Prequel: Narrative Role
Prequels reveal backstories, origins and world-building, allowing audiences to understand characters’ motivations and mythologies more deeply.
Trends and Examples
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a surge in prequels, including the Star Wars prequel trilogy and X-Men: First Class. These films often employ modern effects to revisit earlier eras.
Advantages and Pitfalls
While prequels can revitalize franchises and attract curiosity, they risk undermining original works’ mystique or retconning beloved elements.
Notable Prequels
Highlights include The Godfather Part II—which functions as both sequel and prequel—and Prometheus, whose exploration of alien origins expands the Alien universe.