Summary
- The “chosen one” trope is versatile and can take many forms in different genres, with characters like Harry Potter and Buffy exemplifying this archetype.
- In many stories, the perception of being chosen is more important than innate abilities, as seen in characters like Jake Sully and Paul Atreides.
- While the chosen one is typically meant to defeat evil, some, like Anakin Skywalker, effectively subvert the trope.
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The “chosen one” trope is often derided by fans, but, like any other trope, there are ways to use it effectively. A “chosen one” is any character that is assigned an important role by some kind of higher power, often via some obscure prophecy. It is the chosen one’s destiny to defeat evil and restore peace and justice to the world, but this archetype can take many different forms.
The chosen one trope is often closely associated with science fiction, with characters like Paul Atreides in Dune and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars being perfect examples. However, the idea of a chosen one is present in many genres. Many stories use this trope as a way to symbolize that one person’s actions are important to a much larger group. Religions and foundational myths often have figures who could be crudely described as a chosen one, like King Arthur, Gilgamesh or Moses, proving that people have always been drawn to the concept.
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10 The LEGO Movie
Emmit Brickowski
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The Lego Movie
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Director Phil Lord , Chris Miller Release Date February 7, 2014 Cast Chris Pratt , Alison Brie , Channing Tatum , Nick Offerman , Liam Neeson , Will Ferrell , Cobie Smulders , Elizabeth Banks , Will Arnett , Charlie Day , Jonah Hill
Emmitt Brickowski is told that he is “The Special” when he finds the “Piece of Resistance,” and this signals the beginning of his journey from happy obscurity to something much greater. The prophecy of his coming is foretold by a blind wizard with many disciples who herald his arrival as if he’s their savior. Ultimately, the wizard, Vitruvius, reveals that he made the prophecy up.
For Emmitt, believing that he is the chosen one is all it takes for him to break out of his self-imposed prison as a member of society who never questions anything.
For Emmitt, believing that he is the chosen one is all it takes for him to break out of his self-imposed prison as a member of society who never questions anything. The only important trait he needs is a healthy sense of curiosity. This is in line with the themes of The LEGO Movie, but it’s also in line with the entire philosophy of LEGO, a brand which trades on the romance of creativity and play.
9 Avatar
Jake Sully
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Avatar
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Director James Cameron Release Date December 18, 2009 Cast Sam Worthington , Zoe Saldana , Sigourney Weaver , Stephen Lang , Joel David Moore , Giovanni Ribisi
Neytiri prepares to kill Jake when she discovers that he is really a human, but a woodsprite lands on her bow before she can take the fatal shot. She interprets this as a message from Eywa, the deity-like figure that guides the Na’vi. Later, Jake is protected once again by woodsprites, and the entire tribe start to believe that he is being chosen by Eywa to join the tribe and protect them from the human invaders.
It’s possible that Eywa uses Jake to unite the Na’vi against the humans. He may not truly be a special one, but he is chosen to give the Na’vi a leader they can rally around.
There is a lot that is still unknown about Eywa, but the Avatar franchise’s future could begin to unravel some of these mysteries. It’s possible that Eywa uses Jake to unite the Na’vi against the humans. He may not truly be a special one, but he is chosen to give the Na’vi a leader they can rally around. Whether he is special or not, Jake accepts his role as the chosen one and engrains himself with the Na’vi.
8 Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy
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While she is still in high school, Buffy Summers starts having dreams that she is fighting mythical beings in other time periods. She soon discovers that these are the memories of all the Slayers who have come before her, and it is her destiny to take on the title and keep the evil mystical forces on Earth in check. She initially wants nothing more than a regular life, as her duties as the Slayer put a strain on her friendships.
In a long line of “chosen ones,” Buffy is the one who enacts real, lasting change.
Once Buffy accepts her role, she trains to enhance her natural skills as the Slayer, and she is a strong guardian of the Hellmouth. Eventually, Buffy does what few other “chosen one” characters can do, by breaking the cycle. She destroys the traditional line of succession for Slayers and activates the potential of Slayers all over the world. In a long line of “chosen ones,” Buffy is the one who enacts real, lasting change.
7 Kung Fu Panda
Po
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Kung Fu Panda
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Director Mark Osborne , John Stevenson Release Date June 4, 2008 Cast Jack Black , Dustin Hoffman , Angelina Jolie , Ian McShane , Jackie Chan , Seth Rogen
When Oogway selects Po as the Dragon Warrior, Shifu sees it as an irrational decision made by an aging master losing touch with reality. Ultimately, Oogway’s decision is proven to be much wiser than it first appeared. Although Po has no martial arts training whatsoever, he is a better candidate than each of the Furious Five due to his enthusiasm, his adaptability, and his heart.
Although Po has no martial arts training whatsoever, he is a better candidate than each of the Furious Five due to his enthusiasm, his adaptability, and his heart.
Although his primary motivation during his training is food, Po does eventually heed the call and accept the responsibility of being the Dragon Warrior. He initially tries to quit and pass this duty on to others, but he is the only one who can master the Wuxi Finger Hold. He is also the only one who can resist Tai Lung’s vicious attacks, even if this is mainly because of his large belly.
6 Avatar: The Last Airbender
Aang
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Avatar: The Last Airbender
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Cast Mako , Dee Bradley Baker , Jack De Sena , Michaela Jill Murphy , Zach Tyler , Dante Basco , Mae Whitman Release Date February 21, 2005 Seasons 3
Aang is just a child when he learns that he is the Avatar, the only being capable of mastering all four bending arts and restoring peace to the world. After Fire Lord Ozai’s attack, Aang is forced to grow up quickly and begin his training. He often struggles with his responsibilities, but the more he learns about the importance of the Avatar, the more he accepts his role and takes to his training.
Aang often struggles with his responsibilities, but the more he learns about the importance of the Avatar, the more he accepts his role and takes to his training.
There are several important differences between Avatar: The Last Airbender and Netflix’s live-action remake, one of which is that the remake has far fewer episodes. This means that most of the episodes which aren’t deemed as important to the plot are missing. However, it’s these filler episodes which help build Aang’s character, showing that he is still a fun-loving kid whose life has been turned upside-down.
5 The Lord Of The Rings
Frodo, Bilbo and Aragorn
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
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Director Peter Jackson Release Date December 19, 2001 Cast Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler , Viggo Mortensen , Sean Astin , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Orlando Bloom , Christopher Lee , Hugo Weaving , Sean Bean , Ian Holm , Andy Serkis
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The Lord of the Rings has a few “chosen one” characters. The first in the chronology of Tolkein’s Middle Earth is Bilbo Baggins, but by the time that Frodo begins his journey in The Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo shows signs of being corrupted by the power of the ring. Frodo is the only one in the Fellowship who can resist the ring. At first, he takes on the responsibility willingly, but it becomes clear that it’s his destiny.
Frodo is the only one in the Fellowship who can resist the ring. At first, he takes on the responsibility willingly, but it becomes clear that it’s his destiny.
Although Frodo is the most apparent chosen one in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Aragorn also goes on a journey to claim his destiny as the King of Gondor. After Sauron is defeated, Aragorn has to return to his throne to ensure that Middle Earth enters an era of peace. The franchise’s first live-action movie in a decade, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, looks set to focus on a different kind of story.
4 Dune
Paul Atreides
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Dune
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Director Denis Villeneuve Release Date October 22, 2021 Cast Dave Bautista , Rebecca Ferguson , Sharon Duncan-Brewster , Jason Momoa , David Dastmalchian , Stephen McKinley Henderson , Stellan Skarsgård , Charlotte Rampling , Chang Chen , Oscar Isaac , Zendaya , Javier Bardem , Timothee Chalamet , Josh Brolin
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Paul Atreides is one of the characters who helped shape modern ideas of the “chosen one” trope. Star Wars, Avatar, and many other sci-fi movies can thank Dune for creating the blueprint that they have followed. Paul is chosen in more ways than one. He first has to shoulder the burden of being next in line to succeed his father as the Duke of House Atreides, but he discovers on Arrakis that his destiny is about much more than that.
Paul is only the chosen one because the Fremen convince themselves that he is. His innate abilities are not as important as other people’s perceptions of him.
Paul is also called Lisan al Gaib in Dune. He is destined to lead the Fremen on Arrakis according to the ancient prophesy of the Bene Gesserit. In this case, Paul is only the chosen one because the Fremen convince themselves that he is. His innate abilities are not as important as other people’s perceptions of him, and the Bene Gesserit know how to manipulate the Fremen to exploit this.
3 The Matrix
Neo
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The Matrix
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Director Lilly Wachowski , Lana Wachowski Release Date March 30, 1999 Cast Keanu Reeves , Laurence Fishburne , Carrie-Anne Moss , Hugo Weaving , Gloria Foster , Joe Pantoliano
The Matrix features one of the most perfectly crystallized examples of a chosen one, as Neo learns that he holds the power to bring justice to a world that he didn’t even know existed. The Matrix‘s ending sees Neo break free from the chains that he had previously perceived, and by surviving his death in the Matrix, he completes his journey and accepts his destiny as “the One,” a title given to him by Morpheus.
The Matrix Reloaded reveals that Neo is just the last in a long line of prophesied chosen ones, each of whom is designed by the same artifical intelligence which created the Matrix.
Neo attains the ability to see through the fabric of his own reality and bend it to his will. The sequels expand on his identity as the chosen one. The Matrix Reloaded reveals that Neo is just the last in a long line of prophesied chosen ones, each of whom is designed by the same artifical intelligence which created the Matrix. He is only distinguished by his refusal to conform to the predetermined boundaries and responsibilities of his role.
2 Harry Potter
Harry
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
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Director Chris Columbus Release Date November 16, 2001 Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint , Emma Watson , John Cleese , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis , Richard Griffiths , Ian Hart , John Hurt , Alan Rickman , Fiona Shaw , Maggie Smith
Harry Potter is plucked from a dreary life living beneath the staircase with his cruel uncle and aunt and sent to a wizarding school, but this isn’t what makes him the chosen one. Just as he is getting to grips with magic, potions and quidditch, he discovers the tragic truth about the death of his parents. Protected by his mother’s love, Harry is impervious to Lord Voldemort’s attacks, and he is a celebrity in the wizarding world before he even knows that it exists.
Protected by his mother’s love, Harry is impervious to Lord Voldemort’s attacks, and he is a celebrity in the wizarding world before he even knows that it exists.
Harry and Voldemort’s fates are inextricably linked, and Harry learns that he must embrace death to destroy one of Voldemort’s horcruxes that exists within his own soul. HBO’s Harry Potter TV show will have more time than the movies, so it could explore some more details about the prophecy of the chosen one from the books, like how Neville Longbottom plays an important role.
1 Star Wars
Anakin, Luke and Rey
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
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Director George Lucas Release Date May 25, 1977 Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Frank Oz , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , Peter Cushing
Star Wars uses the chosen one trope multiple times. The original trilogy sends Luke Skywalker on a hero’s journey from humble beginnings as a moisture farmer on Tattooine to eventually mastering the force and helping to topple the Empire. His mentor, Ben Kenobi, tells him that there always needs to be balance in the force, and that Luke is chosen to counteract the dark side represented by Darth Vader.
The original trilogy sends Luke Skywalker on a hero’s journey from humble beginnings as a moisture farmer on Tattooine to eventually mastering the force and helping to topple the Empire.
Other Star Wars movies use the chosen one trope in different ways. The prequel trilogy features Anakin Skywalker as a similar kind of chosen one, but his potential is even more apparent from the beginning. Qui-Gon Jinn is the first Jedi to sense his importance, and he later falls under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Rather than restoring order to the force, Anakin takes a different path to other “chosen one” characters by turning toward the dark side.
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