Curious facts about some high-profile sequels and prequels

Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 1 has not yet been released. The film that was released on March 27, 2025, was actually Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2. The filmmakers reportedly made the decision to release the sequel first, with plans for the prequel (Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 1) to be released at a later date. In this section, we list out similar examples from world cinema. Releasing a sequel before a prequel is an unusual but not unheard-of storytelling strategy in cinema. It can create a unique viewing experience, as audiences are already familiar with the later events and characters, which gives a new layer of meaning to the backstory. Here are some examples of films that were released out of chronological order: The Star Wars Saga : This is perhaps the most famous example. The original trilogy (Episodes IV, V, and VI) was released from 1977 to 1983, while the prequel trilogy (Episodes I, II, and III) followed much later, from 1999 to 2005. The prequels detail the fall of Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader, an event already known to audiences from the original films. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984): While a sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) in terms of its release date, Temple of Doom is chronologically a prequel. Its events are set in 1935, a year before those of Raiders. The Godfather Part II (1974): This film famously intercuts two narrative timelines. One is a sequel, continuing the story of Michael Corleone as the head of the family. The other is a prequel, telling the origin story of his father, Vito Corleone, as a young man in New York. This unique structure makes it both a sequel and a prequel. The Thing (2011): This film, while not a direct prequel, is a chronological predecessor to John Carpenter's 1982 film of the same name. It depicts the events at the Norwegian camp that were only alluded to in the 1982 movie, serving as a backstory for the main story. The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016): This film is a combination of a prequel and a sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman (2012). The main plot is a sequel, but it also includes a prequel storyline that explains the origins of the characters Freya and the Huntsman. 300: Rise of an Empire (2014): Similar to The Huntsman, this movie is both a prequel and a sequel to 300 (2007). Its events take place before, during, and after the Battle of Thermopylae depicted in the first film. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992): The film is a prequel to the popular television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991), detailing the last seven days of Laura Palmer's life. However, it also includes non-linear scenes that act as a sequel, showing events that happen after the television series. Also Read : Rajinikanth opens up about his collaboration with Kamal Haasan Pic Talk: Rakul Preet Singh playfully interacts with sunflower