Like many people who grew up on, "The Holy Trilogy," I experienced what is now referred to as "The Dark Times," a time when years had passed since "Return of the Jedi" hit theaters, and all the ancillary merchandise had left the stores. It was a time without Star Wars, it only existing as part of fond summer memories at the local theater. Then came 1991, which saw the release of Dark Horse Comics "Dark Empire" and Timothy Zahn's "Heir to the Empire." Slowly but surely the merchandising started to roll out over the next few years and more stories and characters were being added to the Star Wars legend. Some of it good, some of it convoluted and some of it a bit of a head scratcher. These took place during a time period Lucas swore no new movies would be set, leaving a wild west for artists and writers to play with and the Star Wars Expanded Universe was born.
Let's fast forward to 2014, Lucas has sold Star Wars to Disney with outlines for future cinematic installments. Disney, which also own Marvel Comics, has evicted Dark Horse from the Galaxy Far, Far Away, and books on Del Rey's schedule have mysteriously fallen by the wayside. Now we learn that longtime Lucasfilm employees Leland Chee and Pablo Hidalgo will head up a Lucasfilm Story Group, to keep everything from here on out consistent and inline with the new films. Some have wondered is this the Star Wars equivalent of the Council of Nicea.
There is debate as to whether they are planning gentle pruning, removing entire pesky limbs or burning down the forest. I imagine they are armed with some inside information about what is planned for the new series of films, but I thought I'd add my speculation as to what is likely to happen and what I hope can happen. I do think based on the fact that often Star Wars movies would start in the middle of an event and offer little exposition, it is possible to find a happy medium leaving much of the EU intact and still be able to tell an original story that is exciting and fresh. Neither Del Rey nor Dark Horse have been allowed to tell Han, Luke and Leia's final story and perhaps that is what these new movies are for and there was a plan all along.
What I would like to see spared:
-Any of the ancient history stories, including "Tales of the Jedi", "Knights of the Old Republic" and "Dawn of the Jedi", these stories are so far removed from the films, by thousands of years.
-The Clone Wars material is due for gentle pruning and a bit of retcon to make the TV show and the Ostrander/Duursema comics mesh but again I don't see how this steps on the toes of what is planned for the future. This also goes for Dark Horse's "Dark Times" series.
-While not everyone was a fan of Shadows of the Empire, I remember really enjoying the multi media event that offered everything that would come with a movie without the movie.
-Post ROTJ is tricky, I can see the Courtship of Princess Leia spared because so much in that book provides information which later is used in the Clone Wars TV series in relation to Darth Maul's origin and the Night Sisters.
-I would like to see as much of Timothy Zahn's work spared, albeit there is a problem in that Han and Leia's twins are born and named in his books. Whether Jacen, Jaina, Mara Jade or Thrawn exist in the new canon remains to be seen. I'm hoping so, and it doesn't mean they have to keep later stories in the new continuity.
- Most of the X-wing comics and novels. I thought these stories were some of the better in the Expanded Universe. Being that they rarely were about the main characters and tended to be stuff happening in the sidelines I would think this stuff is safe.
-Dark Horse's Legacy series, I love the work of Ostrander and Durseema but I know this is at risk just because it is set after the timeline of the new movies. Its only saving grace might be it is pretty far into the future, so maybe it can be saved.
-The New Jedi Order - While I know the Yuuzahn Vong weren't everyone's favorite villains, they are hard to avoid in the overarching EU narrative. The Vong are referenced in the Knights of the Old Republic video game and the "Rogue Planet," the TPM/AOTC bridge novel. Afterwards, Vong biotechnology is used to keep Darth Krayt alive in Star Wars Legacy. Keeping the NJO in the continuity may be a tall order, however with Ford, Fisher and Hamil being the age they are they could easily set Episode VII after this time period.
What's likely out the window?
-With talk of spin off movies in the works, including a young Han Solo film, my guess is A.C. Crispin's Han Solo trilogy may be out the air lock. However, the trilogy is a pretty good read and worth checking out.
-A chunk of the Bantam publishing area would likely not be missed. Anything set between, "Children of the Jedi," and "The New Rebellion," could comfortably be chucked and even die hard fans of the EU, would likely not miss it.
-Chewbacca's death - The architects of the NJO thought if they kill off a major character it would up the stakes for the remaining characters. I imagine its too much of a temptation not too include him in the new movie.
Now I'm interested in hearing what all of you think. Are we looking at weeding, pruning, trimming or something more extreme?
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