We explain what a spin-off is in film and television, and which are the most famous. We also tell you how they differ from sequels. Please read other MTV articles for more information. If you share it, it will be of little help to us.
What is a spin-off?
Spin-off is an English term that refers, in the world of film and television, to a derived series, that is, a narrative production whose plot is derived from a previous creation. It generally focuses on events related to a character or a series of secondary characters, but can also be linked to the location where the events take place or to the reality of the main work.
This term is primarily used in the audiovisual world, but can also be applied to video games, radio productions, literature, and other forms of storytelling. Furthermore, in the business world, the term spin-off is often used to refer to a derived or subsidiary company, that is, one that originates from another.
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Difference between spin-off and sequels
Spin-off series or spin-offs are independent stories that arise from a previous story and feature as primary characters those who had a secondary or even tertiary role in the original story. A sequel, on the other hand, is the continuation of a story, that is, an additional chapter in the world of the original fiction, which advances the development of the story.
For example, in the Star Wars cinematic universe, by American creator George Lucas, the film titled Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is a sequel to Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), in which the main characters reappear.
On the other hand, the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), which takes place just before Episode IV, is a spin-off, as it chronicles the fate of a group of supporting characters who are barely mentioned in the original saga and makes them protagonists.
Differences between prequel, sequel, interquel, and interquel
The terms prequel, sequel, interquel, and interquel are neologisms used in the field of narrative works to refer to productions that derive from others and establish a specific relationship with the original story. These terms derive from the term “sequel,” but they have different meanings.
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Prequel
A prequel is a narrative production that revisits the universe established in a previous creation to tell the events that led to the world of the original story. For example, in Star Wars, the events narrated in the trilogy released in 1977 are used to construct new stories that recount what happened before. Thus, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) is a prequel to the original trilogy.
Interquel
An interquel is a narrative production that delves deeper into the original story and explores what happened between two chapters in the saga. For example, in the case of Star Wars, the animated series The Clone Wars (2008) is an interquel that tells the events that occurred between Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005).
Medicuela
A interquel is a narrative production that fills a plot gap in the story of a previous production. It is a type of interquel that, rather than occurring between two episodes or chapters, takes place in the same timeline as an already told chapter and delves into a specific moment in its chronology. For example, the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) delves into the events told in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) to explore events not covered in the first film.
Paraquel
A paraquel is a narrative production that tells of events that occur parallel to those told in a previous production, but focuses on other points of view and events that were not originally shown or were only hinted at. It is a story that complements the original, adds information about the events that occurred, or provides new perspectives on the plot. For example, the video game Star Wars: Dark Forces (1995) tells the story of a character whose actions trigger the events of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), and some of the same events are told from a completely different point of view.
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Famous examples of spin-offs
The following are famous examples of spin-off series:
- The television series Better Call Saul (2015) is a spin-off and prequel to the previous series Breaking Bad (2008).
- The television series Bates Motel (2013) is a spin-off of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller, Psycho (1960).
- The film The Scorpion King (2002) is a spin-off and prequel to The Mummy (1999).
- The film X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) is a spin-off of the film series inspired by the Marvel Comics characters, the X-Men.
- The series CSI: Miami (2002) and CSI: NY (2004) are spin-offs of the famous series CSI: Las Vegas (2000).
Examples of Famous Sequels
Some examples of famous sequels in film and television are:
- The film Blade Runner 2049 (2017) is a sequel to the successful film Blade Runner (1982).
- The film Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991) is a sequel to The Blue Lagoon (1980).
- The film Robocop 2 (1990) is a sequel to Robocop (1987).
- The animated film Finding Dory (2016) is a sequel to the animated film Finding Nemo (2003).
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References
All the information we offer is supported by authoritative and up-to-date bibliographic sources, ensuring reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
- Cascajosa Virino, C. C. (2006). The distorted mirror. Versions, sequels, and adaptations in Hollywood. University of Seville.
- Konigsberg, I. (2004). Akal Technical Dictionary of Cinema. Akal.
- Travis, B. (2024). Star Wars Timeline: Every Movie, Series, and More. Empire. empireonline.com
- What it is Spin-off, examples, and differences with sequels – concepto.de
