much less of an important character in the ''ComicBook/XMen'' comics than he was in the films.
** Pyro about 5 seconds of screen time in the [[Film/XMen1 first film]] but then became a more developed character from the [[Film/X2XMenUnited second film]] onward.
** Kitty Pryde has cameos in the [[Film/XMen1 first]] [[Film/X2XMenUnited two]] films, and then a more major role in the [[Film/XMenTheLastStand third]] and [[Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast fifth]] (seventh if you include the Wolverine movies) films.
** Comicbook/JubileeMarvelComics has several minor cameos in the first three movies (one of which [[TheOtherDarrin was played by a different actor]]), but is one of the main X-Men in ''Film/XMenApocalypse''.
** Same goes for Comicbook/{{Psylocke}}. She had a small cameo in ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'' (where she ended up being [[DeathByAdaptation killed off]] by the Phoenix), but appears in ''Apocalypse'' as one of the four main CoDragons.
** ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} was a OneSceneWonder in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', but was so well received by critics and audiences that Creator/BryanSinger brought him back for ''Apocalypse'' as an actual member of the team.
[[/folder]]

*** [[spoiler:Laura Barton. She was a very minor character in ''Comicbook/TheUltimates'' who only appeared in two issues, and is most notable for [[StuffedIntoTheFridge dying to advance]] ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'s storyline. She is not only alive in the movie, but has a fairly sizable role and gets some great lines]].

** Comicbook/{{Nebula|Marvel Comics}}'s role as TheDragon in the first ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' film was relatively minor; she had maybe a dozen lines, and was there primarily so Gamora had someone interesting to fight. She has an expanded role in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'' -- and then [[spoiler:becomes one of the main ensemble in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', and the catalyst for the third act.]]

** Kari [=McKeen=] in ''Jack-Jack Attack''.
** Edna Mode in ''Auntie Edna''.

** Agent Phil Coulson is one of the most triumphant examples ever. He started out as a minor comic relief character in the first ''Film/IronMan1'' movie. His popularity led to his role becoming recurring in ''Film/IronMan2'' and ''Film/{{Thor}}''. Then he became the main character of two of the Film/MarvelOneShots short films. Then he got a role in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Ultimate Spider-Man}}'' animated series and became a CanonImmigrant to the main 616 universe in the comics. Then he got a much bigger role in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', even appearing on some versions of the poster. And now [[spoiler: he's BackFromTheDead]] and is starring in [[Series/AgentsOfSHIELD his own series]]. All within five years since his first appearance.

** Baby Jack-Jack in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' only appears in a few scenes and is mostly separated from the family during their adventure. He would later have a [[WesternAnimation/JackJackAttack short film]] that showed what happened when his family was away and he was alone with his babysitter. By the [[WesternAnimation/Incredibles2 sequel]] though, he becomes just as important to the story as the rest of his family and even has an active hand in saving the day.

!!Film -- Animated

* Quite a few of the extras from ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail: Fievel Goes West'' went on to become recurring characters in ''[[RecycledTheSeries Fievel's American Tails]]''.

* In the original ''WesternAnimation/{{Bambi}}'' Ronno is an unnamed stag who fights over Faline with Bambi. In the midquel he's a fleshed out buck and the central antagonist of the movie.

!!Film -- Live-Action

* Baby Jack-Jack in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' only appeared in a few scenes and was mostly separated from the family during their adventure. He would later have a short film that showed what happened when his family was away and he was alone with his babysitter. By the sequel though, he becomes just as important to the story as the rest of his family and even has an active hand in saving the day.

* Baby Jack-Jack in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' only appeared in a few scenes and was mostly separated from the family during their adventure. He would later have a short film that showed what happened when his family was away and he was alone with his babysitter. By the sequel though, he becomes just as important to the story and the rest of his family and even has an active hand in saving the day.

* ''The Greatest Gift'', the short story that inspired ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', says nothing about Mr. Potter other than the fact he owned a photography studio. The movie turns him into a CorruptCorporateExecutive who owns nearly all of the town and seizes a couple opportunities to ruin the protagonist's life..

** Remember that nameless red droid with a bad motivator from Episode 4? This trope was mocked in the non-canon comic ''Skippy the Jedi Droid'', where he was a Force-Sensitive droid who used to work for Jabba. He self-destructed on purpose because he could see the future and knew that R2 needed to go with Luke, or even Skippy's ParodySue skills couldn't stop [[RealityEnsues Reality from Ensuing]] badly.

** Comicbook/{{Jubilee}} has several minor cameos in the first three movies (one of which [[TheOtherDarrin was played by a different actor]]), but is one of the main X-Men in ''Film/XMenApocalypse''.

* In the first ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'' film, Woody and Buzz were the real focus of the film and all the other toys were relatively minor characters. The second film gives much more screen time to Slinky, Rex, Hamm, and Mr. Potato Head. And likewise, Mrs. Potato Head only appeared in the beginning and end of the second film while Barbie was only in one scene roughly past the middle; they both had much bigger roles in the third movie. This also applies to the Little Green Men from the claw machine scene of the first movie. Apparently becoming an EnsembleDarkHorse, they went on to having a signifcantly larger role in the second movie, became recurring characters in ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'', and were major characters in the third film [[spoiler:even being the BigDamnHeroes]].

* Playing with this trope, Guy Fleegman in ''Film/GalaxyQuest'' was just another RedShirt who got killed in the original series. But after going on a real space adventure with the crew gets his own starring role in the new ''Galaxy Quest'' series.