Star Wars Expanded Universe

The Star Wars Expanded Universe is the reality in which all the Star Wars films and television adaptations take place in. Starting in 1977, Star Wars is a franchise that has been running for forty years and is still widely successful.

History
The Star Wars saga started with the film A New Hope released in the 1970s by Lucasfilms. It was an instant success with audiences worldwide, gaining much critical acclaim and an astounding box office. Lucasfilms later followed up with The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and Return of the Jedi in 1983, both finding receiving similar praise. Finished with the trilogy, Star Wars had left the public eye and the studio focused on other projects.

The Walt Disney Company realizing the potential of more Star Wars films and a desire to appeal increase their venue of live-action IPs purchased the small time studio Lucasfilms in 1996. Making a deal with the Director of the Original Trilogy, George Lucas, to create his previously pitched Prequel Trilogy with a significant budget and worldwide marketing all from Disney's resources. Working together Lucasfilms and Touchstone Pictures created Attack of the Clones in 1999, Force Guardians in 2002, and Revenge of the Sith in 2005. Once the Prequels were completed George Lucas once again discontinued work on Star Wars. Due to the fine print of the contract, Disney was unable to produce any live-action Lucasfilms content without George Lucas, and spent the next seven years producing comics, video games, and animation based off of Star Wars.

In 2012, Disney and Lucas altered the contract after the latter announced his retirement, giving Disney full reign over the Star Wars franchise. Their first decision was to start production on a Sequel Trilogy in addition to multiple spinoffs to create a Star Wars Cinematic Universe akin to Marvel.

Prequel Trilogy

 * Attack of the Clones - May 1999


 * Dark Forces - May 2002


 * Revenge of the Sith - May 2005

Original Trilogy

 * A New Hope - May 1977


 * The Empire Strikes Back - May 1980


 * Return of the Jedi - May 1983

Sequel Trilogy

 * The Force Awakens - December 2015


 * Champions of the Republic - December 2017


 * The Last Jedi - December 2019

Spinoffs

 * Rise of Thrawn - December 2016


 * Battlefront - December 2018


 * Secrets of the Force - December 2020


 * Underworld - December 2021

ABC

 * The Force Unleashed

Season 1 - January 2009

Jetix

 * The Clone Wars

Season 1 - October 2008