sidequel

Same-era companion story

A sidequel is a film, book, or other narrative work that takes place during the same time period as an existing story but follows different characters or events happening elsewhere.

Unlike a sequel (which continues after) or a prequel (which comes before), a sidequel runs parallel to the original, expanding the fictional world sideways rather than forward or backward in time.

The spin-off was more of a sidequel, showing what the supporting characters were doing while the main plot unfolded.

franchise

reboot

Cycle power intentionally

adaptationFitting to new conditions
trilogyThree linked creative works
sagaExtended heroic narrative

canon · universe · lore · mythos · worldbuilding · cinematic · blockbuster · installment · chapter · entry

narrative

spinoff

Derived work from original

subplotSubordinate narrative strand
backstoryCharacter's past narrative
standaloneComplete without attachments

crossover · intertwined · arc · storyline · plotline · foreshadowing · flashback · prologue · epilogue · vignette

timeline

simultaneous

Happening at same time

concurrentHappening at once
parallelEquidistant at all points
coexistingExisting at once

synchronous · companion · contemporary · coeval · tandem · adjacent · aligned · overlapping · intersecting · meanwhile

structure

companion

One who keeps company

siblingBrother or sister
sisterFemale sibling
peerOne of similar standing

complementary · supplementary · ancillary · auxiliary · branching · divergent · offshoot · alternate

Opposites

narrative chronology

sidequelsequel

Continuation of prior work

prequel · follow-up · continuation · predecessor · origin story

narrative focus

sidequeloriginal film

First cinematic version

originality

sidequeloriginal

First or inventive

source material · standalone · independent work

Family

side, sequel, sides, sided, siding, sideway, sideways, sideward, sidelong

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Profile: Used worldwide · Abstract · Rated G