As for dead characters I'm in serious doubt they are dead. It's bionicles.
Characters get killed all the time in BIONICLE.
Botar, the 2008 makuta, Matoro, Lhikan, Sidorak... the list is getting long.
True, but I can't see the big guy being dead he's just covered in rocks I'm sure he can burrow since he did pop up form the sand anyway.
I gott'a say he' smuch cooler with his rider laying down. I modified my own to movie match way better than a seated position.
Not a spoiler I'd say but here's the list of characters you don't see in the movie.
Gelu
Skrall
Malum
Zesk
Tarduk in Person (but you do see this bionicle form a plenty as general population)
Atakus in Person (but you do see this bionicle form a plenty as the Skrall)
Crotesius and the Cendox
Scodonius, Kirbaz and the Kaxium
Sahmad and Spikit the Baranus
Fero and Skirmax in Person (but you do see this bionicle form a plenty as the Bone Hunters)
Roxtus (We don't know what Roxtus looks like because he hasn't been created yet. Fero and Skirmax bring him captives we are told.)So look for them in Bionicle The Creator Unknown (Hahaha)
Then why do we see the Roxtus Arena in the film? And Roxtus isn;t a character... it's a village. The Skrall. The Bone Hunters. It's where they come from.