AsDiscworldexpands, so must its universe of characters. It’s been confirmed that British publishers Transworld and Puffin are collaborating tobring backDiscworldfor a trilogy of graphic novel adaptations to kickoff a shared universe of Terry Pratchett stories. This shared universe won’t commence until 2026, but it’s never too early to speculate which characters will enter this universe.
The prospect ofDiscworld’sreturn is an exciting one to ponder, especially with the potential that many classic characters from the franchise could return for a new audience.Discworldhas a vast list of novelswith adaptation potential, and all of them feature utterly unique characters who are just begging to be rebooted, reimagined, and revisited. Similarly, there are a select few characters from theDiscworlduniverse of old that fans are clinging onto hope that they return in shape form for the revival.
10Granny Weatherwax
First Appearance: Equal Rites (1987)
Esmerelda “Granny” Weatherwax lies at the center of witch culture in theDiscworlduniverse.As far as most people are concerned, there is no witch more powerful or respected in the land ofDiscworldthan Granny Weatherwax. For all intents and purposes, she’sone ofDiscworld’sbest characters, period. It’s almost impossible to imagine aDiscworldwithout Granny Weatherwax, and so revamping her for this new universe seems essential at this point. Any story featuring the Lancre coven needs its de facto leader and moral center. Her no-nonsense attitude and well-rounded nature bringsDiscworlda depth and complexity that would be sorely missed without her.
9Tiffany Aching
First Appearance: The Wee Free Men (2003)
Reading eachDiscworldbook in orderis not only the best way to follow the story cohesively, but it’s narratively satisfying to see the development of certain characters unfold in real time. One of the highlights of theDiscworldfranchise of old was reading as Tiffany Aching grew across a five-book arc. The Wee Free Man depicts her as a nine-year-old girl discovering that she’s a witch, and by her final book, she’s matured into a young adult with a full understanding of both herself and what she’s capable of.This new series of graphic novel adaptations will allow readers to actually visualize the evolution of Tiffany in real time.
Tiffany Aching’s final appearance comes inThe Shepherd’s Crown, the finalDiscworldnovel written by Terry Pratchett.
8Ronnie Soak
First Appearance: Thief of Time (2001)
One of the most memorable minor characters to come out of theDiscworlduniverse is one Ronnie Soak. A mild-mannered milkman soon emerges as one of the most important and powerful characters inDiscworldlore once the end of times starts to loom once more.In his heyday, Soak served alongside Death, War, Famine, and Pestilence as the Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse, Chaos. After all, Soak spelled backwards is Kaos. It’s one of Pratchett’s most clever twists on a literary level, and now, there’s an opportunity to make that twist all the more transformative as readers get to literally see an Average Joe turn into a biblical figure.
Thief of Timewill be one of the three books to be adapted in graphic novel form.
7Death
First Appearance: The Colour of Magic (1983)
Speaking of Death,Discworld’sGrim Reaper is one of the more recurring figures in the franchise. He appears in nearly every one of the Discworld novels, but in the Death series, he’s a particular focal point.Mort, Reaper Man, Soul Music, Hogfather, andThief of Timeall feature Death as one of the primary characters, playing a significant role in the plot. Death is a particularly fascinating character as, rather than focus on doom and gloom, Pratchett often delved into Death’s softer, humorous side. Death carries the classic cloaked skeleton look, nursing a horse named Binky, that lends itself to visual adaptation.
6Susan Sto Helit
First Appearance: Soul Music (1994)
When Susan Sto Helit enters theDiscworlduniverse, she became one of its standout characters. Not just because she has the unique caveat of being half-Death and half-human as Death’s granddaughter, but because of her pragmatic personality that constantly gets thrust into the chaos that life (and the afterlife) has to offer. Now, in graphic novel form, readers will get to see one of Discworld’s most interesting characters struggle to juggle both the chaos of the supernatural world and being a regular teacher. Their dynamic makes for one of themost important parts of the book, and a graphic novel is bound to do it justice.
5The Nac Mac Feegle
First Appearance: Carpe Jugulum (1998)
The Nac Mac Feegle are better known as the wee free men behindThe Wee Free Men, one of theDiscworldbooks scheduled to be adapted into graphic novels.This flock of Scottish men prove howDiscworldcharacters can leave an impression through creating descriptive imagery, and that imagery is about to be brought to bright, glorious life.
They’re described as tiny, blue, kilt-wearing pixie warriors who love to fight as much as they love to drink. The preposterous imagery alone is whyThe Wee Free MenisRhianna Pratchett’s favoriteDiscworldnovel. Their most memorable time to shine comes when they accompany Tiffany to Fairyland, and the juxtaposition of these savage creatures in a whimsical world is outright hilarious. These wee free men are just as admirably brave as they are comic relief.
4Igorina
First Appearance: Monstrous Regiment (2003)
Monstrous Regimentis one of the threeDiscworldbooks confirmed to be adapted into graphic novels, and one of the members of its cast, Igorina, plays an admittedly small yet unforgettable role. Igorina is as fierce as any other member of the body-part-hoarding Igor Clan, but unlike most of her savage relatives, she believes in hygiene.
Much of the appeal of adaptingDiscworldis presenting old ideas to new audiences, possibly in a new way, but here, Igorina is one of the rareDiscworldcharacters who feels as if she was already written and made for the modern era.
She doesn’t speak with the classic Igor lisp, wears lipstick and high heels, practices sanitation, and strives for independence. She was always meant to serve as satire and an inversion of expectations,but in 2025, Igorina reads as surprisingly modern by current conventions of feminism. Much of the appeal of adaptingDiscworldis presenting old ideas to new audiences, possibly in a new way, but here, Igorina is one of the rareDiscworldcharacters who feels as if she was already written and made for the modern era.
3Polly Perks
Whenever aDiscworldTV show is hypothetically proposed, Polly (or Oliver) Perks is a character whose name always gets brought up as someone who should make an appearance. When her brother goes missing during the war, she disguises herself as a male soldier to find him, joining the Borogravian military in the process.ThinkTwelfth Nightmixed withMulan, but with a twist. The twist being that all the soldiers in her unit happen to be women dressed as men, too. The reveal demands the visual stylings that only a graphic novel can offer, but simultaneously, Polly is a fan-favorite worth meeting on the page.
2Maledict(a)
First Appearance: Monstrous Regiment
As if the notion of a military regiment full of women disguised as men wasn’t captivating enough, it’s worth noting that one of these women is an actual monster. Meet Maledicta, or Maledict.More than a woman dressed as a man, she’s a vampire disguising herself as a human. Specifically, she’s a reformed vampire who uses coffee to supplant her desire for blood, but in the process has developed a coffee addiction.
It’s a great comedic irony, but the addition of vampirism makes theseDiscworldadaptations all the more noteworthy for fans. It was already compelling to read about such a unique character in written form, but in graphic novel form? After all, that is where vampires always shine best, andvampire tales like thisshould be on every fan’s radar.
1Lu-Tze
First Appearance: Small Gods (1992)
Originally appearing inSmall Godsin a minor role, Lu-Tze’s part is expanded inThief of Time, which reveals the mild-mannered custodial sweeper to actually be a sweeping monk at the Oi Dong Monastery.As the sole master of Déjà fu, Lu-Tze has proven himself to be one of the most deceptively badass characters in theDiscworlduniverse. The graphic novel adaptation has a chance to showcase that badassery on full display, showing how someone can save theDiscworldwith a broom and martial arts at his fingertips at a moment’s notice.
