prequela

Prequela is an informal, nonstandard term used to describe a work that unfolds before the events of an earlier, established work. The standard term is prequel; prequela is a playful or marketing-friendly variant that appears in fan discourse and some promotional material. It is not widely recognized as a separate literary or cinematic category in formal reference works.

In practice, a prequela typically serves as an origin story or backstory, detailing how characters, worlds, or conflicts came to be. It can expand lore and provide context for the original work, enriching narrative continuity. Critics are divided: some view prequels as valuable expansions of a fictional universe, while others argue they can diminish suspense or retconn the momentum of the original by revealing outcomes in advance.

Notable works commonly described as prequels include Star Wars: Episodes I–III, which depict the rise of Anakin Skywalker; The Hobbit films, set before The Lord of the Rings; X‑Men: First Class, which explores the forming of the mutant team; and The Godfather Part II, which both follows Michael Corleone and chronicles his predecessor’s early life. In comics and television, origin-focused installments are often labeled as origin stories or prequels, with prequela occasionally used in fan or promotional contexts.

See also: prequel, origin story, backstory.