# Minor character in a work of fiction that you would like to see have their own spin-off **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [June 24, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162 "2026-06-24T23:02:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/21 "2026-06-25T02:00:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That Falstaff guy from Shakespeare’s histories was hilarious. He should get his own whole play! that would require someone else to write a Falstaff play, then Shakespeare could copy it. Terry Pratchett’s works often contain references to [B.S. Johnson](https://wiki.lspace.org/Bergholt_Stuttley_Johnson). He never appears in person, but his disastrous projects are often spoken about. I would have loved to see him get a starring role in a novel. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/22 "2026-06-25T02:03:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That Falstaff guy from Shakespeare’s histories was hilarious. He should get his own whole play! He did get his own play, _The Merry Wives of Windsor_. It sucked, compared to Henry IV parts 1 and 2. If not for the name, you’d hardly know it was the same character. Possibly the story is true that Shakespeare was coerced to write a play about “Falstaff in love” by a request directly from Queen Elizabeth. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/23 "2026-06-25T02:57:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That Falstaff guy from Shakespeare’s histories was hilarious. He should get his own whole play! > **[Chimes at Midnight (1965)](https://letterboxd.com/film/chimes-at-midnight/)** > > Henry IV usurps the English throne, sets in motion the factious War of the Roses and now faces a rebellion led by Northumberland scion Hotspur. Henry's heir, Prince Hal, is a ne'er-do-well carouser who drinks and causes mischief with his low-class... A.K.A. _Falstaff_ “This movie was based on the play “Five Kings”. It was written by [Orson Welles](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000080/?ref_=tttrv_tr) and condensed [William Shakespeare](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000636/?ref_=tttrv_tr)’s “Richard II”, “Henry IV” parts 1 & 2, “Henry V”, the three parts of “Henry VI” and “Richard III” into one show. He produced the show in New York City in 1939, but the opening night, during which Part 1 was performed, was a disaster, and Part 2 was never put on. He revamped the show and revisited it in 1960. Again, it was not successful. However, this later production was used as the basis for this movie.” -[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059012/trivia/?ref\_=tt\_dyk\_trv](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059012/trivia/?ref_=tt_dyk_trv) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/24 "2026-06-25T03:10:30Z")
Five years or so ago there was a new version of _Around The World In 80 Days_ that I really enjoyed. It had David Tennant and Jason Watkins in it. There was talk of further Phileas Fogg adventures but that didn’t happen. Anyway, there was a character in one episode, a stagecoach driver, played by a bit part actress called Elena Saurel, who really appealed to me and that I wished somehow they could do a whole show about. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/25 "2026-06-25T03:34:59Z")
The 2 actors who played Charlie Luciano and Meyer Lansky on Boardwalk Empire had a very good rapport together. I could definitely have seen them holding their own as main characters in a spinoff about the 1920s-1950s-era mob scene. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/26 "2026-06-25T03:42:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > In Dresden File, he has a cat- Mister, and a huge dog- Mouse. I’d like to read a short story with just the two of them. A microfiction piece with primarily Mister and Mouse: > **[Microfiction #5: Everything the Light Touches](https://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/side-jobs/microfiction-5)** > > Written by Jim Butcher. Adapted and Illustrated by Adam Mathison-Sward. Spoiler Warning for Changes and Skin Game. Takes place in the month before Peace Talks, but does not require any knowledge of… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/27 "2026-06-25T04:04:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Nothing with just the two of them, but there is a short story, “Zoo Day”, where the same events are told from the point of view of three different characters, one of whom is Mouse. > > Unsurprisingly Harry is the least perceptive of the three, and Mouse is the most. I forgot that, thanks for reminding me. Now where is my copy… > [@GuanoLad](#): > > Five years or so ago there was a new version of _Around The World In 80 Days_ that I really enjoyed. It had David Tennant and Jason Watkins in it. The Female reporter really annoyed me, so I couldnt finish the series. > [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > A microfiction piece with primarily Mister and Mouse: Nice, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/28 "2026-06-25T04:05:55Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > In college, a friend and I worked up a story board for a comic book featuring the toothless carny who (kinda) saves the day in _Strangers on a Train_. I would pay to see that. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/29 "2026-06-25T04:13:06Z")
Not my idea, but if there are any Jane Austen fans here, you may enjoy _The Other Bennet Sister_ on BritBox, which covers Mary’s story, starting within the action of _Pride and Prejudice_ and going well beyond. It’s relatively true to Austen’s tone and characters. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/30 "2026-06-25T04:16:53Z")
Normally, carousels are geared to go slow. His spun so fast because it was concealing an experimental helicopter. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/31 "2026-06-25T11:47:02Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > He did get his own play, _The Merry Wives of Windsor_. It sucked, compared to Henry IV parts 1 and 2. If not for the name, you’d hardly know it was the same character. Possibly the story is true that Shakespeare was coerced to write a play about “Falstaff in love” by a request directly from Queen Elizabeth. It wasn’t clear that that’s what I was referring to? Point is, when fans love a minor character so much that they demand he get his own work, the results are often not good. What works well for a secondary character doesn’t always work well for a main character. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/32 "2026-06-25T13:13:15Z")
The “vacuum cleaner guy” in _Breaking Bad_. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/33 "2026-06-25T13:51:32Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Captain Needa in _The Empire Strikes Back_. (“Prepare my shuttle. I will take full responsibility for losing them, and apologize to Lord Vader personally.”) Being Star Wars, I imagine there’s 7 novels about him. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/34 "2026-06-25T15:42:11Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > So, I want to know more about Mary’s gynecologist. Considering the state of medicine at the time, he probably gave her a cat scan: he held a cat near her belly and if it hissed it was a boy and if it purred it was a girl. And if it spoke in Aramaic “This is truly the Son of God”, well, then you knew. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/35 "2026-06-25T16:00:16Z")
The Gospels do mention a midwife at the delivery… I suppose that’s about as close as you’d come to a gynecologist, in that day and age. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/36 "2026-06-25T16:18:14Z")
The Wolf from Pulp Fiction. I’d be very interested to know that guy’s story was ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/37 "2026-06-25T16:20:56Z")
Good one. Given his profession, there’s probably a lot of good stories to tell. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/38 "2026-06-25T16:35:41Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > a pregnant Bronze Age girl SDMB nitpickery: Joshua, David, etc. were Bronze Age. The Gospels were mid-Classical. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/39 "2026-06-25T17:00:08Z")
I’m an Austen fan, and have been looking forward to seeing that series. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162/40 "2026-06-25T17:21:04Z")
I would definitely watch a show about the McPoyle family from _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia._ Especially if Pappy McPoyle showed up once a season. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-character-in-a-work-of-fiction-that-you-would-like-to-see-have-their-own-spin-off/1031162.md?page=3)