Lucasfilm have revealed the official status of the Star Wars expanded universe in preparation for Star Wars: Episode VII and beyond.
Fans have been wondering about the status of the Star Wars Expanded Universe since Star Wars: Episode VII was first announced. With new films set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, how would this affect the countless novels, comic books, video games, and animated series that have sprung up around the six Star Wars movies? Well, now we know the answer, thanks to an official statement from Lucasfilm.
"We have an unprecedented slate of new Star Wars entertainment on the horizon," said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. "We're set to bring Star Wars back to the big screen, and continue the adventure through games, books, comics, and new formats that are just emerging. This future of interconnected storytelling will allow fans to explore this galaxy in deeper ways than ever before."
Essentially, all Star Wars films and animated series are the "immovable objects" of the new Star Wars canon. Everything else that has seen print before now is subject to change and interpretation, but all future Expanded Universe installments will be 100% part of the new Star Wars canon. Lucasfilm is quick to point out that elements of the Expanded Universe will still appear in the canon, and will draw on everything, including the West End Games roleplaying games from the '80s and '90s, which were terrific sources of Star Wars material at a time when the Expanded Universe was relatively scarce.
It isn't 100% clear how the pre-Return of the JediEU fits into this plan, as various comics and novels set during the Clone Wars and Old Republic eras seem less likely to immediately come into conflict with upcoming movies. On the other hand, the language in the statement is broad enough to include these, and it's best to not get too attached.
The good news is that all future Star WarsExpanded Universe installments will be considered canon, and will be produced in association with Lucasfilm. The first canon Star Wars novel will be a Star Wars: Rebels book from John Jackson Miller, known for his work on the Knights of the Old Republic comics. Presumably, this integrated approach will also include any comics that Marvel publishes once the Star Wars license reverts to them in 2015. In this respect, the coordinated multimedia approach to continuity, from comics to games to TV to novels is unprecedented.
[related article - First Batch of New Star Wars Expanded Universe Novels Revealed]
All "non-canon" elements of the Star Wars Expanded Universe will remain in print under a new banner known as Star Wars Legends.
Watch the new Expanded Universe Trailer here:
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i am still wondering how they will fit the wookie …
I don't see the problem.
They can make two separate universes - one for FILMS and the other for GAMES/COMICS/BOOKS.
It works for superhero films, so why wouldn't it work for Star Wars?
Because there is not set precedent for dimension hopping in Star Wars, mostly. Not that I don't think it could work, but it's a lot like Alien Vs. Predator and Prometheus. There are now logical holes in one series because of another.
Sorry, I can't answer you becase I'm too blinded by the awesomeness of your nickname.
I'm serious.
Thanks, amigo. I got my doctorate in being a crow of repute.