History Main / SavedForTheSequel

** The Japanese ''Sonic 3'' manual mentions a legend described in the Chaos Emeralds' altar predicting the coming of a legendary dragon that bring great disaster, and level concept art briefly shown in a behind-the-scenes video promoting the then-upcoming ''Sonic & Knuckles'' depicts Super Sonic fighting a dragon-like monster in space, implying that it would have been a boss battle. Surely enough, ''S&K'''s final level consisted in a battle in space as Super Sonic. However, the boss there was another of Eggman's mechs instead, and [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse there were no more mentions of the dragon]], with the mural shown in Hidden Palace Palace (the location of the Emeralds' altar) depicting the final battle with Eggman instead. The original plot point would be finally addressed and resolved in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' with the introduction of Chaos, a [[EldritchAbomination legendary monster]] that has a [[OneWingedAngel dragon-shaped ultimate form]] and is connected to the Chaos Emeralds.

** The Japanese ''Sonic 3'' manual mentions a legend described in the Chaos Emeralds' altar predicting the coming of a legendary dragon that bring great disaster, and level concept art briefly shown in a behind-the-scenes promoting the then-upcoming ''Sonic & Knuckles'' depicts Super Sonic fighting a dragon-like monster in space, implying that it would have been a boss battle. Surely enough, ''S&K'''s final level consisted in a battle in space as Super Sonic. However, the boss there was another of Eggman's mechs instead, and [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse there were no more mentions of the dragon]], with the mural shown in Hidden Palace Palace (the location of the Emeralds' altar) depicting the final battle with Eggman instead. The original plot point would be finally addressed and resolved in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' with the introduction of Chaos, a [[EldritchAbomination legendary monster]] that has a [[OneWingedAngel dragon-shaped ultimate form]] and is connected to the Chaos Emeralds.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' had Zygarde as a BonusBoss [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere with little explanation]]. There were plans to release another pair of Kalos games with Zygarde as the version mascot, but they were shelved, so the [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the anime]] was used to introduce new Zygarde forms. Meanwhile, the games wouldn't feature them until [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon the next Pokémon generation]], where Zygarde was featured as a sidequest.

** While ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' did have Zygarde as a BonusBoss, [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the anime]] featured formes for it not found in those games. Because there was no UpdatedRerelease or {{sequel}} for the Kalos games [[note]]which averted this trope for other loose ends...[[/note]], those extra forms were put into ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' (and ''its'' [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]], ''[[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon]]'') as a sidequest.

** Vector the Crocodile was originally going to appear in ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 Sonic 1]]'' as part of a rock band along with Sonic and other characters. When the band concept was scrapped, he and the other band members were removed from the game and from canon, but he was lucky enough to be reinstated with an altered design and background years later in ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''.

*** Hidden Palace was going to be a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin hidden]] ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Sonic 2]]'' stage where Sonic would gain his [[SuperMode Super form]] after collecting all Chaos Emeralds, but had to be scrapped due to time constraints. Two years later, the stage was incorporated into ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'', albeit using different layout, graphics and music, but keeping its concept, function (replacing Super Sonic with Hyper Sonic) and lore (albeit altered to fit with the game and the established canon), even making the area more of a central element in the story. Eventually, the 2013 smartphone ''Sonic 2'' port added back the Zone as an extra bonus, but it stripped it off its functions and lore and changed it into more of a prehistoric-themed stage to differentiate it from the ''[=S3&K=]'' incarnation.

* ''Manga/{{Arachnid}}'' gets an ending with little closure for the heroine and several loose ends, but years later the sidestory ''Caterpillar'' became a POVSequel after its prequel arc.

* Likewise, ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'' doesn't really resolve the situation with Harry's condition, and only introduces the Rhino for a SequelHook concerning the Script/SinisterSix.

** In ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' the fate or identity of Rey's family is never revealed, but it has been confirmed that that issue will be resolved later on in the sequel trilogy. As of ''Film/TheLastJedi'', they have been revealed by Kylo Ren to be [[spoiler:nobody important - drunkards who sold their daughter for drinking money and abandoned her on Jakku]]. Whether this is true or not is yet to be seen.

* ''VideoGame/SpyroTheDragon'':
** The plot of ''VideoGame/SpyroEnterTheDragonfly'' was supposed to be DarkerAndEdgier than previous titles. It was supposed to feel less kiddie and "more like the flavor of ''Literature/HarryPotter''". Sony vetoed this idea, but a similar idea was reuse years later with the first ContinuityReboot, ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro''.
** ''VideoGame/SpyroEnterTheDragonfly'' was supposed to introduce a pink female dragon named "Ember". Due to developmental change, there wasn't anywhere in the game for her. She was scrapped but reused in ''VideoGame/SpyroAHerosTail'', where Ember shortly appeared for two scenes in the game (and can be played using a skin).

** The plot was supposed to be DarkerAndEdgier than previous titles. It was supposed to feel less kiddie and "more like the flavor of ''Literature/HarryPotter''". Sony vetoed this idea, but a similar idea was reuse years later with the first ContinuityReboot, ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro''.
** The game was supposed to introduce a pink female dragon named "Ember". Due to developmental change, there wasn't anywhere in the game for her. She was scrapped but reused in ''VideoGame/SpyroAHerosTail'', where Ember shortly appears early in two scenes in the game (and can be played using a skin).

* ''Disney/TheLionKing'' was originally going to explain how Timon was kicked out of his colony during an earlier version of "Hakuna Matata", but it was cut for time. Timon's backstory was explored in far greater depth in the prequel/midquel, ''Disney/TheLionKingOneAndAHalf''.

* According to WordOfGod, in ''Film/{{Godzilla 1998}}'' there were going to be other {{kaiju}}, but they got held back to appear in the sequel. Perhaps if they had put them in the movie there would actually have been a sequel.

** TheStinger of ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'' has Wade telling the audience that Cable is planned for the sequel, and he is one of the central characters of ''Film/Deadpool2''.
* Early drafts of the script of ''Film/SpiderMan1'' had both the [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn Green Goblin]] and ComicBook/DoctorOctopus as villains. Seeing as how they didn't want to overcrowd the movie with three different origin stories, Doc Ock was cut from the film and later showed up in ''Film/SpiderMan2''
* Early drafts of ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014'' featured Casey Jones, Beebop and Rocksteady, but all three characters ended up being written out. They'll be appearing in the sequel.

** Leaf, the female protagonist of ''[=FireRed=]'' and ''[=LeafGreen=]'', is a redesign of an apparently unused female protagonist from ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''. This design was used as the basis for Green in ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee''.
** Tirtouga greatly resembles an unused Pokemon from gen 2.
** On the subject of Generation 2, ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' were originally going to contain a skateboard in addition to the bicycle; an idea that ultimately never made it into the final game. Years later in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', the player character is given roller skates in addition to getting the bike later on.
** Originally, Professor Oak was going to be the final battle before becoming the Champion in ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''. Twenty years later, in ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', [[spoiler:the final battle is against the Alola region's own Professor, Kukui]].
** A grass-type Eeveelution was planned for ''Gold and Silver''. Nearly ten years later, ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' introduced Leafeon.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':
** [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Bowser]], [[Franchise/{{Kirby}} King Dedede]], and [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Mewtwo]] were meant to be in the [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros64 first game]]; they did not get in due to time and budget constraints. Bowser and Mewtwo would eventually make it into ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee Melee]]'', while King Dedede would not join until ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Brawl]]''. [[VideoGame/KidIcarus Pit]] was also considered for ''Melee'' as a retro character (among many other characters), but the VideoGame/{{Ice Climber}}s were added over him due to their gameplay potential. Pit would go on to join in ''Brawl'', with an updated appearance, which would lead to [[VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising a new game]] after over two decades.
** UsefulNotes/{{Mii}}s were also considered to be added in ''Brawl'', but Creator/MasahiroSakurai decided against adding them, because, at the time, he could not figure out how to implement them. They join in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' as fully customizable characters.
** The [[VideoGame/AnimalCrossing Villager]] was considered to join the battle in ''Brawl'', but Sakurai likewise decided not to include him because ''Animal Crossing'' being about as peaceful as a video game series can get, he couldn't think of any good moves to give him. By the time the fourth game started development, he eventually did find good moves for him, and thus the Villager became playable.
** Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto personally requested VideoGame/PacMan be made a playable character for ''Brawl'' (Pac-Man is his favorite video game character), but Sakurai was unable to think of a good moveset at the time. He would make his debut in ''U/3DS'', and indeed, most of his attacks there draw inspiration from other classic [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] games rather than his home series alone.
** [[LimitBreak Final Smashes]] were intended to be included in the original UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 game, as evidenced by [[DummiedOut unused audio files]], but weren't added in until ''Brawl'' on the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}.

** Time-traveling was a concept first conceived for ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'' but wasn't added into a game until ''VideoGame/SonicCD''. The unused Rock World Zone was the 'past version' of the more well-known, also unused, Dust Hill Zone.
** Vector was originally supposed to be part of a rock band with Sonic in the first game. The concept was scrapped when they couldn't implement the characters in the game, as a sound test mode intended to show them had to be cut out due to memory limitations. He was reintroduced in ''VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix''.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** The Horse Call in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' dates back to ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]''. It was originally a Reed Whistle but was scrapped in favor of Epona's Song.
** The Hero's Shade teaching you moves in ''Twilight Princess'' is similar to an unused concept for ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' where Link learned skills via cutscene.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' uses various unused concepts from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. It's speculated that Fado the wind sage is a reference to Fado from ''[=OOT=]'', who seems to have had been a sage in development instead of Saria. There are also some DummiedOut temples and other elements from earlier stages of ''Ocarina Of Time'' that were retooled in ''Wind Waker''.
** The E3 announcement trailer for ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' shows that Link originally had a sneaking ability for stealth portions of the game. It was replaced with hiding inside barrels. Years later ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' implemented a stealth ability.
* ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'': Tiny Tiger and the Komodo Brothers were supposed to appear in the first game, however they were held back until the second title.
[[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' was initially supposed to go in-depth about the origin of the Avatar Cycle. This was cut for time and instead covered in season two of ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''.
** ''Korra'' itself has this to a smaller extent in the form of Kuvira, who appeared briefly in the finale of Season 3 (with a very noticeable character model and soundtrack, mind you) before returning with a much larger role in Season 4.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS14E12ImSpellingAsFastAsICan I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can]]" was going to have a LeadIn where Bart realises he wasted his summer and rushes all the activities he intended to do on the last day. It ended up being cut for time and used in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS17E21TheMonkeySuit The Monkey Suit]]" instead, three seasons later.
* The ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS3E5HitTheDiamond Hit the Diamond]]" was going to have a scene where Steven gives nicknames to the Ruby Squad, but it ended up being cut. It took until "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS3E23BackToTheMoon Back to the Moon]]", the Squad's second appearance, for the nickname scene to happen.

** Leaf, the female protagonist of ''Firered'' and ''Leafgreen'', is a redesign of an apparently unused female protagonist from ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''. This design was used as the basis for Green in ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee''.

** A grass-type Eeveelution was planned for ''Gold and Silver''. Nearly ten years later, ''Diamond and Pearl'' introduced Leafeon.
* The UsefulNotes/PlayStation version of ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soul Edge]]'', known outside of Japan as ''[[MarketBasedTitle Soul Blade]]'', was intended to feature certain characters as guest characters but in the end there wasn't time to implement them. Among these guest characters would have been Arthur, Kathandra and Monkasei. Arthur would appear in ''Soulcalibur'' as an optional replacement for Mitsurugi in Arcade machines (mainly for the Korean market but available in American ones too). Kathandra would be renamed to Cassandra and first appear in ''Soulcalibur II''. Monkasei would be reworked into Yunsung and also first appear in ''Soulcalibr II'' (with his name instead being spelled as Yun-seong from ''III'' onward).

** Bowser, King Dedede, and Mewtwo were meant to be in the first ''Super Smash Bros.'' on the Nintendo 64; they did not get in due to time and budget constraints. Bowser and Mewtwo would eventually make it into ''Melee'', while King Dedede would not join until ''Brawl''. Pit was also considered for ''Melee'' as a retro character (among many other characters), but the Ice Climbers were added over him due to their gameplay potential. Pit would go on to join in Brawl, with an updated appearance, which would lead to [[VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising a new game]] after over two decades.
** Miis were also considered to be added in ''Brawl'', but Sakurai decided against adding them, because, at the time, he could not figure out how to implement them. They join in the 3DS and Wii U iterations as fully customizable characters.

** Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto personally requested VideoGame/PacMan be made a playable character for ''Brawl'' (Pac-Man is his favorite video game character), but Creator/MasahiroSakurai was unable to think of a good moveset at the time. He would make his debut in ''U/3DS'', and indeed, most of his attacks there draw inspiration from other Namco games rather than his home series alone.
** [[LimitBreak Final Smashes]] were intended to be included in the original UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 game, as evidenced by [[DummiedOut unused audio files]], but weren't added in until ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' on the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}.

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':

* The character of ComicBook/{{Gambit}} has been hit by this several times. He was originally intended to make a cameo in ''Film/X2XMenUnited'', (he ended up just being a name on a computer screen) but it was decided to save the character for ''Film/XMenTheLastStand''. After being written out of that film as well, he finally appeared in ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine''. After that film was declared CanonDiscontinuity, there were plans to re-introduce Gambit in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', which also failed to materialize. He's currently set to appear in ''Film/XMenApocalypse'', played by Creator/ChanningTatum.
** Jubilee got hit with the same thing. She was originally supposed to appear in ''Days of Future Past'' as one of the future X-Men, but was cut for unknown reasons. She'll instead be used in ''Apocalypse'' as one of the new recruits.
** TheStinger of ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'' has [[spoiler:Wade telling the audience that Cable is planned for the sequel]].

* Creator/BrandonSanderson [[WordOfGod says]] that he has many developments in [[FunctionalMagic BioChroma]] that he plans to put into a sequel to ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'' named ''Nightblood''. However, he is not entirely clear on if he will actually write it, and it has been put on hold until after he establishes his ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'' series in [[Franchise/TheCosmere the same]] [[TheVerse Verse]].

-->-- ''Film/TheMatrix''

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' uses various unused concepts from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime''. It's speculated that Fado the wind sage is a reference to Fado from ''[=OOT=]'', who seems to have had been a sage in development instead of Saria. There are also some DummiedOut temples and other elements from earlier stages of ''Ocarina Of Time'' that were retooled in ''Wind Waker''.
** The E3 announcement trailer for ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' shows that Link originally had a sneaking ability for stealth portions of the game. It was replaced with hiding inside barrels. Years later ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' implemented a stealth ability.

* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''

** While ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' did have Zygarde as a BonusBoss, [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the anime]] featured formes for it not found in those games. Because there was no UpdatedRerelease or {{sequel}} for the Kalos games,[[note]]which averted this trope for other loose ends...[[/note]], those extra forms were put into ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' (and ''its'' [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]], ''[[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon]]'') as a sidequest.

** ''Korra'' itself has this to a smaller extent in the form of Kuvira, who appeared briefly in the finale of season 3 (with a very noticeable character model and soundtrack, mind you) before returning with a much larger role in season 4.

* The $30 expansion for ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' titled ''Enter the Dominatrix'' (originally thought to be an [[AprilFoolsDay April Fools joke]], but later revealed to be real) was announced to be canceled but later released for the next game.
* During the final mission of ''VideoGame/StarFoxAssault'', the Star Wolf team (who are [[EnemyMine allies to the Star Fox team for the moment]]) draw off the enemy ships pursuing the Star Fox team, allowing them to reach the game's FinalBoss, and are not seen again, leaving it unclear whether they survived. There has been [[VideoGame/StarFoxAssault another game]] released in the series since then and all three members of Star Wolf did appear, confirming that they did survive, though there is ongoing debate among the fandom over whether that game is canon or not.

** [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Originally this was supposed to be the motive for the Reapers.]] They were intended to be interested in stopping the spreading of Dark Energy before it could tear the universe apart. And the key to this was biotics. [[spoiler: This was replaced with the ending of the entirety of the story being about the Reapers as a Rouge AI]]. Given the level of reception of the ending, it seems that this could have been better, though that is likely just because the current ending is so unpopular.

** While ''Videogame/PokemonXAndY'' did have Zygarde as a BonusBoss, [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} the Anime]] featured forms for it not found in those games. Because there was no UpdatedRerelease or {{Sequel}} for the Kalos games,[[note]]which averted this Trope for other loose ends...[[/note]] those extra forms were put into ''Videogame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' (and ''its'' {{Updated Rerelease}}s) as a sidequest.
* The Playstation version of ''VideoGame/SoulEdge''[=/=]''VideoGame/SoulBlade'' was intended to feature certain characters as guest characters but in the end there wasn't time to implement them. Among these guest characters would have been Arthur, Kathandra and Monkasei. Arthur would appear in ''[=SoulCalibur=]'' as an optional replacement for Mitsurugi in Arcade machines (mainly for the Korean market but available in American ones too). Kathandra would be renamed to Cassandra and first appear in ''[=SoulCalibur=] II''. Monkasei would be reworked into Yun-Sung and first appear in ''[=SoulCalibur=] II''. Yun-Sung's name would change to Yun-Seong from ''[=SoulCalibur=] III'' onwards.

** Miis were also considered to be added in ''Brawl'', but Sakurai decided against adding them, because, at the time, he could not figure out how to implement them. They join in the Wii U / 3DS iterations as fully customizable characters.

* ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'': Due to the game being split in two parts because of time constraints, most plotlines, the second half of the story, and most (if not all) of the Sonic & Knuckles content ended up becoming this.
** Flying Battery was originally going to be a Sonic 3 stage placed between Carnival Night and [=IceCap=], but they choose to save it for Sonic & Knuckles, feeling that this one would be too short otherwise.
** Hidden Palace was going to be a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin hidden]] Sonic 2 stage where Sonic would gain his [[SuperMode Super form]] after collecting all Chaos Emeralds, but had to be scrapped due to time constraints. Two years later, the stage was incorporated into Sonic 3 & Knuckles, albeit using different layout, graphics and music, but keeping its concept, function (replacing Super Sonic with Hyper Sonic) and lore (albeit altered to fit with the game and the established canon), even making the area more of a central element in the story. Eventually, the 2013 smartphone Sonic 2 port added back the Zone as an extra bonus, but it stripped it off its functions and lore and changed it into more of a prehistoric-themed stage to differentiate it from the S3&K incarnation.

* Nova Terra was the main character of the ''{{VideoGame/StarCraft}}'' GaidenGame Starcraft:Ghost, a third-person shooter. The game went through a long DevelopmentHell until it was finally cancelled, but Nova becomes an important side character in ''VideoGame/StarCraftII''.

** A more minor ''Sonic'' example was the Sunset Park Act 3 theme from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTripleTrouble''. It was originally supposed to be used in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogChaos'', but was DummiedOut before finally being used in ''Triple Trouble''... to the delight of many fans, who consider it to be [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome the best song]] [[SonicTheHedgehog/AwesomeMusic in any 8-bit Sonic game]].
* Nova Terra was the main character of the ''{{VideoGame/Starcraft}}'' GaidenGame Starcraft:Ghost, a third-person shooter. The game went through a long DevelopmentHell until it was finally cancelled, but Nova becomes an important side character in ''VideoGame/StarcraftII''.

* Shigeru Miyamoto has always liked the concept of riding a dinosaur that eats enemies (a similar dragon appears in ''VideoGame/DevilWorld''), and he always intended one to appear in the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series. However, due to technological limitations, he couldn't include one in either ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' or ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3''. The leap to 16 bits in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' gave them enough power to finally introduce Yoshi to the ''Mario'' universe.

* MarvelCinematicUniverse: