Expanded Universe
- For the Robert A. Heinlein short story collection, see Expanded Universe (Heinlein).
The term Expanded Universe (sometimes called an Extended Universe) is generally used to denote the 'extension' of a media franchise (i.e. a television show, series of feature films, etc.) with other media (generally comics and original novels). This typically simply involves new adventures for existing characters already developed within the franchise; however in some case entirely new characters and complex mythology are developed. This is not the same as an adaptation, which is a retelling of the same story, usually on a different medium. Nearly every media franchise with a committed fan base has some form of expanded universe.
Examples
Two prominent examples of media franchises with an extended universe are Star Trek and Star Wars - both have a wide range of original novels, comics, video games, and other media that add to the mythology of each universe in different ways. In both cases entirely new characters and situations have been developed that exist only within the Expanded Universe media.
Canonicity
Although there are some exceptions, Expanded Universe works are generally not accepted as canon, or part of the 'official' storyline. They are generally seen as 'apocrypha'. In some (rare) cases, characters created for an Expanded Universe can become 'adopted' by the canonical works associated with that franchise - one example being Star Wars.
Star Wars
Star Wars is unusual in that George Lucas/Lucasfilm have outlined four levels of canon, which includes the Star Wars Expanded Universe, effectively canonizing the continuity established by Star Wars novels and resulting in strong efforts to maintain continuity between the books and the films (see Star Wars canon for details). Many elements created in the Star Wars Expanded Universe have made it into the officially released media, such as:
- The Outrider, first seen in the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire videogame and included in the A New Hope special edition
- The character Aayla Secura, who was created for the comics and later appeared in Attack of the Clones and Revenge Of The Sith
- The name of the planet Coruscant, created by Timothy Zahn
See also
External link
- List of C-canon elements in the Star Wars films on Wookieepedia
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