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Star Wars Is Secretly Bringing Back Fan-Favorite Legends Characters

BBG News

The franchise underwent a significant transformation following its acquisition by Disney, which inadvertently estranged some of its longest-standing fans who had been with it since there were no films. Prior to the takeover, any material outside movies or shows was known as the Expanded Universe and included cherished stories like those about the children of Han Solo and Leia, and the history of Boba Fett. However, under Disney’s management, these elements were declared non-canon and relegated to the “Legends” category.

Since that time, the Star Wars saga has expanded further, demonstrating that the previously non-canonical elements no longer needed to be excluded. For instance, the return of concepts such as the High Republic and Darth Plagueis has been significant. Consequently, material once considered off-limits has been rejuvenated in ways fans never anticipated. This revival has ensured the continuation of the story and shown that Star Wars can thrive even with extensive modifications.

Star Wars Legends Were Removed From Disney’s Canon

These Stories Have Still Been Honored By The Company

Initially, when Disney bought Lucasfilm, two rules were swiftly implemented. First, no new elements would be added to what was once known as the expanded universe. Instead, everything launched by Disney would fit into the official Star Wars timeline, or canon. Second, anything that preceded Disney’s ownership would be categorized as part of the Legends continuity, except for the main movies and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Essentially, most beloved video games, novels, and aspects of the expanded universe ceased to exist under Disney’s new regime. This decision was quite drastic and left some fans feeling disrespected as their cherished pre-Disney content became obsolete.

Fans who had enjoyed the tales of characters like Mara Jade, Starkiller, or even Jaxxon, felt let down when they learned that no more stories featuring these iconic characters would be produced. While fans eagerly anticipated new Star Wars movies on the big screen, they found themselves reminiscing fondly about the expanded universe as the films unfolded. Some felt that Disney’s Star Wars lacked the edge that was present in the stories that were no longer considered significant. However, Lucasfilm acknowledged this backlash and devised a plan to keep longtime fans satisfied.

Disney created the Legends brand to give a fresh update to their classic stories, making them available in contemporary formats. Their publishing sector released compilation editions, re-issues with new artwork, and revitalized novels that people thought were only findable at garage sales. Similarly, projects like “Droids” and the initial “Clone Wars” animated series were revived. With Disney+, these retro shows are now accessible to a modern audience. In terms of video games, re-releases have been frequent lately, such as “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” and “Star Wars: Dark Forces,” which have been remastered for today’s gaming consoles.

The banner for the “Star Wars” Legends series was intended to symbolize both its rich history and a dividing line between its impact on the future. Canon and Legends were considered separate entities, with Disney aiming to keep hands off these divisions. However, it didn’t take long before they started creating new non-canon stories that would automatically belong in the Legends universe. The ongoing support for games like “Star Wars: The Old Republic” meant that several major Legends storylines were still unfolding in the expanded universe. It’s possible that Disney could expand the Legends universe further by introducing more non-canon games and novels. However, it appears that the studio is now adopting a completely different approach towards Legends.

Star Wars Legends are Being Incorporated Into the Timeline Again

Key Characters & Eras Have Elevated Disney’s Era

Lucasfilm decided to bring Legends content into the Star Wars timeline continuity, which could potentially cause confusion for those who have recently grasped the clear distinctions between the two. Nevertheless, this move opened up avenues for telling stories about beloved characters that audiences are already fond of. Characters like Mara Jade and Kyle Katarn might not be present yet, as they could conflict with some of Lucasfilm’s existing projects. Still, other well-loved characters have now been integrated into the familiar narrative tapestry.

Grand Admiral Thrawn, initially created by Timothy Zahn, has been a standout character due to his cold, calculating genius and love for art, along with a complex inner life. It was a treat to find out that Zahn would be penning new novels featuring this character. Furthermore, it was an exciting moment when Thrawn made his on-screen debut, first in the animated series Star Wars Rebels and later in live-action on Ahsoka. The character is poised to play a significant role in the future, as Disney considers adapting the Legends Heir to the Empire arc. This successful example demonstrates the impact of the Legends universe on Star Wars’ overall narrative, with its influences evident at both macro and micro levels.

I can’t help but express my excitement as a dedicated fan, witnessing the comeback of the mischievous rabbit Jaxxon in the comic world, transforming into an eccentric character with immense animation potential. Darth Bane left a lasting impression on me when he made a memorable guest appearance in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, sharing an unexpected encounter with Yoda that still shocks die-hard fans like myself. Asajj Ventress, who originally starred in the original Clone Wars series, has now transitioned to the modern version and even graced novels and subsequent animated appearances. The iconic Delta Squad from Star Wars: Republic Commando also made a splash in the animation realm, with video game characters like us now being included in Disney’s expansive sandbox. Each of these instances fills me with joy as a fan, as connections are being forged between characters I love, from Rukh to Pellaeon and the further development of Quinlan Vos. In the short term, it seems that the extended universe is flourishing beyond my wildest dreams.

Despite the extensive exploration of certain periods in the Star Wars universe through initiatives like the High Republic, the Old Republic era remains somewhat neglected and shrouded in uncertainty. While Lucasfilm has delved deeply into this franchise with various spinoff comics, novels, and even an MMORPG, they’ve left many fans guessing about the exact stories and characters that belong to the Old Republic timeline, despite confirming its presence in the canon. To clarify matters for those who cherish this classic perspective of the galaxy, a more detailed examination is needed.

The Future of the Star Wars Franchise Requires Needs Legends

Older Fans Have to Be Brought Back On Board

During a period of uncertainty for Lucasfilm, the merging of the Legends universe with Disney’s established worlds is unfolding. This is because Lucasfilm is still figuring out the direction they want for the future franchise. The sequel trilogy didn’t quite live up to Disney’s expectations, and movies like Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story underperformed. However, the Disney+ venture has generally been successful, with shows such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ revival, Skeleton Crew, Star Wars: Visions, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, The Mandalorian, and Andor receiving positive feedback. On the other hand, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan Kenobi have divided audiences, while The Acolyte and The Book of Boba Fett almost caused a hitch in the streaming strategy.

It appears as though Disney unintentionally found themselves in a universe reminiscent of ‘Mandoverse’, initially showcasing it with the series “The Mandalorian & Grogu” and subsequently a significant crossover event. This is alongside the upcoming Rey sequel, a film centered around Jedi origins, and various projects from creators like Taika Waititi and Ryan Johnson; assuming any of these projects actually come to fruition. Currently, Lucasfilm seems to lack direction without the drive provided by a central trilogy or intriguing overall storyline for fans to engage with. The only potential long-term saga at this moment could be Thrawn’s empire, and it is the existing ‘Legends’ material that offers Disney this opportunity.

To put it simply, a large portion of what makes “The Mandalorian” popular is based on lore from the expanded universe, providing fresh insights into Mandalorian culture that hadn’t been shown before. The presence of Thrawn as the main antagonist demonstrates the rich potential in the Legends stories that Lucasfilm had once overlooked within Star Wars canon. Therefore, considering this, it might be beneficial for the studio to delve deeper into their history. The Legends timeline is rich with narratives that have already proven successful, offering plenty of opportunity to adapt them to this new galaxy. This way, long-time fans will appreciate these familiar moments reappearing, while new viewers will also find enjoyment, just as those early fans did.

To keep the Star Wars franchise thriving as Disney and Lucasfilm envision, a new leader must find an innovative approach, something akin to capturing lightning in a bottle. Expanding on the Legends stories could be the solution, but merging multiple universes might not feel authentic or avoid causing more confusion. Instead, the focus should remain on incorporating existing characters and tales with immense potential, while avoiding unnecessary delays during this transition phase.

Major Storylines & Characters Should Return

These Legends are Prime For a Return

Among the vast Star Wars universe and the abundance of Legends material, two notable characters and storylines catch the eye. The idea of adapting “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” in some form has long been popular among fans, with many yearning to see the character Starkiller brought to life on screen. A confrontation between Starkiller and Ahsoka Tano would be intriguing, and there is still potential for Galen Marek within the established canon timeline, as his existence was meant to remain a secret. For fans craving more mature content, a grittier project centered around Starkiller, akin to “Andor,” could be an ideal choice.

In other stories, characters such as Mara Jade and Kyle Katarn offer intriguing possibilities. Mara Jade might have had a short-lived romance with Luke Skywalker, though it would likely require significant revisions. On the other hand, Kyle Katarn could retain many of his key traits. In fact, Katarn could be seamlessly integrated into Rey’s upcoming Jedi movie, essentially transferring his story arc to a different time period entirely. Mara Jide, however, might appear in flashback scenes with a young Luke, who may have hidden their relationship much like his father did before him. This could potentially shed light on Luke’s behavior when we rejoin him in the sequel trilogy, offering additional insights into his character development.

Previously mentioned, the era of the Old Republic is currently highly sought-after, and a remake of “Knights of the Old Republic” could function as an introduction to the current storyline. Characters like Darth Malgus, the Shan family, Darth Revan, Malak, and others bring extraordinary depth to this historical period, which may significantly shape Lucasfilm’s future on-screen projects. There’s a distinct cinematic quality to events that have already transpired in the Legends timeline, making the Old Republic an invigorating change from other productions by Lucasfilm due to its temporal difference.

Instead of focusing solely on characters like Jacen Solo and Corran Horn, and certain games and books, it’s possible that stories featuring Jaina Solo and Bastila Shan could have a greater impact in the Star Wars canon. By carefully crafting these stories to maintain the essence that fans admired, Lucasfilm could generate excitement by utilizing Legends material effectively. At minimum, Disney and Lucasfilm might consider publishing additional tales set within the Legends timeline, allowing fans to delve deeper into the extended universe they have long cherished. This, at a minimum, would be a significant step for a studio in need of strategic decisions.

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2025-04-21 04:47

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