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Letting Go of the Star Wars Expanded Universe
Posted by Sean Ian Mills
We’re going to be OK. I have been as big a fan and supporter of the Star Wars Expanded Universe as anybody, and Disney’s announcement last week that the Expanded Universe will be dropped from official cannon was a bit disappointing. But we all knew it was coming. And it’s going to be OK.
Sometimes you just have to let go of the things you love.
For those who don’t know, the Expanded Universe is all the novels, comics, video games and cartoons that extend the story of Star Wars beyond the movies. They fill in the gaps, expand the back stories of popular characters, and even look ahead to the future. What happens to Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia after Return of the Jedi? What are their kids like?
For the most part, all of these various stories have been part of one ongoing saga, all under the official umbrella of Lucasfilm. Everyone kept track of what stories were being told so that it was all one big tapestry.
And I thought that was the neatest thing ever!
But now that Star Wars is owned by Disney, who plan to make a ton of more movies and spin-offs, the suits have gotten together and decided that all of that Expanded Universe stuff is going to be shuffled off into a “Star Wars Legends” branding. It still exists, obviously, but it’s no longer official cannon with the movies. Instead, Disney is going to start creating their own brand new Expanded Universe.
Which I think is pretty cool too!
Join me after the jump for more!

