10 Alternative Character POVs That Would Make Movies Better
In a world full of reboots, sequels, and prequels, it's clear that audiences enjoy returning time and time again to see familiar characters on screen. But what if, instead of the recognizable protagonist, a side character were to take center stage?
A recent Reddit discussion saw film fans exploring which movies might make an intriguing watch if retold from a different point of view. By taking famous films and placing a previously-secondary character at the center, new insights and understandings of events might be revealed. While audiences await the next James Bond reboot, here are ten alternative character perspectives to consider.
10 Gollum - The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
While The Return of the King gives audiences an insight into pre-cave, pre-ring Gollum, Redditor INeedAVape suggests that the trilogy from the creature's perspective "would be interesting". After all, Gollum does go along for the ride and throws in some light back-stabbing and deception, all of which makes for good cinema.
Reddit user muddybanks suggests that this version of events would be less of the epic that audiences know and love and more of a "love story between a gangly hairless hobbit and his precious". Although jokey, this approach could make an intriguing concept, especially considering the idiosyncratic Gollum would be constantly arguing amongst his two personalities.
9 Aurora - Passengers (2016)
Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt star in this space-based movie which sees thousands of hibernating humans travel across the galaxy to a new colony, but when Pratt's character Jim awakens 90 years too early due to a system malfunction, he succumbs to his loneliness and deliberately awakens Lawrence's Aurora.
Despite obstacles, the pair ultimately become a happy couple, although Redditor portablefan points out that the same film from Aurora's point of view would be a "horror movie". User AtraposJM suggests that Passengers from Aurora's perspective would be an enticing watch that starts out as an interstellar rom-com before transforming into a thriller as both Aurora and the audience learn the truth at the same time.
8 Marla Singer - Fight Club (1999)
Fight Club divided critics upon its release, but over the last 20 years or so the film has reached cult classic status as some of the most mind-bending 139 minutes out there. Clearly, fans are eager for more, as many Redditors have voiced their enthusiasm for a twist that would see Marla Singer take center stage.
Helena Bonham Carter would be able to flex her acting chops with a perspective that would be "heartbreaking and oddly humorous", according to Redditor kontraposto. Seeing Marla interact and fall in love with an erratic Edward Norton in increasingly baffling exchanges - culminating with said man shooting himself in the face - would certainly make for an interesting, if not confusing, watch.
7 Agent Smith - The Matrix (1999)
With the release of The Matrix Resurrections just last year, it seems that the Wachowskis are far from done with the Matrix world, giving fans hope that characters other than Neo might take the lead. Redditor WitShortage pitches a version of The Matrix from Agent Smith's point of view, opening with Smith waking up in a new body, "trying to figure out what was happening and who to kill".
Flipping Smith from antagonist to protagonist would certainly subvert audience expectations, and cause viewers to reappraise this villain with a new level of empathy. With Resurrections taking a meta approach, there is plenty of potential for a Smith spin-off that plays with both Hugo Weaving's and Jonathan Groff's portrayal of the character.
6 John Doe - Se7en (1995)
David Fincher's neo-noir thriller follows two detectives working on a case involving a serial killer, the unidentified "John Doe," whose methods of murder are inspired by the seven deadly sins. Whilst Se7en follows the detectives' spiraling frustration as they struggle to crack the case, Reddit user howwouldiknow-- suggests an alternative telling of the tale - the film "from John Doe's perspective".
Following Doe as he carefully plans and carries out his crimes would be a gruesome watch, and would certainly shift the film into horror territory. At the same time, using this perspective would provide more insight into the otherwise mysterious character. In actuality, a comic series (also named Se7en) doing just that was released a decade after the original film but was never adapted for the screen.
5 Ursula - The Little Mermaid (1989)
Whilst Ursula's backstory remains a mystery in the original film, Redditor Guzkim_Chizax suggests she might once have been next in line to the throne until her brother Triton was born, surpassing her to become crown prince. This could have been the last straw for Ursula, prompting her to turn to dark magic to "control or kill her younger brother" and complete her transformation into tentacled sea witch.
A film from Ursula's perspective would certainly be in line with Disney's current trend of focusing on their famous antagonists, and this take on the character would help explain her motivations without undermining her role as one of Disney's best villains. Perhaps we will see more into Ursula's psyche with the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, where she will be played by Melissa McCarthy.
4 Summer - 500 Days of Summer (2009)
500 Days of Summer breaks the happily-ever-after rom-com formula and focuses on the failed relationship between Tom and Summer, through the former's eyes. Many viewers have argued that Tom is in fact the antagonist, as he neglects to properly listen to Summer and instead sets them up to fail as a pair by refusing to acknowledge their incompatibilities.
With Redditor droi86 arguing that "most people ... totally misunderstand this movie" by blaming Summer, perhaps it's only fair for her perspective to be heard. Redditor Atnalia seconds this and suggests that a film from Summer's perspective could be a cautionary tale about "the dangers of following your heart instead of your head", as well as teaching viewers a worthwhile lesson about putting romantic partners on an unattainable pedestal.
3 Charlie Swan - Twilight (2008)
The upstanding chief of police Charlie Swan is thrust into a world of myths, vampires, and teenage angst when his daughter Bella starts dating self-loathing immortal, Edward Cullen. Although Charlie mainly remains on the sidelines as a man of few words, he cares deeply for his daughter, so it must be a hard pill to swallow to lose her again so quickly just as she moves back home to live with him.
Redditor Friendlyalterme notes that Twilight from Charlie's point of view is a "heartbreaking story of a father just trying to save his daughter from a narcissistic boyfriend". Charlie's version of events would be more of a domestic drama about a father struggling to just spend some time with his daughter, with a hint of mystery as he works to find out more about his daughter's unusual boyfriend.
2 E.T. - E.T. The Extra-Terrestial (1982)
Considered one of the greatest films of all time, it would take a brave person to tackle a reinvention of Steven Spielberg's beloved alien tale, yet Reddit users seem to think there is reason to do so. Although the audience is generally aware of E.T.'s actions and whereabouts at any given time, Redditor mythosopher proposes a fleshed-out take of the creature's story including "who he is on his home planet and why he was on Earth", as well as insights into his thoughts and what happens when he leaves our planet.
When E.T. was first released, talks began on a sequel; while these plans were abandoned, Spielberg has returned for sequels in the past, and his work is known for being steeped in nostalgia, so perhaps fans can hold out hope for E.T.'s version of events yet.
1 Albus Dumbledore - Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)
Many Harry Potter fans have long lobbied for works from other characters' perspectives, including Draco Malfoy, Voldemort, and Neville Longbottom, but a strong case can be made for revealing Dumbledore's version of events. Redditor Cole-Spudmoney points out that whilst Dumbledore is "very involved" in the series' overall plot centered on defeating Voldemort, much of his role is "left unseen".
As a character with a lot of knowledge, secrets, and connections, Dumbledore's perspective would likely shed light on new character interactions, one that is of particular interest to fans is the relationship between Dumbledore and Snape. While the upcoming Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is sure to reveal more about Dumbledore's past, fans still seek to gain more insight into the Hogwarts headmaster's experiences in the lead-up to and beginning of the Second Wizarding War.