prequels
Earlier stories, later
Prequels are stories set before the events of an existing work.
A prequel depicts what happened earlier in a fictional timeline, often showing origins or backstory: The prequel explains how the villain became evil.
The term emerged in the 1970s, modeled on sequel, and became ubiquitous with film franchises.
Unlike sequels, prequels face the challenge of maintaining suspense when audiences know where characters end up.
Character's past narrative
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
- prologueIntroductory literary section
- origin storyAccount of how something began
- narrativeAccount of events
timeline · canon · lore · mythology · franchise · trilogy · saga · spinoff
Point of creation
- beginningInitial stage of something
- inceptionFounding moment
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
- formationCreation or arrangement
childhood · youth · early days · founding · creation · roots · ancestry · heritage
Iconic space fantasy franchise
- Phantom MenaceImaginary or invisible danger
- cinematicRelating to motion pictures
- CGIDigital movie imagery
- castingShaping through liquid form
George Lucas · box office · director · studio · theatrical · release · fans · critics
Indirect suggestion
- clueSolving aid
- setupHow something is arranged
- callbackFollow-up audition invitation
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
revelation · connection · reference · prophecy · omen · harbinger · foretelling · portent
backstory
Character's past narrative
- flashbackInvoluntary past memory
- prologueIntroductory literary section
- origin storyAccount of how something began
narrative · timeline · canon · lore · mythology · franchise · trilogy · saga · spinoff · reboot
genesis
Point of creation
formation · childhood · youth · early days · founding · creation · roots · ancestry · heritage · lineage
Star Wars
Iconic space fantasy franchise
- Phantom MenaceImaginary or invisible danger
- cinematicRelating to motion pictures
- CGIDigital movie imagery
George Lucas · casting · box office · director · studio · theatrical · release · fans · critics · rewatch
hint
Indirect suggestion
continuity · revelation · connection · reference · prophecy · omen · harbinger · foretelling · portent · seeds
- filmsfeature films, action films, horror films, comedies, dramas
- video contentepisode, YouTube, subtitles, web series, Vimeo
- franchisesfranchise, Star Wars, franchising, franchises, franchisor
- modern cinemasuperhero films, Marvel, reboots, 3D films, digital cinema
- pop culturememe, celebrities, memes, trending, fandoms
- book sequelsseries, trilogies, book series, novel series, part two
prequelssequels
Narrative continuations
continuations · follow-ups · successors · epilogues · installments
- prequel seriesChronologically earlier spinoff show