Lucasfilm says 'Star Wars: Episode VII' won't use Expanded Universe stories, though standalone movies could happen

One of the biggest questions plaguing all of our minds in regards to the upcoming Star Wars rebooted series starting with Episode VII is whether or not the Expanded Universe book series will come into play. Technically, these books take place after Return of the Jedi and so do the upcoming films, so clearly we'll know what happens, right? This week Lucasfilm addressed this specific concern in a press release.

"We have an unprecedented slate of new Star Wars entertainment on the horizon," said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. "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."

Here is an excerpt from this statement from George Lucas' production company about the Expanded Universe stories:

In order to give maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience, 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. For example, elements of the EU are included in Star Wars Rebels. The Inquisitor, the Imperial Security Bureau, and Sienar Fleet Systems are story elements in the new animated series, and all these ideas find their origins in roleplaying game material published in the 1980s.

Read more HERE!