Is it really a sequel? None of the stories are linked to each other, each can stand as its own film, and they were always planned as a thematic trilogy, for artistic reasons, rather than financial. Unlike most sequels, who get made only because the studio wants to milk the franchise for its worth (which explains why The Return of the King should not be a part of this topic, as it was always going to be made and already had the source material right from the start... and makes you wonder if The Return of the Jedi and The Revenge of the Sith should be, either).
