Disney have already begun dismantling the STAR WARS expanded universe (EU) to classify what is and isn’t officially canon, much to the dismay of franchise fans everywhere, but it seems it’s all irrelevant when it comes to the films anyway. Simon Kinberg, screenwriter for an untitled STAR WARS spin-off and the upcoming Star Wars Rebels TV show, says none of the EU material will be used in the main feature films.
Speaking to IGN at WonderCon 2014, Kinberg said:
‘You know, it’s not off-limits, and it’s certainly inspiring — I’m working on an animated show for [Lucasfilm] as well, Star Wars: Rebels, that will take inspiration from everywhere, but — I know for the movies, the canon is the canon, and the canon is the six films that exist.’
So, here is confirmation that Episodes VII-IX will be entirely original material, as will any character-focused spin-offs that come about as a result of George Lucas selling the franchise to Disney. While fans of such classic STAR WARS tales as Shadows of the Empire and Champions of the Force may be tearing their hair out at this point in frustration, Kinberg’s reassurance that Star Wars Rebels may draw from EU material should give some relief.
After all, Rebels, much like The Clone Wars before it, is in itself part of the expanded universe, and will need plenty of material to keep it fresh and interesting – so it’s not difficult to imagine that it might take some inspiration from the EU. The movies’ ignoring of the EU is probably a good thing, though, as it means director J.J. Abrams won’t be bound by existing material and is free to tell original stories. The move probably also has something to do with Abrams’ penchant for secrecy with his filmmaking, as adapting EU material leaves no room for surprises (Jar-Jar Binks, anyone?).
STAR WARS: EPISODE VII is due in cinemas on December 18th, 2015.
Source: IGN
