Skip to main content

star wars - Did Disney officially call Legends/EU material "Not canon"?


I see plenty of (sometimes good natured, sometimes snide) comments that any content that used to be EU (C-canon) is not longer "canon" at all.


Now, personally, to me this treatment seems incorrect, in that Disney seems to treat the former-EU C canon (aka Legends) the same way Lucas Empire always treated it, which is by declaring it as a lesser level of canon as opposed to not canon at all (see details below).


As such, I think the only way this disagreement can be conclusively resolved is by explicit statement of Disney stating that Legends material is "not canon at all, as opposed to different, lower level of canon the way C - or even S - canon always was".


So, my question is: Have Disney ever made a statement calling Legends "not canon" as opposed to "old canon" or "lower level of canon" or simply "Legends/EU"?




As to why I think they treat Legends basically as a C+S canon (and thus why calling it "not canon" requires a proof from Disney that it isn't, in the face of evidence below), it's because:




  • Most importantly, they fully acknowledge its existence as a publisher and as a brand.



    Demand for past tales of the Expanded Universe will keep them in print, presented under the new Legends banner.


    ... While the universe that readers knew is changing, it is not being discarded.



    Now, out of universe, we all know that this is simply a business decision to keep milking a cash cow; AND to not alienate existing fanbase. But whatever the reason, they keep the content as part of the NEW brand and new business. Whether they call it "officially licensed content" as Lucas did, or "Legends", is irrelevant.





  • They very explicitly called the new content "New canon" as opposed to simply "canon":



    On the screen, the first new canon to appear will be Star Wars Rebels.





  • While they consider the new content they create as "main" canon, and don't feel beholden to EU works and free to contradict them - this is 100% identical to how Lucas treated EU C-canon as well! They even mention that parallel explicitly:




    Star Wars Episodes VII-IX will not tell the same story told in the post-Return of the Jedi Expanded Universe. While the universe that readers knew is changing, it is not being discarded. Creators of new Star Wars entertainment have full access to the rich content of the Expanded Universe....


    ... While Lucasfilm always strived to keep the stories created for the EU consistent with our film and television content as well as internally consistent, Lucas always made it clear that he was not beholden to the EU. He set the films he created as the canon...





As such, it seems to me that what they are doing is, instead of calling former EU not canon, they are simply re-juggling canon levels to simplify their business/creative process, by simply creating 2 levels of canon: Main canon (GL created stiff plus anything created and/or licensed by Disney); and Legends canon (all other non-GL previous licensed works).




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the etymology of Doctor Who?

I recently decided to watch Doctor Who, and started viewing the 2005 version. I have the first two episodes from the first season, and I can't help but wonder what is the etymology of the name "Doctor Who"? And why does the protagonist call himself "the Doctor" (or is it "the doctor")? Answer In the very first episode of Doctor Who (way back in 1963), the Doctor has a granddaughter going by the name "Susan Foreman", and the junkyard where the TARDIS is has the sign "I.M. Foreman". Barbara, who becomes one of the Doctor's companions, calls him "Doctor Foreman" (probably assuming that is his name given his relationship to Susan), and Ian (another early companion) does the same in the second episode, to which the Doctor says: Eh? Doctor who? What's he talking about? "Foreman" is most likely selected as a convenient surname for Susan to use because it happened to be on display near where the TARDIS landed....
Post a Comment
Read more

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...
Post a Comment
Read more