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The Star Wars Expanded Universe is Officially Over
bralinator
Posts: 5,967
Not sure why they made such a big announcement about getting a group of advisers together to decide what would be Star Wars canon and what wouldn't, but the EU is over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUm0Lo6DL-E
George Lucas described his relationship with the Expanded Universe in an interview with Starlog magazine:
They also promise to keep previous Expanded Universe stories in print under the "Legends" banner — perhaps indicating that sure, these are "legends" of the Star Wars universe, but may or may not have actually happened in this continuity.
So, I suppose that means the films and cartoon series is all canon and everything else is up for grabs. Does this also mean that the Holiday Special is canon?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUm0Lo6DL-EGeorge Lucas described his relationship with the Expanded Universe in an interview with Starlog magazine:
"I don't read that stuff. I haven't read any of the novels. I don't know anything about that world. That's a different world than my world. But I do try to keep it consistent. The way I do it now is they have a Star Wars Encyclopedia. So if I come up with a name or something else, I look it up and see if it has already been used. When I said [other people] could make their own Star Wars stories, we decided that, like Star Trek, we would have two universes: My universe and then this other one. They try to make their universe as consistent with mine as possible, but obviously they get enthusiastic and want to go off in other directions."Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy put a positive spin on it in the announcement.
Lucasfilm sounded a bit desperate to reassure fans that those stories still count in some way. "While the universe that readers knew is changing, it is not being discarded," the announcement reads. "Creators of new Star Wars entertainment have full access to the rich content of the Expanded Universe. For instance, the Inquisitor, the Imperial Security Bureau, and Sienar Fleet Systems are story elements in the new animated series, and all these ideas find their origins in roleplaying game material published in the 1980s."
"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."
They also promise to keep previous Expanded Universe stories in print under the "Legends" banner — perhaps indicating that sure, these are "legends" of the Star Wars universe, but may or may not have actually happened in this continuity.
So, I suppose that means the films and cartoon series is all canon and everything else is up for grabs. Does this also mean that the Holiday Special is canon?
Comments
1) The books, comics and games are still there and you can dive in whenever you want.
2) The merch shouldn't drive the franchise
3) The new movies being sold to millions do NOT want to be tied to a complicated continuity that has only been read by thousands, and a diminishing number at that. How long has it been since a Star Wars novel hit the bestseller list?
On a parallel note, I recently watched The People Vs. George Lucas on Netflix. Overall, it was a fair piece. What I found most fascinating was his testimony before Congress with regard to the Ted Turner colorization fiasco of the late 80's - early 90's where he said, in effect, that a film was a document that was, or should be frozen in time and that was, in effect, a record of the technique and technology associated with filmmaking at that time. Now, he may well have had some kind of epiphany, but again, there was strong language used on his part which is pretty indicting given his constant tinkering with the original trilogy.
That was always BS, Lucas based the clone wars cartoon off john ostrander & jan duursema's run on star wars republic. aayla secura came from the comic book.
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy put a positive spin on it in the announcement.
"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."
Because they are too lazy to do a movie that will fit, yes there is too many deaths in the novels but they can write a couple of novels to resurrect them. Eventually these new books will clash with a movie or TV they want to do.
Lucasfilm sounded a bit desperate to reassure fans that those stories still count in some way. "While the universe that readers knew is changing, it is not being discarded," the announcement reads. "Creators of new Star Wars entertainment have full access to the rich content of the Expanded Universe. For instance, the Inquisitor, the Imperial Security Bureau, and Sienar Fleet Systems are story elements in the new animated series, and all these ideas find their origins in roleplaying game material published in the 1980s."
They also promise to keep previous Expanded Universe stories in print under the "Legends" banner — perhaps indicating that sure, these are "legends" of the Star Wars universe, but may or may not have actually happened in this continuity.
So, I suppose that means the films and cartoon series is all canon and everything else is up for grabs. Does this also mean that the Holiday Special is canon?
Legends means this book don't mean s**t.
2. but it fills their wallets.
3. you can write episode 7 without it starting up go read 40 novels and 300 comics and then come back and watch this movie. I think most people know how children happen.
The 6 movies are canon, everything else is not. Just like Star Trek where the moves and TV series are canon, and the comics, games, books etc... are not.
I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Maybe it's because the books slipped off my radar once they started making huge changes to the Star Wars universe and focused on characters that you would only know if you read ALL of the books. Kind of like how I quit reading the Star Trek novels when they did the same thing.
I believe the clone wars cartoon will still be canon
The books/comics have been going on for 23 years, they were eventually going to do other characters other than han, luke & leia. Most people by now I have heard of mara jade, grand admiral thrawn (there is a story we are never going to get what thrawn was really up to and that he was probably not a bad guy), etc.
There is a certain element that we sold these books as being canon.
Personally I prefer the stories to go onwards not stagnate, I prefer the same thing with the current star trek expanded universe. But neither is perfect.
I'm excited for the Luceno "Tarkin". Don't know the other two authors. "Heir to the Jedi" might be most critical to the new movies and pays homage to the EU resurgence's first book from about 1990, "Heir to the Empire".
"What would you rather have in Episode 7? A page by page adaptation of a novel? OR do you want to see Harrision Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher make an appearance? You can't have both."
These new novels are part of the "playing it safe" novels that they have been putting out already.
Much like DC's recent revamp of all of their once beloved properties, recognizing that these familiar characters are no more than licensed properties to exploit makes it a bit easier to swallow.
I'm trying to nail down who in this picture is who. My best guesses...
Yeah right, "Didja bring your mocap suit, Andy?"
Again, per RFR, Daisy Ridley is between Ford and Fisher because maybe she's their daughter?
Harrison Ford (1), Daisy Ridley (2), Carrie Fisher (3), Peter Mayhew (4), Producer Bryan Burk (5), Lucasfilm President and Producer Kathleen Kennedy (6), Domhnall Gleeson (7), Anthony Daniels (8), Mark Hamill (9), Andy Serkis (10), Oscar Isaac (11), John Boyega (12), Adam Driver (13) Lawrence Kasdan (14) J.J Abrams, (15)
Ooh, a black & white pic and minimal decor. How authentic. I sense this film may turn out to be a turkey....
Any ideas why Peter Mayhew is even being bothered with this? Couldn't they find an athletic 7 foot tall dude? He's no Andy Serkis for sure. Oh, hang on... hmm.. there may still be a New Hope for this yet. I don't see George Lucas anywhere!
That's it. Looks like I'll probably be seeing this in the theater, (unlike Episode III).
I am not upset about the news of the past EU ending. When you look at it, it had to. There would be no way to really do the new movies with any justice if you were tied to what was done in the books and comics. So I am looking forward to this new start and seeing what they do with it. And as said above, those stories are still there for me to read anytime I want to (and to have the fun of still collecting them, I am going to try to get the floppies of everything that I only have in trade form).
I am excited for the new start. I think they are crazy for thinking that they will be able to have everything count going forward as offical canon (comics, TV, books, everything). It wasn't possible to be done with the past EU as much as they tried and I find it hard to accomplish for this new EU, but I hope they can pull it off.
I am excited to see the cast together and can't wait to see what comes out at the end. It's going to be a great ride for me and I get positive chills just thinking about new Star Wars movies all over again (yes, I was excited about the Prequels and I was let down a bit, but I don't hate the Prequels and I'm grateful for them with all of the EU that came out because of them.) I will remain hopeful that these new films will be amazing, and I will be there opening night to see them.
What do you suppose Peter Mayhew's lines are?