Fan Casting Adaptational Badass in Sort by Tropes

There are characters in the media who are known, simply put, for being less-than-dangerous. They might simply be the last competent fighter. They might be a Non-Action Guy or a Damsel in Distress. Worst case scenario, they're The Load. When danger rears its head, the character generally beats feet and lets their tougher friends deal with the problem. But then, when the work is being adapted or rebooted, the character is made a bona fide badass. The reasons for this are myriad.