What makes a good prequel? It usually provides the opportunity to flesh out an already beloved character or tell further stories in an already established world. But one element truly sorts out the good prequels from the great: innovation. It can be as simple as changing the tone from the original, or even changing genres. Alien: Romulus went for a YA spin on the original Alien formula. Andor featured small-scale spy stories rather than the grand space opera of Rogue One. And, of course, Better Call Saul stands tall as a prequel that arguably surpassed the original with its tragic reimagining of a shallow supporting character.
In 2023, a new prequel movie seemed like it was just another cash grab — a simple cynical attempt to recycle a formula of a familiar IP. But behind an A-list star and well-trod source material lies one of the most innovative prequels ever.
