sequel hook
Story's dangling thread
A sequel hook is a story element that sets up future installments—an unresolved plot thread, mysterious cliffhanger, or hint of coming conflict placed near the end of a book, film, or game.
The hook keeps audiences invested while signaling the creators' intention to continue: The post-credits scene was an obvious sequel hook.
- successorOne who replaces another
- cliffhangerSuspenseful unresolved ending
- continuationAct of proceeding further
- setupHow something is arranged
- part twoSubsequent section of series
next chapter · teaser · foreshadowing · franchise · shared universe · to be continued · stay tuned · open ending · epilogue · storyline · suspense · speculation · follow-up · post-credits scene · dramatic tension · plot twist · stinger · serialization
- franchisesfranchise, Star Wars, franchising, franchises, franchisor
- game narrativestory, narrative, plot, storyline, dialogue tree
- sequel tropespost-credits scene, cliffhanger, power creep, escalation, next generation
- film elementsscenes, plot, credits, soundtrack, score
- book seriestrilogy, duology, tetralogy, pentalogy, saga
- endingsending, the end, finish, close, final