We finally got our answer this week about what would happen to the Star Wars Expanded Universe when Episode VII and Star Wars Rebels rolls around. One way or the other, Star Wars is coming back to the big screen, television, books, comics, video games and more. But now that we have our answer, yes it is kind of sad but at the same time a little exciting. Who knows maybe some elements will be thrown into the new stories, but of course characters like Thrawn, Mara Jade, the Solo kids, all will be missed. It is kind of frustrating to know that Lucas let these creators play in his sandbox only to have the past 35 years of lore suddenly uprooted and changed up. Even Coruscant was an EU creation, so you never know what will happen until we watch the new Trilogy and people starting playing in that sandbox. 

We have an unprecedented slate of new Star Wars entertainment on the horizon. We’re set to bring Star Wars back to the big screen, and continue the adventure through games, books, comics, and new formats that are just emerging. This future of interconnected storytelling will allow fans to explore this galaxy in deeper ways than ever before.

-Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy

Appropriately enough, Disney and Del Rey have announced the first book in the new Expanded Universe, it will be titled A New Dawn by author John Jackson Miller. The new novel will take place right before the events of Star Wars Rebels and will act as a backstory to the series. 

With the establishment of the Lucasfilm Story Group and our even greater focus on unified storytelling, we expect our entire publishing program to be stronger and more meaningful than ever before. We’re extremely excited to kick off this new strategy with Del Rey Books.

-Jeanne Mosure, senior vice president and group publisher, Disney Publishing Worldwide

The companies have announced also that going forward all stories will be a part of the official Star Wars cannon. Look for the book coming  September 2nd! 

Star Wars A New Dawn

Look for these other Star Wars books coming soon!

STAR WARS: TARKIN
James Luceno
11/4/14 

STAR WARS: HEIR TO THE JEDI
Kevin Hearne
January 2015 

STAR WARS: LORDS OF THE SITH
Paul Kemp
March 2015

Finally today, check out this great retrospective documentary on the Star Wars Expanded Universe!

May the Force be with you!

~CynicNerd