As Amazon announces their TV spinoff to The Lord Of The Rings film series, here’s a look at some other preludes to popular shows and movies...
Creating a prequel to a film or TV series can be tricky business. While viewers may turn to the show expecting the same familiar characters, they are also looking for a unique storyline, something that will make the show stand on its own. A few weeks ago, Amazon revealed their acquisition of global TV rights to The Lord Of The Rings. The popular movie series based on JRR Tolkein’s tales will be recreated for the small screen going back in time. There have also been rumours about various Game of Thrones prequels being in the works. Will these be as successful as their predecessors? After Hrs lists some recent TV prequels of famous movies and series.
YOUNG SHELDON-THE BIG BANG THEORY
When The Big Bang Theory premiered in 2007, revolving around the lives of two physicists Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper and their equally geeky friends Howard Wolowitz and Raj Koothrappali, few thought the show would be such a runaway success. Now, 11 seasons in, Sheldon’s (Jim Parsons) quirky character has won over so many fans that a prequel, Young Sheldon, was released two months ago. The series that’s currently on air, delves into the cute but annoying character’s formative years as a nine-year-old boy (Iain Armitage) living with his family in Texas and making his way through high school.
THE CARRIE DIARIES-SEX AND THE CITY
SATC, which had a six-year run, became an immensely popular relationship guide for women. The show followed the lives of four female best friends Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York, and Miranda Hobbes trying to find love in New York City. It also kicked off two films by the same name. Told through the eyes of Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), the success resulted in a prequel spinoff, The Carrie Diaries, which released in 2013. It traces her (AnnaSophia Robb) high school years, the beginnings of her writing career as a fashion magazine intern, and later exploring the Big Apple. The sitcom, however, failed to totally catch on with it being cancelled after two seasons.
BATES MOTEL-PSYCHO
The 1960 Alfred Hitchcock classic, Psycho, is considered as one of the greatest movies of all time. The story focusses on motel owner Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) and his unusual relationship with his mother. The inspiration was said to be real-life serial killer Ed Gein who developed mental health issues post the death of his controlling mom. The popularity of the film led to many sequels and spinoffs with Bates Motel showing the character of a teenage Norman Bates. The series that ran from 2013 to April this year, showcased the mother-son (Vera Farmiga-Freddie Highmore) in a different town as she comes to terms with his illness. The lead actors were both highly praised for their performances and the series won the People’s Choice Awards.
BETTER CALL SAUL- BREAKING BAD
The TV series, set in New Mexico, told the story of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a chemistry teacher suffering from lung cancer who along with his former student Jesse turns to producing Crystal meth. The drama series that ran for five seasons, received numerous awards including the most critically-acclaimed show of all time. The prequel Better Call Saul traces a small shot lawyer James Morgan McGill (Bob Odenkirk) who later turns into his alter ego Saul Goodman who helps Walter launder his drug money. This show, too, has been immensely successful with the fourth season scheduled to air in 2018.
GOTHAM-BATMAN
Batman is one of the most popular superhero characters who has inspired a number of TV series and film spinoffs. Gotham, which premiered in 2014, focusses on detective James Gordon (Benjamin McKenzie) as he tries to keep Gotham City safe. While working on the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, he meets their young son Bruce (David Mazouz), the future Batman. In its fourth season now, the prequel seems to be going strong.
FEAR THE WALKING DEAD-THE WALKING DEAD
The Walking Dead, which creates a post-apocalyptic scenario, has had a successful run of eight seasons and is still going strong. It traces the story of deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) who gets up to find the world taken over by zombies or the walkers. Its prequel, Fear the Walking Dead, follows the lives of two families who come together to deal with the apocalypse. The series, however, has had mixed reviews with some saying the characters and plots aren’t as interesting as the original.
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