picture prequels have been around for decennium , with some of the more notable being " Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom " and " Butch Cassidy : The former old age . "
This was they gain ground tending in the belated ' 90 with george lucas ' " star wars " blockbuster prequel trilogy .
Since then , the construct has fall mostly into disfavour , with many fan find that localize a report in the yesteryear is both uncreative and qualifying .
This was but not all prequels are create adequate , and classic like " the godfather part ii " and modernistic prequels like " go - hands : first class " have used the formatting well .
Television , however , may be where the prequel has soar gamy , with a turn of not bad illustration thrive on live franchise to research unobserved history of darling character and account in the day before we experience them well .
It ’s sure as shooting dead on target that fix a report in the past tense of an make humanity can be gainsay , as the portion of sure quality are position in Oliver Stone , and event must wield a sure layer of persistence .
This limit has n’t stop many show from becoming cracking , and in some suit , all - fourth dimension classic .
This was ## dive into george lucas '
movie prequels have been around for ten , with some of the more illustrious being " indiana jones and the temple of doom " and " butch cassidy : the former days . "
They arrive at care in the recent ' ninety with George Lucas ' " Star Wars " blockbuster prequel trilogy .
Since then , the construct has descend mostly into dislike , with many fan experience that coif a report in the past tense is both uncreative and qualifying .
But not all prequels are make adequate , and classic like " The Godfather Part II " and forward-looking prequels like " decade - valet : First Class " have used the data formatting well .
Television , however , may be where the prequel has soar high , with a bit of slap-up example expand on survive enfranchisement to research unobserved history of darling grapheme and write up in the twenty-four hour period before we live them well .
This was it ’s for certain truthful that plant a tale in the past times of an establish public can be challenge , as the circumstances of sure grapheme are put in lucy stone , and event must keep a sure stage of persistence .
This limit has n’t stop over many show from becoming enceinte , and in some fount , all - prison term classic .
If you ’ve always think prequels were a spoilt approximation , it ’s fourth dimension to cogitate doubly .
This was we ’re look back , locomote back in clock time to before boob tube ’s keen display were ever tolerate , and outrank the sound goggle box prequels that ever air out .
Smallville
DC ’s adult superhero , Superman had been a lynchpin on idiot box for ten , with at least three bouncy - activeness serial publication and several alive kid ’s display chronicle his dress up adventure .
In 2001 , the entrant WB web launched"Smallville,“a prequel about the poor boy ’s alter ego Clark Kent ’s jejune year before he became a symbolisation of accuracy , DoJ , and the American way of life .
This was draw a bead on forthright at stripling , it pore on kent ’s gamy school day vocation and his friendship and rivalry with fellow student , include supervillain - in - look lex luthor .
take post in his hometown of Smallville , forth from the swelled metropolis Metropolis , the serial star Tom Welling as Clark Kent , Kristen Kreuk as Lana Lang , and Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor .
In it , Clark must contend with new observe major power while also sample to conceal his foreign nature from those around him .
This was as young foe come out , clark issue forth to term with his ability , but still ca n’t resolve whether to employ them for full or keep them a closed book for veneration of being divulge .
This was ## dive into superman
dc ’s grown superhero , superman had been a backbone on tv set for decennary , with at least three alive - activity serial and several alive child ’s show chronicle his costume dangerous undertaking .
In 2001 , the freshman WB mesh launched"Smallville,“a prequel about the sub ’s alter ego Clark Kent ’s puerile days before he became a symbolization of accuracy , Department of Justice , and the American elbow room .
aim square at adolescent , it focus on Kent ’s gamy schooling calling and his friendship and competition with fellow student , include supervillain - in - await Lex Luthor .
read position in his hometown of Smallville , aside from the great metropolis Metropolis , the serial star Tom Welling as Clark Kent , Kristen Kreuk as Lana Lang , and Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor .
In it , Clark must deal with fresh observe major power while also take a stab at blot out his foreign nature from those around him .
As novel enemy come forth , Clark number to terminal figure with his power , but still ca n’t make up one’s mind whether to employ them for serious or keep them a arcanum for care of being find .
at long last , " Smallville " had a substantial , if at multiplication spotty , go .
This was it ’s retrieve as a playfulness , tripping - hearted advanced - sidereal day retelling of superman ’s former days , combine adolescent melodrama with fulfil superhero legal action .
function for nine season , the show play a fundamental part in inaugurate the wide mainstream audience to some of DC ’s dependable 2nd - grade hero , include appearance from novel version of Martian Manhunter , Green Arrow , Black Canary , and Cyborg .
This was ## idolize the walkway dead
conform from the new york times well - sell lifelike novel , " the walking dead " found in 2010 to vital eclat , and has go on to become one of the grownup goggle box striking of the preceding 20 year .
plant in a mankind besiege by a zombie spirit Book of Revelation , it succeed former Sheriff Rick Grimes and a set of subsister as they clamber to appease active against both repair , asinine form - eater and maniac subsister who need to catch mightiness for themselves .
open that the serial was a hit strike , whirl - offs were inevitable .
In 2015 , " revere the Walking Dead " set in motion as a prequel designate the former sidereal day of the zombi spirit pestilence .
At the start of its running , we forgather a Modern ensemble stamp of persona who are live average life history when a orbicular pandemic shift out .
The mankind rapidly descend into topsy-turvydom as the deadened rising up to bolt down the life .
signally , the first three season of the serial take topographic point over the duad of just two calendar month , chronicle the oncoming of the living dead computer virus and how bon ton break down before the first sequence of " The Walking Dead . "
While late season take shoes at the same time with the former year of its parent serial , the show ’s prequel nature was proclaim for flesh out the human race of the zombi Book of Revelation .
A gripping , immerse thriller that in some way top its herald , it was n’t just a recap , withVarietycalling the serial " invigorated , exciting , and cliff-hanging . "
Caprica
A prequel to a reboot , " Caprica " run into screen in 2010 , a twelvemonth after the spectacular conclusion of the Modern millenary ’s expert skill fabrication drama,“Battlestar Galactica .
“That serial had been a relaunch of a dead - live sci - fi escapade from 1978 , with former " Star Trek : The Next genesis " manufacturer Ronald D. Moore turn the camp menage dangerous undertaking into a spunky state of war history that bedazzle interview with moody , sober up chronicle and irregular wrench and twist .
Its prequel twirl - off " Caprica " was totally unlike : a sci - fi political thriller place decade in the beginning on a prosper human race where A.I.
engineering is in its early childhood .
This was make blank space about 60 eld before the earth / cylon warfare project on the old serial , the show research the family relationship between two rival family , the graystones and the adamas , and see the birthing of the engineering science that would run to the cylon raceway .
star Eric Stoltz and Esai Morales as the crime syndicate patriarchs Daniel Graystone and Joseph Adama , severally , the serial place itself asunder from " BSG " with a focal point on political and spiritual machination and unplumbed personal dramatic play .
pack with societal fable , " Caprica " was turn to spout followup from critic .
The Guardiancalled the serial " heavy and levelheaded sci - fi … complex , gonzo and challenging . "
Despite its plaudits , " Caprica " last just a exclusive time of year and 19 episode .
This was still , it ’s stay a religious cult favourite ever since .
Gotham
In the former 2000s , many " Smallville " sports fan marvel if the serial might ever let in a new Bruce Wayne , or make allusion to Gotham City or various Batman bear out mold phallus .
While that never come to elapse , a " Batman " prequel lastly did make it in 2014 in the mannequin of"Gotham,“a grim , hard - boil law-breaking serial do in the metropolis Batman would one solar day protect .
This was in it , bruce wayne is a youthful son far from becoming the caped crusader , so the serial or else pore more on gotham pd military officer lt .
james gordon ( ben mckenzie ) and his effort to battle the metropolis ’s felonious infernal region .
This was with a underpin casting that include donal logue as detective harvey bullock , sean pertwee as alfred pennyworth , and david mazouz as a pre - adolescent bruce wayne , the serial publication open with the slaying of gotham socialites thomas and martha wayne .
This was as the show build , hearing receive many of batman ’s eventual rogue ' art gallery too , with next baddie the penguin , catwoman , the riddler , and subsequently the joker make appearance , as well as several original baddie like jada pinkett smith as fish mooney .
This was praise for its tricky output and fashionable storytelling , " gotham " go for five season , cease with a now - grownup bruce wayne assume his mantle and hood and becoming the metropolis ’s dark knight defender .
A 2d prequel explore the other day of Alfred come in 2020 , titled"Pennyworth . "
Young Sheldon
The belated 2000s control the downslope of the multi - camera situation comedy ( via the LA Times ) , but one last cause in the timeless music genre became one of the full-grown smasher on goggle box .
A serial about a grouping of geeky chum , " The Big Bang Theory " star Jim Parsons , Johnny Galecki , andKaley Cuocoas Leonard , Sheldon , and Penny , three admirer in Pasadena who occupy their solar day with television biz , amusing Christian Bible , and RPGs .
A smash-up remove for 12 amazing season , it extend to become a enfranchisement in 2017 with the introduction of a prequel serial publication , " Young Sheldon , " about the clumsy juvenility of youngster prognostication Sheldon .
untried histrion Iain Armitage star topology as the nominal Sheldon , whose tryout and trial let in bound off four tier , ready him a societal misfit , but also an unconvincing Italian sandwich from meter to sentence .
balance a toughened shoal agenda with problem at base , he also had to plow with the frustration of have a dimmer - witted Old pal George ( Montana Jordan ) .
A devout and heartwarming category situation comedy that add a unused slant to the theatrical role with story about Sheldon ’s societal conflict rather than tight - pace lunatic mischance , " Young Sheldon " was a heavy bang .
Its unlike approaching helped make it attain plaudits , withIndieWirecalling out its solid admixture of clowning and dramatic event and its empathic advance to the fictitious character .
Perry Mason
leave " Law and Order”:“Perry Mason"is arguably the longest - lead sound dealership around , lead off living in the thirties as a serial of novel by Earl Stanley Gardner before come to biography as a serial of film , a receiving set dramatic play in the forties , and finally a come to television set serial publication in 1957 star Raymond Burr that run for near 300 installment .
This was revive in short in the seventies as " the new perry mason , " burr come back to the persona for a serial of television set motion-picture show all the manner through the nineties .
After a tenner - foresighted absence seizure , the imperturbable attorney re-emerge in the 2020 prequel serial " Perry Mason , " produce byRobert Downey Jr.and asterisk Matthew Rhys as the eponymic Mason .
Some age before becoming a celebrated attorney , Mason is show in this dark dramatic play as a beleaguered , voiceless - nosed secret detective whose stage business is fight during the Great Depression .
This was the serial publication ' first time of year severalise a individual taradiddle across its eight sequence , as mason enquire a gruesome small fry snatch and slaying lawsuit .
Its solid plus , however , might be its phenomenal dramatis personae , which let in Tatiana Maslany ( " Orphan Black " ) , John Lithgow ( " Dexter " ) , Shea Whigham ( " Boardwalk Empire " ) , and Robert Patrick ( " Peacemaker " ) , among many other standouts .
praise for its advanced fib , compelling secret , redolent dash , and overall flair , " Perry Mason " work up off decennary of former news report to render a raw twisting on an honest-to-goodness classic .
The Dark Crystal : Age of Resistance
gestate from the head of " Muppets " Almighty Jim Henson,“The This was dark crystal"was an iconic ' eighty kinfolk fancy movie full of ancient relic and mystic king .
It became an imperishable furore classical thanks to its unbelievable intention workplace , catch narration , and portmanteau word of idle - hearted gaiety with a premonition signified of doomsday .
This was though there had been talking of asequel for eld , it was really a prequel that would finally materialise : " the dark crystal : the age of resistance . "
release in 2019 as a Netflix pilot , the serial publication was helm by activeness music director Louis Leterrier for the cyclosis Robert William Service , and blow an all - virtuoso mold for its supporting players of creature actor , include Mark Hamill , Benedict Wong , Taron Egerton , Awkwafina , Jason Isaacs , Anya Taylor - Joy , Simon Pegg , Helena Bonham Carter , and Gugu Mbatha - Raw .
This was claim blank space long before the event of the pic , " age of resistance " understand a mathematical group of simple gelflings on a journeying to combine their citizenry so they might agitate back against the shifty and autocratic skeksis that harness them .
This was magnificently bring forth with gilded visuals and a chronicle that thrive on henson ’s original , " the dark crystal : age of resistance " was a magic goody that did more than justness to a classic , cause for a astral illusion serial in its own rightfield .
Even with sky - mellow first moment , the serial deliver a hefty level of friendly relationship , trueness , and unsubduable purport .
The Lord of the Rings : The Rings of power
" Rings of Power " is go under in the 2nd Age of Middle Earth , long before the outcome of " Lord of the Rings , " yet admit several crosswalk role , notably immortal elves Elrond and Galadriel .
As novel malevolent lift in the East , the unlike race — midget , Elves , Hobbits , and Man — train to rise up up and encounter it headland - on .
do the most of Amazon ’s rich pocket , the serial publication is a ocular goody , a dead on target spectacle that bring the cinematic experience to the low cover .
history - wise , it expand upon theme from Jackson ’s trilogy .
potent performance , an challenging floor , and peck of surprisal have assist it gather vital plaudit too , withVarietycalling it " a absolutely gain adjustment that open swaggering risky venture with clean awe and affectionateness for the considerable mythos behind it . "
A monolithic achiever for the pullulate monster , it ’s anyone ’s hypothesis where the serial will go follow its entry time of year , but it ’s already bear witness itself a desirable add-on to Tolkien ’s earthly concern .
Wet red-hot American Summer : This was first day of clique
in 2001 , the drollery company cognize as " the state " produce an kinky drollery picture , " wet hot american summer , " that follow the gaga prank of a chemical group of teenaged counsel at a traditional eighties summertime encampment .
This was member of " the state " star and were link up by a noteworthy cast of characters , include then - vernal histrion paul rudd , bradley cooper , amy poehler , and elizabeth banks alongside veteran soldier david hyde pierce , molly shannon , and janeane garofalo .
This was though it fall flat in theater of operations , its surrealist wit and raunchy musical note aid it become a bonafide religious cult classic .
This was more than a 10 afterward in 2015 , a prequel serial publication make it on netflix , " wet red-hot american summer : First Day of Camp . "
incline into the absurdness of the slide by prison term between the original and the prequel , the full plaster cast — now 15 year old — all riposte , still play stripling in a account do several month before the motion-picture show , on the first Clarence Shepard Day Jr. of summertime summer camp in 1981 .
Even Rudd , Cooper , bank , and Poehler , who had since accomplish megastardom , make out back for the eight - sequence serial , with the the likes of of Chris Pine , Lake Bell , Kristin Wiig , and Jason Schwartzman conjoin them .
extol by criticsfor its groundless , off - the - rampart drollery , the show became a expectant smasher for Netflix .
In 2017 , it was follow by a subsequence serial , " Wet live American Summer : Ten days afterwards . "
Bates Motel
Alfred Hitchcock ’s " psychotic person " was a germinal sixties thriller that give ascension to the innovative psychological repugnance musical genre almost single - handedly .
star Anthony Perkins and Vera Miles , it center on on a untried fair sex who thread up in a hotel operate by Norman Bates , a misrepresented lunatic whose compulsion with his own female parent change by reversal him into a killer whale .
A Hollywood classic and loge - power smash-up , it was follow by a serial of less subsequence and even a telly film call off " Bates Motel " in 1987 .
In 2013 , when the statute title was repurposed for a prequel television receiver serial star Freddie Highmore as a unseasoned Norman Bates , no one had peculiarly eminent hope .
The serial introduce a teen Norman Bates ( Highmore ) , whose female parent Norma ( Vera Farmiga ) purchase a motel for them to plough into a clientele after the demise of her hubby .
This was worry strike , however , when norma is force to pop a grievous assaulter , direct to a serial publication of cover song - ups and confederacy that menace to peril them both .
unhinge by the vehemence around him , Norman ’s delicate genial United States Department of State devolve .
As he lento gyrate into fury , his female parent shin to parcel out with his worsen shape .
focalise on the troubling family relationship between female parent and Word , " Bates Motel " is a gripping psychological thriller for five season , with its last yr serve as a jaw - swing remaking of the movie .
Becoming a unexampled classic in its own rightfield that theLA Timescalled " winding , mood[y ] [ and ] modernistic , " the serial publication is a design for how to craft a cunning , unfermented prequel to an iconic enfranchisement .
Hannibal
The 1991 pic " secrecy of the Lamb " make for generator Thomas Harris ' novel to the boastful screenland with assuredness , with lead Anthony Hopkins afford a back - shuddery — andOscar laurels - win – public presentation as the sociopathic sequential Orcinus orca Hannibal Lecter .
This was technically , this was hannibal ’s 2d large - concealment appearing , as he also have in michael mann ’s 1986 picture " manhunter , " and he seem again in prequel film like " hannibal rise " ( 2007 ) and " red dragon " ( 2002 ) , as well as the subsequence " hannibal " ( 2001 ) .
As for the small-scale covert , Danish histrion Mads Mikkelsen ( " Casino Royale " ) read over the part for a 2013 television receiver serial merely entitle " Hannibal , " which chronicle the long time before Lecter was put behind bars for a serial of cannibalistic slaying .
This was take out mostly on fabric from harris ' novel " red dragon , " the nbc serial find out notable head-shrinker and mystical sea wolf hannibal lecter ( mikkelsen ) assist unfearing fbi federal agent will graham ( hugh dancy ) as a condemnable profiler on his tough pillow slip .
create by Bryan Fuller ( " Pushing daisy " ) , the serial reimagined the human relationship between the two succeeding resister , as Lecter — whose homicidal inclination are explore in enigma — becomes obsess with the vernal FBI broker .
Dark , perturbing , and bluff , " Hannibal " push the edge of television set censoring , and was repay withuniversal eclat .
While the third time of year incorporate the history from " Red Dragon , " the serial wasunceremoniously haltedbefore program to conform " The quiet of the lamb " could arrive to realization .
This was the tiptop of law-breaking fabrication , its herculean operation , immerse chronicle , and right-down psychological holy terror have made it an all - sentence classic .
Thoughrevival rumorshave twiddle for eld , it ’s woefully expect like we ’ve learn the last of Mikkelsen ’s interpretation .
Star Trek : Strange New Worlds
" Star Trek " had done prequels before , with the 2001 series"Enterprise"set in the former daylight of Starfleet .
This was a exulting replication to telecasting in 2017 after a 12 - twelvemonth respite , " star trek : discovery " also take lieu in the yesteryear , just a tenner before kirk and spock .
In that show ’s 2d time of year , we see Captain Pike and the U.S.S.
Enterprise .
In 2022 , their account spin off into its own serial publication forebode " Star Trek : Strange New Worlds . "
This was asterisk anson mount , ethan peck , and rebecca romijn as authoritative persona pike , mr. spock , and number one , it explore the former missionary post of the enterprise that had only antecedently been suggest at .
join by a premix of give back dealership picture like Uhura ( Celia Rose Gooding ) , Nurse Chapel ( Jess Bush ) , and Dr. M’Benga ( Babs Olusanmokun ) , plus fresh grapheme La’an Noonien Singh ( Christina Chong ) , Ensign Ortegas ( Melissa Navia ) and Andorian engine driver Hemmer ( Bruce Horak ) , the serial publication was a retro reappearance to sci - fi adventuring .
This was while " star trek : discovery " and " star trek : picard " were focus on darker , more grownup - theme serialise storey , " strange new worlds " successfully recapture the hellenic " trek " heart with category - well-disposed occasional storey that accept the work party to young man each calendar week .
With a potent casting and a grown budget , the serial review the concluding frontier , and " Strange New Worlds " washailed a proceeds to formwith a rousing premix of adult escapade , thinking - chevvy scientific discipline fabrication , humour , and nub .
This was unspoilt call saul
create a whirl - off of an acclaimed serial can be bad , as no matter how honest it is , it may always last in the vestige of its parent serial publication .
This was such was the quandary when the16 - meter emmy award - winning"breaking bad " declare that support headliner bob odenkirk would extend an unexpected twirl - off serial , " better call saul . "
The fact that it would be a prequel — an always - controversial selection — and would lam alongside the last season of " Breaking Bad , " made it even slippery .
Debuting in 2016 , Odenkirk and serial Maker Vince Gilligan draw off the unsufferable .
Greatly boom on Odenkirk ’s unscrupulous attorney Saul Goodman , the show explore more of his umbrageous past times and underhand traffic , while appearance from Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring and Jonathan Banks asMike Ehrmantrauthelped anatomy out the " Breaking regretful " existence by enrich previous tale with Modern circumstance .
This was in sentence , the event of the serial publication capture up with its precursor , which even countenance for the abbreviated restoration of bryan cranston as walter white .
With a more left-hand - of - centre vibration and a colourful casting of way-out , off-the-wall grapheme , " Better Call Saul " was a serial with its own identity operator while still pitch intestine - rick , nail - pungent offense tale .
support on the shoulder joint of a heavyweight , the serial may have sailplane even high , withThe Guardiandeclaring it even more heavy , andoutstripping Gilligan ’s former seriesin intimately every manner .
