History Main / TheChosenWannabe

* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'':

* ''Film/KungPowEnterTheFist'': Wimp Lo whines that he isn't this after [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep the man called "Chosen One"]] shows up. It turns out he's a fool that the dojo just keeps around to amuse themselves.

* In ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'', the Sith Order had its own equivalent of the Jedi Chosen One prophecy, the Sith'ari. It was originally intended to foreshadow Darth Bane in stories set before the RuleOfTwo was in effect, but it became something of a RunningGag that ''every'' major Sith character ''except'' Bane, including ones who lived millennia after the prophecy was fulfilled, thought it was them. One can't really blame [[TheEmperor Darth Sidious]], the only one to successfully destroy the Jedi Order ''[[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords and]]'' TheRepublic, for thinking it was him but the Film/RevengeOfTheSith was ultimately the result of the real Chosen One's actions.

* In ''Fanfic/PokemonHarmonyAndChaos'', when Lightning Blitz learns of how [[OlympusMons Pegasoar, Horsearth, and Mysticorn]] had appeared before Flash Sentry, Time Turner, and Twilight Sparkle respectively, he is completely baffled as to why they chose to appear themselves before a group of "losers". He continuously insists that none of the trio should have been chosen as the Equestria Regions' protectors and that he, the self-proclaimed "strongest trainer in Equestria" should have been selected instead.

When a character is TheChosenOne, that of course leaves many people left out, and they aren't happy about it.

Even when there is TheChosenMany, these characters will be left out of that many, but wanting desperately to be part of it.

Compare and Contrast TheUnchosenOne (which is a character not chosen but takes and earns the mantle anyway), UnfitForGreatness (character is given status but blows it) and ThePoorlyChosenOne (character is destined for greatness but blows it). If the character really ''is'' the chosen one and destiny just took a while to get to him, that's TheCallPutMeOnHold.

* ''ComicBook/UltimateGalactusTrilogy'': Heather Douglas consider that only she and her clone sisters are capable of having first contact with Gah Lak Tus, and try to destroy Xavier's array because he will do it instead of them.

* In ''Fanfic/PokemonHarmonyAndChaos'', when Lightning Blitz learns of how [[OlympusMons Pegasoar, Horsearth, and Mysticorn]] had appeared before Flash Sentry, Time Turner, and Twilight Sparkle respectively, he is completely baffled as to why they chose to appear themselves before a group of "losers". He continuously insists that none of the trio should have been chosen as the Equestria Regions' protectors, and that he, the self-proclaimed "strongest trainer in Equestria" should have been selected instead.

* Subtly present with [[GeneralRipper General]] [[KillerGorilla Aldo]], the villain of ''Film/BattleForThePlanetOfTheApes''. Earlier in the series, in ''Film/EscapeFromThePlanetOfTheApes'', Dr. Cornelius says that in the history of his timeline, it was Aldo who lead the ape uprising against human slavery. However, Cornelius and his wife Dr. Zira have travelled back in time to before this happened, and in the next film, ''Film/ConquestOfThePlanetOfTheApes'', we see that uprising happening ''very'' differently from how Cornelius described, [[AlternateTimeline mostly because]] of the presence of his and Zira's son, Caesar, who ends up leading the revolt instead of Aldo. None of the characters ever figure this out, but it's clear to the viewer that Caesar has inadvertently usurped Aldo's role in history, leading to Aldo's [[TheResenter great resentment of Caesar]] that pushes him to violate [[ApeShallNotKillApe ape society's most sacred laws]].

** ''Series/UltramanTriggerNewGenerationTiga'': Akito Hijiri desired to have Ultraman Trigger's power and is resentful that the series' protagonist, Kengo Manaka, was the one to inherit said power. He doesn't takes it to the extremes of Masaki, however, and eventually mostly leaves his resentment behind, especially after he learns that Kengo [[spoiler:is Trigger's light reincarnated and thus the rightful heir of the giant's power.]]
* ''Series/{{Yellowjackets}}'': In "[[Recap/YellowjacketsS2E9Storytelling Storytelling]]", Lottie announces that the Wilderness has chosen someone to be her successor and serve as leader: [[spoiler:Natalie]]. All pay tribute to the chosen one, but later [[spoiler:Shauna]] stays up writing in her journal. An snippet: "How could it not have been me?"

* ''{{TabletopGame/Warhammer}}'': Vilitch the Curseling's backstory starts like this. He was born far more frail and weak than his twin brother Thomin to the chieftain of a Norsca tribe, and while he was apprenticed to the tribe's shaman, Thomin was trained for battle, never missing an opportunity to beat and abuse his twin. Tzeentch heard Vilitch's prayers and fused the two together, with Vilitch casting spells and his brother's brain-dead body dicing up anything that gets too close.

* Connie Maheswaran from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' envies Steven's supposed "magical destiny" and wants to have one of her own, as seen with her interest in fantasy stories like "The Spirit Morph Saga". This never leads to any ill will between them, and Connie JumpedAtTheCall when offered an apprenticeship under Pearl.

** ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'': Linkle thinks she is the reincarnation the Triforce of Courage wielder. When Hyrule Castle is attacked, she sets out on her journey, but due to having NoSenseOfDirection, she never finds the castle or even meets Link or Zelda. She is heroic all the same and saves several people along her journey.

** [[PlayedStraight Played straight]] with [[spoiler:[[Characters/TheOwlHouseEmperorBelos Emperor Belos/Phillip Whittebane.]] Their obsession with being the "hero of their own delusion" drives them to an attempted [[FinalSolution genocide]] against the denizens of the Boiling Isles, whom they view as [[FantasticalRacism evil and irredeemable.]]]]

* In ''Fanfic/TheFlashSentryChronicles'', a {{flashback}} reveals that Storm Blade, a member of the Cult of Shadow, was once known as Swift Wind, and he believed that he should have become a Royal Knight, but his impulsiveness caused him to get assigned to guard duty, [[spoiler:and another flashback revealed that he killed Noble Banner, who was supposed to get the Celestic Gear that Storm Blade named himself after, when the mission they went onto in the Badlands went south, and he faked his death so that he could keep the Celestic Gear]].

** This trope was seen again with the character of Frank Laminski in the ''DC Rebirth'' era; ever since Hal Jordan became the Green Lantern, Laminski has spent his entire life 'training' to become a Green Lantern, becoming more and more obsessed with the idea as he sees others join the Corps, but he was only once visited by a Green Lantern ring- likely during the ''War of the Green Lanterns'' storyline when Mojo went on a mass recruitment drive under Krona's influence- and swiftly proves himself to be a poor choice once he acquires the Phantom Ring- which can channel the power of any element of the spectrum- and nearly destroys Earth's other currently active Lanterns.

* [[spoiler:Getaway]] from ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'' turns out to be this. When he was young, he was informed that he showed signs of Matrix affinity, meaning he could eventually become a [[TheChosenOne Prime]]. This caused [[spoiler:Getaway]] to get the idea in his head that he was ''destined'' to be Prime and he began [[GlorySeeker seeking glory]] at any cost. Him [[spoiler: joining the crew and staging TheMutiny]] was ultimately just an attempt to take credit for finding Cyberutopia and proving himself as worthy of the Matrix. He's so [[SmallNameBigEgo incredibly arrogant]] that he totally fails to realize that wanting to be Prime is pretty much an instant disqualification; Primehood is supposed to be [[HurtingHero an often painful burden]] and all the Matrix-Bearers seen so far took it up unwillingly or out of desperation. In the end, [[spoiler:Getaway]], despite (or ''because of'') his delusions of grandeur, has more in common with the dynasty of [[FakeKing False Primes]] that ruled Cybertron before the war... except, unlike them, [[BelievingTheirOwnLies he's started buying into his own hype]].

* One of the most popular [[FandomSpecificPlot/HarryPotter Fandom Specific Plots]] of the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' franchise would be the "Wrong-Boy-Who-Lived" plot, where Harry has an OriginalCharacter twin who, for some reason, is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin wrongly named the "Boy/Girl-Who-Lived"]]. Most stories usually have the twin in question be a SpoiledBrat and/or a DirtyCoward who will flee at the first sign of danger while still arrogantly wearing the title of TheChosenOne.

* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsKnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'', The Disciple Mical was a TragicDropout from the Jedi Academy as the Jedi CivilWar left nobody able to help him continue his training. He ends up becoming a soldier for TheRepublic instead, but continues his fascination with Jedi history and philosophy, seeking to preserve their teachings after ThePurge. However if TheExile [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers is female he joins the party]] and receives the MyGreatestSecondChance he always dreamed of, [[TheCallPutMeOnHold before canonically going to sit on the Jedi High Council]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': A variant in that there '''is''' no actual Chosen One for [[Characters/TheOwlHouseLuzNoceda Luz Noceda]] to envy, she just [[IJustWantToBeSpecial fixated on the idea of being one]]. After this desire leads to her being sent on a fake quest that's actually a trap for Eda, Luz realizes there ''was'' no reason that she ended up in the Boiling Isles, no destiny she has to fulfill. Eda reassures her that this means she has the chance to make her own destiny and seek greatness.

* ''ComicBook/LegendsOfTheDeadEarth'' focused on this in ''ComicBook/TheFlash'' Annual #9. Tristan Mallory is fanatically devoted to the his family's holy mission and has spent his life believing he will eventually succeed his father. When his nonbelieving brother Bryce is chosen instead, Tristan smothers their father in his sleep and lies to Bryce that he was selected. But he's further reminded of his unworthiness when the brothers are both struck by lightning, which gives Bryce superspeed but physically ages Tristan's body several years. He rages against the heavens, demanding to know why his "devotion" has been spurned.

* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsKnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'', The Disciple Mical was a TragicDropout from the Jedi Academy as the Jedi CivilWar left nobody able to help him continue his training. He ends up becoming a soldier for TheRepublic instead, but continues his fascination with Jedi history and philosophy, seeking to preserve their teachings after ThePurge. However if TheExile [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers is female he joins the party]] and receives the MyGreatestSecondChance he always dreamed of.

* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsKnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'', The Disciple Mical was a TragicDropout from the Jedi Academy as the Jedi CivilWar left nobody able to help him continue his training. However if TheExile [[MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers is female he joins the party]] and receives the MyGreatestSecondChance he always dreamed of.

* During part of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'''s main quest, the [[PlayerCharacter Nerevarine]] visits the Cave of the Incarnate and speaks to the shades of several Dunmer who tried to be the Nerevarine in the past. They all died before they could fulfill the prophecy.
* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}: Worlds Of Tomorrow'' event based on the movie ''Bender's Game'' has a RunningGag that Bender's fantasy alter ego Titanius Anglesmith envies Fry's Chosen One status and wants to steal it from him.