Looking back on Star Wars, part 5: The Expanded Universe (1991-2014)

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With the success of both the Thrawn Trilogy novels and the Dark Empire comics, and as a means of promoting the upcoming Special Releases of the Star Wars Trilogy, Lucasfilm’s next project was a story set in-between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi called Shadows of the Empire. Essentially “Episode 5.5,” Shadows of the Empire introduced yet another villain, a machiavellian Dr. Fu Manchu-like alien named Prince Xizor, who plotted to discredit Darth Vader to gain the Emperor’s favor. Another character was a blatant Han Solo knockoff named Dash Rendar who, just like Solo, became a reluctant ally of the Rebels.

First introduced as a novel by Steve Perry, Shadows of the Empire also had its own comic book series, a first-person shooter for the Nintendo 64, a new line of action figures from Kenner Toys, and even its own soundtrack. Characters, events, and vehicles would be referenced in other Star Wars media for years. If you watch closely, you might even spot Dash Rendar’s Outrider in the Special Edition of A New Hope.

The Expanded Universe wasn’t without controversy…Nothing [had] ignited more uproar among book readers than the death of Chewbacca….

But of all the Expanded Universe projects, none approached the level of success as did Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic. Set 4,000 years before the events of A New Hope, KotOR, as fans would call it, is an RPG video game created by LucasArts and BioWare. Although the plot is essentially a reimagined version of the Original Trilogy, its characters have an incredible amount of depth, particularly the anti-heroic Darth Revan, the Mandalorian Canderous Ordo, and the hilariously trigger-happy protocol droid HK-47. It also helped pioneer morality systems and player choice common in today’s RPGs.

Released in 2003, KotOR would win many “Game of the Year” awards and a sequel, Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords was released the following year. Published by LucasArts and Obsidian, it too won multiple Game of the Year Awards; some critics consider it even better than it’s predecessor despite aspects being clearly unfinished. Although plans for a third sequel never materialized, LucasArts and Electronic Arts would create an MMORPG called Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Other novel series set in the Star Wars Expanded Universe would also spring up. There was X-Wing: Rogue Squadron, centered around Wedge Antilles, Luke’s wingman from the Original Trilogy as played by Denis Lawson. Other series like the Young Jedi Knights YA novels followed Jacen and Jaina learning the ways of the Force. And there were a number of standalone and anthology books like Tales From the Mos Eisley Cantina (1995) and I, Jedi (1998) by Michael Stackpole. Dark Horse also published a series called Star Wars Legacy (2006-2010), which followed the adventures of Luke’s great-great grandson, Cade Skywalker. When it came to the Original Trilogy, the Expanded Universe mined anything and everything, and die-hard Star Wars fans couldn’t get enough of it.

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The Expanded Universe wasn’t without controversy. In 1999, Lucasfilm transferred their partnership from Bantam to Del Rey and, starting with The New Jedi Order series (1999-2003), and especially its follow-up series, Legacy of the Force (2006-2008), the Star Wars franchise turned into a much darker, more adult place. A race of biomechanical, Force-immune alien zealots called Yuuzhan Vong invaded the galaxy. Jacen Solo, having been captured by the invaders, would gradually embrace the Dark Side of the Force. Anakin Solo, who many assumed was the spiritual successor to Luke, was killed off.

Nothing, however, ignited more uproar among book readers than the death of Chewbacca in R.A Salvatore’s Vector Prime, the first novel in the series. Originally, Del Rey had planned on killing off Luke and sent his name, along with a list of other potential candidates for the chopping block, to Lucas. Lucas, however, returned to them a list of characters who weren’t allowed to die, which included Luke but not Chewbacca. Either way, some fans considered Chewie’s death a bold move, while others considered this the “jumping the shark” moment of the Expanded Universe.

The fanbase was divided even further in 2014 when Disney, having purchased Lucasfilm two years earlier, announced that the Expanded Universe would be rebranded as Star Wars Legends and would no longer part of official Star Wars canon. Although Del Rey would still publish new novels, the comic book rights would revert back to Marvel. Just like that, twenty-three years worth of novels, comics, video games and toys no longer counted.

Next. Looking back on Star Wars, part 4: Return of the Jedi (1983). dark

Nevertheless, the Expanded Universe still has its share of devotees, and its influence can still be felt in current Star Wars media. Thrawn would become a recurring villain in the Disney XD animated series, Star Wars Rebels. Jacen Solo is regarded by some as the prototype for Kylo Ren in the Sequel Trilogy. Expansion packs for Star Wars: The Old Republic are still being produced. And although it’s no longer official, the Expanded Universe did revive the Star Wars franchise and helped pave the way for a new series of films.

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