One of the in-development follow-ups toArcaneseems to be set in Bilgewater, which means these pirate-themedLeague of Legendscharacters could feature in important roles in that show. After the massive success ofArcane, fan expectations are high for the show’s inevitable follow-up.Arcaneshowrunner Christian Linkehas hinted at the direction of the next shows set in Runeterra, which has been confirmed to take place outside the twin cities of Zaun and Piltover. This includes the revelation that Bilgewater will be one of the settings focused on in future stories.
Bilgewater is a notable location in theLeague of Legendsuniverse, serving as an important port city between the various nations. The region is home to several pirate lords vying for power, wanderers from around all of Runeterra, and a black market where Hextech weapons or monstrous magic can be procured. Bilgewater is an exciting area to see teased inArcane’s future, as it boasts some of the franchise’s most compelling figures. Here are the ten characters that could serve as lead characters in a prospective Bilgewater spin-off toArcane.
10Miss Fortune
Fortune Doesn’t Favor Fools
As one ofLeague of Legends' most popular characters,Miss Fortune is an obvious pick for anArcanefollow-up set in Bilgewater. A gun-toting pirate who grew up in Bilgewater, the current continuity portrays Sarah Fortune as a ruthless but honorable captain. Her vendetta against the reaver king Gangplank would be a perfect plot to adapt for anArcanefollow-up, continuing themes of young characters growing into their own in opposition to corrupted parents and vicious mentors from the original show.
This kind of arc could make Miss Fortune’s story the perfect thematic companion piece toArcane.
Miss Fortune carries a lot of the same characteristics as former protagonists Vi and Jinx, but applies them to a completely different setting and story as she seeks revenge for the death of her mother at the hands of Gangplank. The story ofhow she grows from a scrappy orphan to a pirate queenwould make for a compelling central narrative for the show. This kind of arc could make Miss Fortune’s story the perfect thematic companion piece toArcane.
9Gangplank
The Saltwater Scourge
If Miss Fortune were chosen to be a central character in an adaptation of Bilgewater, it would make sense tointroduce her nemesis Gangplank as an overarching villain. A heartless and brutal pirate king, Gangplank took control of Bilgewater by force before being dethroned. Gangplank would be an interesting way for theArcanesequel to continue exploring themes of villainous ambition, as his quest to expand his power and eventually reclaim his throne could parallel the arcs of Silco and Ambessa inArcane.
OfficialLeague of Legendsart often depicts different skins for each character, reflecting different versions of the character from across their personal story and the multiverse at large.
His role in the “Burning Tides” storyline prove he’s a vicious fighter, and even his apparent death in the lore is only the beginning of his role in the overarching story.Arcane’s creatives have the freedom to tweak the lorecould add depth to Gangplank. He’s even been shown in games likeThe Ruined Kingworking alongside mystical forces like Thresh, makingGangplank’s introduction into a Bilgewater show a potential thread to stories focusing on the Shadow Isles. Gangplank is a brutal fighter, and would make an excellent villain to rise against in a Bilgewater series.
8Graves
Runeterra’s Most Infamous Wildcard Outlaw Deserves A Starring Role
Another popular character from Bilgewater who could take a lead role inArcane’s pirate follow-up could be Graves. Graves is one of Runeterra’s most infamous mercenaries, with warrants out for his arrest across the entire world. This gives him plenty of reason to come to Bilgewater, a largely criminal city. His potential return could serve as an ideal way to introduce audiences to Bilgewater alongside him.Graves' dim-witted bravado and skills in combat would make him a fun character to follow throughArcane’s fight scenes.
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However, this is contrasted with his surprisingly strict sense of honor, making him an ideal candidate for an anti-hero role in a show. Graves could be hired for dark missions but can’t escape his heroic qualities, fitting intoArcane’s tricky approach to morality. There’s also his partnership with fellow criminal Twisted Fate,which could be a Bilgewater-set answer toArcane’s romance between Vi and Caitlyn. Graves would be a natural fit for any show set in Bilgewater.
7Twisted Fate
A Magic Cardsharp Could Bring Some Swagger To Arcane’s Follow-Up
Twisted Fate is a fellow criminal in the pirate region of Runeterra, whose magical abilities would allow him to stand out easily from other characters in a Bilgewater-centric storyline. A crafty and slick conman, Twisted Fate is a Mage who can channel magical effects into a deck of playing cards.Twisted Fate’s inherent swagger makes him a fun character to contrast againstmore driven figures like Miss Fortune, bringing out a lighter side of Fortune despite their efforts to bring one another down.
Twisted Fate’s magical abilities could make him a target of the Black Rose, giving the show a connection to the mystical consiracy teased throughoutArcane. His romantic interest in Graves, which was confirmed by official short stories released by Riot, could be a compelling romance to emotionally ground the audience with. Twisted Fate has a lot of potential, especially if he’s paired up with Graves and pitted against (or alongside) his friendly rival Miss Fortune.
6Fizz
The Tidal Trickster
A Yordle similar to Heimerdinger fromArcane,Fizz could be an entertaining way to establish more about that secretive and powerful race. Fizz is an aquatic variant of the species, whose interest in other regions of Runeterra stems more from a sense of fun adventure rather than Heimerdinger’s more noble curiosity. Compared to the more serious-minded characters in Bilgewater, Fizz is a relative goofball who enjoys messing with people.
This could make [Fizz] an ideal source of comic relief…
This could make him an ideal source of comic relief, especially if the Bilgewater show takes a more dramatic turn. However, that doesn’t mean Fizz is useless in a fight. On the contrary, his control over sealife and ability to suddenly turn the tide of a fight could make him a dangerous wild card in any plot.Fizz could be an ideal way for the Bilgewater show to establish more about the Yordlesand how they work within the universe, especially in a setting where they are often hunted.
5Illaoi
The Kraken Priestess
One ofLeague of Legends' more unique powerhouses, Illaoi of the Buhru could easily serve as a lead character in any show focused on Bilgewater. Illaoi is a prophet of the Great Kraken, an oceanic deity within the world of Runeterra. Her origins in the Serpent Isles and travels to Bilgewater could easily work as an introduction to the rouge nation.Illaoi’s unique approach to morality makes her an interesting way to explore themes of vengeance and power.
Illaoi is one of the playable characters in the turn-based RPGRuined King: A League of Legends Story. The game takes place in Bilgewater, and focuses on a team of heroes including Illaoi, Pyke, Braum, Miss Fortune, Ahri, and Yasuo.
In the game’s lore, she has history in the lore with both Miss Fortune and Gangplank, making her a potentially intriguing player in the conflict between them. Illaoi’s devotion to her god could easily be used to introduce larger power structures and religions within Runeterra, in turn setting the stage for larger mystical conflicts down the line.Illaoi is also just one of Bilgewater’s more plainly likable characters, and would make an ideal supporting character in any show focusing on that region.
4Nautilus
The Titan Of The Depths
Nautilius is one of the more mysterious characters in Bilgewater, and could be an ideal way to introduce some mysticism and horror to the setting. In-universe, Nautilius is a legend of the ocean seas, who serves as a warning to the greedy on the open seas. A hulking beast of metal that uses an anchor as their primary weapon, Nautilus has seemingly been haunting the oceans around Bilgewater for untold ages.
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Nautilus could serve as an external force of nature in a show centered around Bilgewater, a walking reminder of the death that awaits anyone who finds themselves out of their depth. Nautiulus could even be the target of some nefarious figures looking to use Bilgewater to their advantage, similar to the way Ambessa tried to weaponize Hextech and Viktor for her own goals.Nautilus might be a good harbinger of the more mythical scale of someLeague of Legendscharacters, setting up a larger future for the franchise.
3Pyke
League Of Legend’s Haunted Killer Could Be Perfect For A Horror-Tinted Show
Effectively serving as the Punisher of Bilgewater,Pyke could make for a dangerous and memorable figure within theArcanefollow-up. Growing up on the monster infested “slaughter docks” of Bilgewater, Pyke escaped certain death out at sea thanks to his mysterious supernatural abilities. His “Gift of the Drowned Ones” could make him a compelling contrast to Nautilus, highlighting the different ways magic can amplify figures within this world.
The Void
Zaun
A ruthless killer with an apparent noble streak,Pyke could set up a compelling exploration of what justice is like in a cutthroat setting like Bilgewater. Pyke could make for a dangerous addition to a prospective Bilgewater show, highlighting how gruesome the city can become. His mystical origins and lack of memory could be tweaked to fit into the origins of other characters, similar to howArcane’sVander was revealed to be the original form of Warwick, a champion fromLeague of Legends.
2Tahm Kench
A Demon In Gambler’s Clothing
A demon known as the River King, Tahm Kench has been exploring the waters of Runeterra for unknown years. Tahm Kench could be an ideal minor villain for a Bilgewater-set series, seeking to consume and destroy anyone who ends up in his way. Capable of shifting his appearance,Tahm Kench could easily become a devious addition to the show, capable of using his apparent gambler persona to lure his enemies into a false sense of security.
Tahm would make a great secondary antagonist in a show set in Bilgewater, whose machinations could build to something more dangerous than anyone could expect.
Tahm could easily be retrofitted into the stories of several Bilgewater characters, serving as a mysterious figure willing to make deals with others for power. Tahm could also serve as a direct contrast to the more kindly Fizz, withthe villain’s longstanding feud with the Yordles potentially establishing the true magical potential of that race. Tahm would make a great secondary antagonist in a show set in Bilgewater, and his machinations could build to something more dangerous than anyone could expect.
1Nilah
The Demon Of Joy
Another perfect character to bring to Bilgewater who could serve as an audience POV to the new location would be Nilah.Nilah’s jounrey to Bilgewater could easily factor into a potential follow-up toArcane. Nilah is a world traveler, who seeks out the challenge in destroying monstrous opponents. Bilegwater is surrounded by mighty threats, giving her plenty of reason to come for a visit. Nilah’s constant joy could make her a fun contrast to the natural dark edges of Bilgewater, but the truth behind her disposition could provide a quietly tragic element to the show.
Nilah and her demonic Ashleash could be a unique visual in the show, fitting easily into the show’s fluid approach to combat. Nilahhighlights how Bilgewater has continued to grow in the world ofLeague of Legends, bringing characters together from across Runeterra. She also showcases the variey and potential that makes Bilgewater an ideal follow-up location toArcane.
Arcane
Cast
Arcane is an animated series set in the League of Legends universe, debuting in 2021. It explores the conflict between the affluent city of Piltover and the oppressed undercity of Zaun. Central to the story are two sisters whose allegiance to opposing sides of a technological and ideological war strains their bond.
