Five Movie Franchises That Could have Great Prequels

The greatest movie franchises have been allowed to become well known throughout their tenure largely because of their great story lines and expert casting, but there is always the question of what came before. Many fans won’t ever ask such a question, perhaps thinking that the story itself is good enough and doesn’t warrant any further introspection. However, those fans that love the story but want to know how it all began are those that would most like to see the story told from the point of origin that is typically only hinted at in rumors and gossip throughout the franchise.

Here are five movie franchises that could have great prequels

The Hunger Games

It’s understood that Panem rules everything in The Hunger Games, but the ‘Dark Days’ that are alluded to are a little hazy. While it is understood that life has become a rather difficult struggle, especially in District 13, it is not fully understood why. There is no concrete explanation why the USA has become this mockery of its former self, and it would likely make a very compelling story that could translate well to film.

Harry Potter

Origin stories are quite interesting when they concern the main characters. While most everyone knows Harry Potter’s origin as well as their own personal history, some have tended to wonder about Lord Voldemort’s and just how a little boy became the most infamous dark magician in the series. Rowlings goes into this in her books, but due to time constraints and obvious budgeting decisions it is never shown just how the first Wizarding War began, and how Voldemort really got his beginning.  Although Fantastic Beasts is on the right track and we could very well see a solo Voldemort movie in the future.

Men in Black

The Men in Black is a well-oiled machine that is fully up and running and capable during Agent J’s time. It’s impressive, expansive, and helps millions of aliens on earth blend into the population. But what about when the Men in Black were getting their first start? That might be worth another movie to see just how rocky the relations were with the alien visitors when the agency was in its earliest stages of protecting the planet.

Taken

Liam Neeson is a very, very dangerous man. But there had to have been a time when he was a little less confident and a little less tough, even if it was marginal. As the Taken franchise is need of a good shot in the arm it might be time to revisit Neeson in boot camp or at least in his time with the CIA where he acquired those necessary skills to ruin the day of any bad guy that crossed him.

The Matrix

The Machine War is hinted at throughout the trilogy and even shown in the Animatrix, but a live action film could possibly show just how humanity managed to dig their own grave before being turned into biological power sources. It would take a director with a seriously dark sense of humor and drama, but it could go a long way towards explaining how it was decided that humans would sport holes in the various parts of their body and why the pink gel was absolutely necessary.

Conclusion

Prequels often get a bad rap simply because they explain away the magic of the movie and don’t ever seem to live up to expectations. But in truth, the prequel is the child or adolescent that comes before the adult, so in truth it doesn’t need to live up to the original, it just needs to explain why the original is the way it is.