Prequel

A prequel is a work that portrays events which are set in the same "universe" as a previously completed narrative, but at an earlier time. The word is a neologism, dating to the early 1970s; it is a portmanteau formed from pre-, meaning before, and sequel, a work which takes place after a previous one. "The term has recently slipped into common usage with its popularization by the advent of '" wrote Chris Deever in Truth in Cinema, May 28, 2001. The Star Wars prequel trilogy greatly popularized the term in American culture.

Notes

1. Many would argue that the principal plot structures in The Silmarillion were devised long before The Lord Of The Rings, and that the latter was incorporated into an existing structure, meaning the work, although published later, is not a prequel in the strict sense of the word. The Hobbit, on the other hand, is certainly not a prequel, as it was published before The Lord of the Rings.

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2. Since Alien vs. Predator is set before the Alien movie series, but chronologically after the Predator series, this movie is both a sequel and a prequel.

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3. Red Dragon is unique in that when it was released, it was a prequel to two previous films (The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal). However, the material it was based on had been filmed as Manhunter several years before Silence. Thus, it was both a prequel and a remake.

Related Topics:
Manhunter - Remake

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4. ' and ' are separate films that tell essentially the same story. See their respective articles for more information.

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5. See Compilation of Final Fantasy VII for more details.

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