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12 Movie Stars Who Deserve A Comeback

From Molly Ringwald to Mara Wilson, theres some stars we just can't forget.

Fame is fleeting, just ask Mark Hamill. After 'Star Wars' made him the most famous actor on the planet, he’s rarely seen on the big screen nowadays, instead he plies his trade as a voice actor.

Some stars get to the top, but through bad movies, bad luck, or just by choice, their highflying careers are brought crashing to the ground.

[Bond Girls: Then and now]

We’d like to see a few former famous faces given a second chance though, so here are 12 throwback movie stars who we’d love to see make a comeback. Sorry Hamill, you’re not on the list...


Rick Moranis
Career highlights: ‘Ghostbusters’, 'Spaceballs', ‘Little Shop Of Horrors’, ‘Honey, I Shrunk The Kids’
What happened? Rick was our go-to man for 80s/early 90s quirk. If you wanted geeky, get Moranis on the phone! He retired from live-action after 1997’s direct-to-video threequel ‘Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves’, becoming a stay-at-home dad instead.
Comeback status: In June 2013 Moranis gave a rare interview, saying he “wouldn’t not” reprise Louis Tully for ‘Ghostbusters III’, “but it’s got to be good”. Still, we reckon there’s an endearing indie script out just waiting for Rick’s return.


Michael Biehn
Career highlights: ‘The Terminator’, ‘Aliens’, ‘The Abyss’
What happened? The Biehn-ster starred in two of the biggest sci-fi/action movies of the 80s – he should have been a SUPERSTAR. Instead, Michael was killed off before both sequels, and his career slowed through the 90s. These days, he’s making B-movies and voicing video games.
Comeback status: Biehn still holds enormous cult pull amongst ‘Terminator’ and ‘Aliens’ fans (a cameo in the upcoming ‘T5’ would please the fanboys), but an ‘Expendables’ style reinvention is what’d do it best. Come on Sly, give him a call!


Molly Ringwald
Career highlights: ‘Sixteen Candles’, ‘The Breakfast Club’, ‘Pretty In Pink’
What happened? The greatest teen movie star ever? We think so. Molly was the face of the Brat Pack, and incredibly recognisable thanks to a fiery  ‘do. But she ditched superstardom for a stint in France, eventually coming back and settling into a life of steady TV work and cameos.
Comeback status: Molly’s TV career has been going steady, and she recently released a jazz album titled ‘Except Sometimes’, but we just want some of that iconic brooding back on the big screen. It might be blasphemous, but can we not have a Brat reunion?


Mike Myers
Career highlights: ‘Wayne’s World’, ‘Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery’, ‘Shrek’
What happened? Three words: ‘The Love Guru’. After becoming one of the most bankable (and profitable) funnymen on film with three ‘Austin Powers’ movies and the ‘Shrek’ series to his name, the AWFUL self-penned ‘Love Guru’ literally killed his career. Dead.
Comeback status: Myer’s only live-action outing since that fateful 2008 film is a five-minute cameo in Tarantino’s ‘Inglorious Basterds’. But we reckon six years is too long to lay low, and audiences must have forgiven him by now? Come on, the guy was Austin Powers!


Michael Keaton
Career highlights: ‘Beetlejuice’, ‘Batman’, ‘Batman Returns’, ‘Jackie Brown’
What happened? Ah, Michael Keaton. Does anyone actually dislike him? Sometime in the mid 90s the man who played the first proper big screen Batman disappeared into a stream of distinctly average movies, and occasional supporting slots (most recently OmniCorp boss Raymond Sellers in the reboot of ‘Robocop’).
Comeback status: Keaton could already be on track. He’s due to star in the super intriguing ‘Birdman’, but more importantly he recently said “yes” to reteaming with Tim Burton for ‘Beetlejuice 2’… and we’re VERY excited about that.


Gene Hackman
Career highlights: ‘The French Connection’, ‘The Poseidon Adventure’, ‘The Conversation’, ‘Superman’, ‘Unforgiven’, ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’
What happened? With one of the most impressive CVs going (including two Oscars, two BAFTAs and three Golden Globes), the gruff-voiced star’s last credit came with 2004’s ‘Welcome To Mooseport’. Since then he’s been concentrating on writing a series of historical novels.
Comeback status: Genuine legend Gene “retired” from acting in 2004, but that’s just a word. Right? In 2011 he told GQ he’d consider a return: “if I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people." So there’s hope yet…


Geena Davis
Career highlights: ‘Beetlejuice’, ‘The Accidental Tourist’, ‘Thelma & Louise’
What Happened: ‘Cutthroat Island’. That’s what happened. Adjusted for inflation, the colossal pirate flop lost $137m (£82m), bankrupted the studio and almost killed Geena’s career. Her only notable film work since? ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight’, and ‘Stuart Little’.
Comeback status: Geena won a Golden Globe for acclaimed US series ‘Commander In Chief’ in 2005, so we’re pretty sure she’s still got it. Hollywood needs to give her a chance. Come on, she’s got an Oscar. Doesn’t that mean anything?


Dan Aykroyd
Career highlights: ‘Blues Brothers’, ‘Trading Places’, ‘Ghostbusters’
What happened? Aykroyd was 80s comedy royalty – an original cast member of SNL, and part of a recognisable comedy troupe (that included Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Harold Ramis, John Belushi). He’s still acting steady, only now focusing on UFOology, and flogging his own vodka.
Comeback status: Aykroyd’s best hope remains getting perpetual pipe dream ‘Ghostbusters III’ off the ground, and he’s keen to push it in any interview op. Still, with the recent death co-star and fellow writer Harold Ramis, things are looking bleak.


Jeff Goldblum
Career highlights: ‘The Fly’, ‘Jurassic Park’, ‘Independence Day’
What happened? If you were a child of 90s cinema, Jeff Goldblum was adventuring across your screen. Dinosaurs? aliens? He’d take them all on. But the star’s niche persona forced him into supporting slots, now including Wes Anderson’s newest offering ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’.
Comeback status: Until 2010 Goldblum kept himself busy on US series ‘Criminal Intent’, and his supporting work is impressive. Still, we think he’d suit a return to that maverick scientist look. A role in ‘Jurassic World’ has been ruled out by the film’s director, but we have our fingers crossed for a part in the ‘Independence Day’ sequel.


Mara Wilson
Career highlights: ‘Mr.s Doubtfire’, ‘Miracle On 34th Street’, ‘Matilda’
What happened? One of the most talented child stars ever, Mara only appeared in seven movies before quitting after 2000’s ‘Thomas And The Magic Railroad’ to focus on her education. According to a 2012 interview, “Film acting is not very fun”, and she had no creative freedom.
Comeback status: In 2013 Mara wrote a brilliant article on why child stars go off the rails, before debuting her first Off Broadway play “Sheepie” later in the year – so she’s definitely still interested in the industry. Could filmmaking be an option? We’d watch “a film by Mara Wilson”.


Steve Guttenberg
Career highlights: ‘Police Academy’, ‘Three Men And A Baby’, ‘Short Circuit’, ‘Cocoon’
What happened? After four ‘Police Academy’ movies comedy superstar Guttenberg burnt out, ending up in B-movie territory. In 2012 he published his memoir ‘The Guttenberg Bible’, then popped up doing panto in Bromley, playing Baron Hardup in ‘Cinderella’
Comeback status: In 2008 Guttenberg said he wanted to reboot both ‘Police Academy’ and ‘Three Men And A Baby’, boasting co-stars would join him. We think there’s a great understated actor in there though, and The Gute is ripe for a ‘Lost In Translation’ style rebirth. Seriously.


Emilio Estevez


Career highlights: ‘Repo Man’, ‘The Breakfast Club’, ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’, ‘The Mighty Ducks’
What happened? 80’s teen idol Emilio never quite got the dramatic break he needed, with his biggest post-Brat Pack credit being the ‘Mighty Ducks’ movies. By the mid 90s he moved into directing, and his most recent movie, ‘The Way’, starred Martin Sheen… his dad.
Comeback status: Unlike his riotous brother Charlie Sheen, Emilo isn’t so fussed about “winning”, or even fame at all. “I've never been a guy that went out there to get publicity on myself. I never saw the value in it,” he admitted in 2010. Looks like it’s the quiet life for Emilio…

Have we left out any of your favourite throwback movie stars from our comeback wishlist? Let us know in the comments below.

Ever wonder what happens to tiny movie actors when they grown up? Check out our Child Stars: Then And Now gallery, below...