Expanded universe

For the Robert A. Heinlein short story collection, see Expanded Universe (Heinlein).

For the scientific term, see expansion of the universe.

This article is about non-linear additions with consistency to the fictional universe. For linear additions with consistency to the fictional universe, see sequel.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn expanded the "universe" of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

The term expanded universe, sometimes called an extended universe, is generally used to denote the "extension" of a media franchise (like a television program or a series of feature films) with other media, generally comics and original novels. This typically involves new stories for existing characters already developed within the franchise, but in some cases entirely new characters and complex mythology are developed. This is not necessarily the same as an adaptation, which is a retelling of the same story that may or may not adhere to the accepted canon. It is contrasted with a sequel that merely continues the previous narrative in a linear sequence. Nearly every media franchise with a committed fan base has some form of expanded universe.

Examples

Ivanhoe in comic format

Two prominent examples of media franchises with an expanded universe are Star Wars^[1] and Star Trek,^[2] which both have a wide range of original novels, comics, video games, and other media that add to the mythology of their fictional universe in different ways. In both cases, entirely new characters and situations have been developed that exist only within the expanded universe media.^[3][4]

Canonicity

Although there are some exceptions, expanded universe works are generally accepted as canon, or part of the "official" storyline continuity. Otherwise, they are considered apocrypha. In some cases, characters created for an expanded universe are later featured in the primary works associated with that franchise, as in the cases of Aayla Secura and Grand Admiral Thrawn in the Star Wars franchise.^[5][6] When all expanded universe works (films, novels, comic books, video games, role-playing games, etc.) are considered canonical, then the expanded universe is an "imaginary entertainment environment."^[7]

See also

• Buffyverse
• Star Wars expanded universe
• View Askewniverse
• Whoniverse
• Fan fiction
• Parallel novel – Pastiche novel with in-universe continuity
• Sequel – Part of a linear narrative that continues the story of a previous work

References

1. Gladys L. Knight (2010). Female Action Heroes: A Guide to Women in Comics, Video Games, Film, and Television. ABC-CLIO. pp. 240–241. ISBN 978-0-313-37612-2.
2. "Expanded Universe: Star Trek". Empire. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
3. "The Legendary Star Wars Expanded Universe Turns a New Page". StarWars.com. April 25, 2014. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
4. McMilian, Graeme (April 25, 2014). "Lucasfilm Unveils New Plans for Star Wars Expanded Universe". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 30, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
5. Siegel, Lucas (February 20, 2017). "Star Wars: Dave Filoni Explains George Lucas and Lucasfilm's Relationship with Legends". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
6. Truitt, Brian (July 16, 2016). "Thrawn to make grand appearance in Star Wars Rebels". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 16, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
7. Mackay, Daniel. The Fantasy Role-Playing Game: A New Performing Art Archived 2024-08-27 at the Wayback Machine (Jefferson, NC: McFarland. 2001) pp. 26-33.

External links

• List of C-canon elements in the Star Wars films on Wookieepedia