# Prequel

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Prequel
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Prequel.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prequel
> Source revision: 1329907964
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Fictional work whose story precedes that of a previous work

For the mobile application, see [Prequel (mobile application)](/source/Prequel_(mobile_application)). For the book, see [Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism](/source/Prequel%3A_An_American_Fight_Against_Fascism). For the album, see [Prequelle](/source/Prequelle).

This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Prequel" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

A **prequel** is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story [precedes](/source/Precedent) that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative.[1] A prequel is a work that forms part of a [backstory](/source/Backstory) to the preceding work.

The term "prequel" is a 20th-century [neologism](/source/Neologism) from the prefix "pre-" (from [Latin](/source/Latin) *prae*, "before") and "[sequel](/source/Sequel)".[2][3]

Like sequels, prequels may or may not concern the same plot as the work from which they are derived. More often they explain the background that led to the events in the original, but sometimes the connections are not completely explicit. Sometimes prequels play on the audience's knowledge of what will happen next, using deliberate references to create [dramatic irony](/source/Dramatic_irony).

## History

Though the word "prequel" is of recent origin, works fitting this concept existed long before. The *[Cypria](/source/Cypria)*, presupposing hearers' acquaintance with the events of the Homeric epic, confined itself to what preceded the *[Iliad](/source/Iliad)*, and thus formed a kind of introduction.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

According to the *[Oxford English Dictionary](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary)*, the word "prequel" first appeared in print in 1958 in an article by [Anthony Boucher](/source/Anthony_Boucher) in *[The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction](/source/The_Magazine_of_Fantasy_%26_Science_Fiction)*, used to describe [James Blish](/source/James_Blish)'s 1956 story *[They Shall Have Stars](/source/They_Shall_Have_Stars),* which expanded on the story introduced in his earlier 1955 work, *Earthman Come Home*. However, [Christopher Tolkien](/source/Christopher_Tolkien), writing about the history of *[The Silmarillion](/source/The_Silmarillion)* in 1977, claims that his father, [J. R. R. Tolkien](/source/J._R._R._Tolkien), "coined the highly uncharacteristic word 'prequel'" when badgered for a definition of the relationship between *[The Lord of the Rings](/source/The_Lord_of_the_Rings)* and *The Silmarillion* sometime after 1955.[4][5]

The term came into general usage in the 1970s and 1980s.[3]

*[Butch and Sundance: The Early Days](/source/Butch_and_Sundance%3A_The_Early_Days)* (1979) may have introduced the term "prequel" into the mainstream.[6]

An example of a prequel is [C. S. Lewis](/source/C._S._Lewis)'s 1955 children's book, *[The Magician's Nephew](/source/The_Magician's_Nephew)*, that explained the creation of Narnia—the subject of Lewis's seven-book series *[The Chronicles of Narnia](/source/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia)*—which began with *The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe* (1950).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

*The Adventures of Ben Gunn*, a 1956 novel by [R. F. Delderfield](/source/R._F._Delderfield), was written as a prequel to the novel *Treasure Island*.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Usage

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Rather than being a concept distinct from that of a *sequel*, a *prequel* still adheres to the general principle of serialization, defined only by its internal chronology and publication order. For example, *[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace](/source/Star_Wars%3A_Episode_I_%E2%80%93_The_Phantom_Menace)* (1999) is a prequel to the [*Star Wars* original trilogy](/source/Star_Wars_original_trilogy) (1977–1983), but is only a *predecessor* of *[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones](/source/Star_Wars%3A_Episode_II_%E2%80%93_Attack_of_the_Clones)* (2002) because of the release order. Likewise, 1984's *[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom](/source/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Temple_of_Doom)* is a prequel to 1981's *[Raiders of the Lost Ark](/source/Raiders_of_the_Lost_Ark)*, in that it is set in 1935, one year before the first film. In some cases, such as this one, there is little impact by the relative placement over overarching plotlines. When an entire [continuity](/source/Continuity_(fiction)) is started over again, a so-called [reboot](/source/Reboot_(fiction)), such as in the case of *[Casino Royale](/source/Casino_Royale_(2006_movie))* or *[Batman Begins](/source/Batman_Begins)*, it is typically *not* thought of as a prequel, although it is set earlier in the common chronology of the characters and may give away plot points common to both timelines.

### Complications

Sometimes "prequel" describes follow-ups where it is not always possible to apply a label defined solely in terms of [intertextuality](/source/Intertextuality).[7] In the case of *[The Godfather Part II](/source/The_Godfather_Part_II)*, the narrative combines elements of a prequel with those of a more generalized sequel by having two intercut narrative strands, one continuing from the first film (the mafia family story under the leadership of [Michael Corleone](/source/Michael_Corleone)), and one, completely separate, detailing events that precede it (the story of his father [Vito Corleone](/source/Vito_Corleone) in his youth, included). In this sense the film can be regarded as both a "prequel and a sequel" (i.e., both a prior and a continuing story), and is often referred to in this manner.[7] *[Mufasa: The Lion King](/source/Mufasa%3A_The_Lion_King)* begins after the events of [the 2019 remake](/source/The_Lion_King_(2019_film)) of the [original film](/source/The_Lion_King), where [Rafiki](/source/Rafiki_(The_Lion_King)) tells the story of [Mufasa](/source/Mufasa) to his granddaughter [Kiara](/source/Kiara_(The_Lion_King)). The film then flashes back and spends most of its runtime chronicling that story, with some scenes in the present day included in between to add commentary, as well as at the end of the film.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Time-travel often results in a work being considered both a prequel and a sequel, or both a prequel and a "soft" reboot, depending on how drastically history is altered. Examples of arguable soft-reboot prequels include *[Star Trek](/source/Star_Trek_(2009_film))*, and [*The Flash*](/source/The_Flash_(film)), the latter of which completely erases the events of the [DC Extended Universe](/source/DC_Extended_Universe) film series to make way for the [reboot series](/source/DC_Universe_(franchise)). Time-travel sequel-prequels can be found in the original *[Planet of the Apes](/source/Planet_of_the_Apes)* series. Even though the latter three films depict world events chronologically prior to those of the first two films, the narrative itself is continuous for the main characters, as three apes from the first two films go back in time. The later installment *[Escape from the Planet of the Apes](/source/Escape_from_the_Planet_of_the_Apes)* served as both a sequel and prequel to the first film.[8][9][10] *[X-Men: Days of Future Past](/source/X-Men%3A_Days_of_Future_Past)* begins in the dystopian future following the [*X-Men* original trilogy](/source/X-Men_(film_series)#X-Men_original_trilogy), where Wolverine's conscience is sent back in time to 1973, before the events of the trilogy and after the events of the prequel film *[X-Men: First Class](/source/X-Men%3A_First_Class)*, to prevent the future from happening. The film alternates between the two timelines, functioning as both a sequel-prequel to the original trilogy and a sequel to *First Class*.*[Transformers: Beast Wars](/source/Transformers%3A_Beast_Wars)* is an example of a TV series that uses time-travel to serve as both a sequel and prequel to another series (in this case, the original Transformers cartoon).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

The term "prequel" has also been applied, sometimes incorrectly, to [origin-story](/source/Origin-story) [reboots](/source/Reboot_(fiction)), such as *[Rise of the Planet of the Apes](/source/Rise_of_the_Planet_of_the_Apes)*, *[Batman Begins](/source/Batman_Begins)*, and *[Casino Royale](/source/Casino_Royale_(2006_film))*.[11][12] The creators of both *Batman Begins* and *Rise of the Planet of the Apes* also stated their intent to dispense with the continuity of the previous films so they would exist as separate pieces of work, with [Christopher Nolan](/source/Christopher_Nolan)—director of *Batman Begins*—explicitly stating he does not consider it a prequel.[12][13] Here, "prequel" denotes status as a "franchise-renewing original" that depicts events earlier in the (internally inconsistent) narrative cycle than those of a previous installment.[12] Most reviewers require that a prequel must lead up to the beginning of its original work,[1] which is inconsistent with works that dispense with the narrative of previous work and are not significantly within the same [continuity](/source/Continuity_(fiction)). At times, the term has been used to refer to a work that was released, as well as chronologically set, before any other work.[14][15] However, that usage conflicts with the fact that a prequel is a type of sequel.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## See also

Look up ***[prequel](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/prequel)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

- [Backstory](/source/Backstory)

- [List of prequels](/source/List_of_prequels)

- [Sequel](/source/Sequel)

- [Spin-off](/source/Spinoff_(media))

- [Origin story](/source/Origin_story)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Silverblatt_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Silverblatt_1-1) Silverblatt, Art (2007). *Genre Studies in Mass Media: A Handbook*. [M. E. Sharpe](/source/M._E._Sharpe). p. [211](https://books.google.com/books?id=R7ixUTC8EpwC&pg=PA211). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780765616708](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780765616708). Prequels focus on the action that took place *before* the original narrative. For instance, in *Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith* the audience learns about how Darth Vader originally became a villain. A prequel assumes that the audience is familiar with the original—the audience must rework the narrative so that they can understand how the prequel leads up to the beginning of the original.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mw_2-0)** [*Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary*](/source/Merriam-Webster's_Collegiate_Dictionary) (10th ed.). [Springfield, Massachusetts](/source/Springfield%2C_Massachusetts): [Merriam-Webster](/source/Merriam-Webster). 1993. pp. [921](https://archive.org/details/merriamwebstersc00spri/page/921), 915, 1068, 246.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-oxford_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-oxford_3-1) ["prequel, n."](http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/150546). [*Oxford English Dictionary*](/source/Oxford_English_Dictionary) (3rd ed.). [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press). March 2012 [March 2007]. Retrieved 19 April 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Tolkien, Christopher (2022). *The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien: A Brief Account of the Book and Its Making*. London: HarperCollins Publishers. p. 9. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780008537906](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780008537906).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Tolkien, Christopher. ["Christopher Tolkien: 'The Silmarillion'"](https://www.tolkienestate.com/writing/christopher-tolkien-the-silmarillion/). *Tolkien: The Official Site of the Tolkien Estate*. Retrieved 13 November 2022. Thus *[The Silmarillion](/source/The_Silmarillion)* is at once the precursor of and the sequel to *[The Lord of the Rings](/source/The_Lord_of_the_Rings)* — a curious situation, for which he himself, when badgered for a definition of the relation between the two books, coined the highly uncharacteristic word 'prequel'!

1. **[^](#cite_ref-salon_6-0)** Burgess, Steve (1999-06-26). ["Richard Lester: A Hard Day's Life"](http://www.salon.com/1999/06/26/lester/). Lester may also have locked up the dubious distinction of inaugurating the term 'prequel' in 1979 when he directed 'Butch and Sundance: The Early Days.'

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Jess-Cooke_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Jess-Cooke_7-1) [Jess-Cooke, Carolyn](/source/Carolyn_Jess-Cooke) (2009). *Film Sequels: Theory and Practice from Hollywood to Bollywood*. [Edinburgh University Press](/source/Edinburgh_University_Press). p. [6](https://books.google.com/books?id=Sw0mjBBbybUC&pg=PA6). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780748626038](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780748626038).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dirks_8-0)** Dirks, Tim. ["Science Fiction Films Part 5"](http://www.filmsite.org/sci-fifilms5.html). [Filmsite](/source/Filmsite) Filmsite.org. A sequel and prequel to the first film

1. **[^](#cite_ref-britt_9-0)** Britt, Ryan; [Tor.com](/source/Tor.com) (2011-07-27). ["Who's Your Caesar? Rewatching *Conquest of the Planet of the Apes*"](http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/07/whos-your-caesar-re-watching-conquest-of-the-planet-of-the-apes). [Macmillan Publishing](/source/Macmillan_Publishing). *Conquest* is in a separate category of films as it serves as both a sequel to the previous film and a prequel to the first two films.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-matheou_10-0)** Matheou, Demetrios (August 14, 2011), ["Ascent of Ape"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140611094715/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-29969125.html), *[The Sunday Herald](/source/The_Sunday_Herald)*, [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), archived from [the original](http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-29969125.html) on June 11, 2014, Aficionados of the original series of five films will know that a prequel already exists, namely *Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rota_11-0)** ["With the documentary 'Chimpanzee' opening, a look at 5 prime primate movies"](http://www.statesman.com/business/personal-finance/with-chimpanzee-opening-5-prime-primate-movies-2316295.html). *The Statesman*. Associated Press. Retrieved 5 May 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sutton_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sutton_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Sutton_12-2) Sutton, Paul (2010). "8. Prequel: The "Afterwardsness" of the Sequel". In [Jess-Cooke, Carolyn](/source/Carolyn_Jess-Cooke); Verevis, Constantine (eds.). *Second Takes: Critical Approaches to the Film Sequel*. [State University of New York Press](/source/State_University_of_New_York_Press). pp. [139](https://www.scribd.com/pillowbookworm/d/52443704-second-takes-critical-approaches-to-film-sequel#page=153)–152. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781438430294](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781438430294).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Keegan, Rebecca (11 August 2011). ["'Rise of the Planet of the Apes': 21 nods to classic 'Apes'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110813063419/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/08/11/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-21-nods-to-classic-apes/). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. Archived from [the original](http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/08/11/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-21-nods-to-classic-apes) on August 13, 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["5 Bollywood movies which are better than their prequels"](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/story/top-5-bollywood-movie-better-than-prequel-257707-2015-06-15). *India Today*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["'Singam 3' will have connection with prequels: Director"](http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/singam-3-will-have-connection-with-prequels-director/). 22 June 2015.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Prequel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prequel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prequel?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.