The Star Wars universe expands far beyond characters and events from the original film series. Novels, comic books, spin-off films, and even the occasional television series create what is collectively known as the Star Wars Expanded Universe (SWEU).
Although these stories are generally considered “non-canonical,” that doesn’t stop fans from crossing their fingers that an SWEU character or storyline will show up in an actual Star Wars film. Unfortunately, there’s plenty of SWEU history that should definitely stay non-canonical, too. Here are five major events from the SWEU we want to see in the movies, and 5 we don’t:
10 Want: Darth Vader vs. Darth Maul
Okay, this one is a little tricky. You would need a whole movie just to explain how these two fellows could even meet in the first place. However, it’d be very much worth the wait. The standalone comic series Resurrection (2001) by Ron Marz introduces us to a resurrected Darth Maul obsessed with retaking his position next to his former master, the Emperor, aka Darth Sidious. When Maul and Darth Vader finally do come to blows, it’s the most epic Sith throwdown in the SWEU. You know what they say: two Darths are better than one.
9 Don't Want: Chewbacca Dies
The destruction of Sernpidal is one of the darkest moments in the SWEU. During an attempt to save refugees of Sernpidal from a collapsing moon barreling toward the city, Chewbacca gets left behind in the chaos by Anakin Solo. With one last heroic roar, Chewbacca “goes down the ship” and is crushed alongside the citizens of Sernpidal. Although it’s a noble end for one of the most beloved Star Wars characters, Chewbacca’s death drives a wedge between Anakin and Han Solo that the pair couldn’t reconcile for months. This storyline is simply too tragic to ever work in the canonical films.
8 Want: The Battle Of Bilgrigi
The last stand of arguably the most popular character ever written specifically for the SWEU is some seriously cinematic stuff. Created by acclaimed Star Wars author Timothy Zahn, Grand Admiral Thrawn was the most dangerous threat to Luke, Han, and Leia since the Empire fell. Throughout the Imperial warlord’s history, he was the most fearsome and intelligent villain in the SWEU. In fact, Thrawn is so intelligent that a strategic defeat in battle simply isn’t possible. Instead, the demise of one of the SWEU’s greatest foes comes unexpectedly at the hands of his vengeful bodyguard. It’s perhaps the most poetic defeat in the franchise.
7 Don't Want: Luke Skywalker Joins A Cult
Whatever you think about Luke Skywalker’s controversial depiction in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, wallowing in self-pity on a lonely island has got to be better than straight-up joining a cult. Yes, Luke Skywalker joined a cult once. After losing his Force sensitivity for a brief period, Luke is so distraught that he actually joins a cult that worships a blob. The Crystal Star by Vonda McIntyre is a widely mocked SWEU novel for several reasons, but Luke drinking the intergalactic Kool-Aid of a cult that is clearly evil is right at the top.
6 Want: Yoda Resists The Dark Side
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous (2004) by Sean Stewart follows the tiny Jedi Master on his quest to hunt down and confront his former apprentice, the evil Count Dooku. During their final confrontation, Dooku gives Yoda the whole “Join the Dark Side” spiel, but the little green guy is not having any of it. Despite the Count’s dire self-seriousness, Yoda simply shrugs off his argument. Resisting the Dark Side is always such a life or death struggle for Jedi Knights that it’d be refreshing to see one of the most powerful Jedi ever dismiss it with such ease.
5 Don't Want: The Sun Crusher
One downside of the SWEU is the obsession with new villains creating weapons that are “more powerful than the Death Star.” That seems like all anyone wants to talk about in these entries. The most absurd of these weapons is undoubtedly the Sun Crusher. Aside from the terrible name “Sun Crusher,” the small ship has the capability to wipe out entire solar systems. The ship is so ridiculously overpowered that it’s almost impossible to imagine how a Star Wars film wouldn’t be over seconds after Sun Crusher shows up.
4 Want: Boba Fett Escapes The Dreaded Sarlacc Pit
One of the toughest parts of being a Star Wars fan is the lingering bad taste in your mouth after one of the saga’s coolest characters died in the lamest way imaginable. There’s not a Star Wars fan in existence who is satisfied with Boba Fett’s canonical demise in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. The fierce bounty hunter doesn’t put up much of a fight before he falls in the infamous Sarlacc Pit. Thankfully, the SWEU alleges that Boba Fett somehow crawled out of the pit to continue his life of bounty hunting. Sadly, the films have yet to follow suit.
3 Don't Want: Hutts... Lots of Hutts
Jabba the Hut is such an iconic character that exploring his background in a canonical film sounds appealing, at first. For example, acclaimed writer/director Guillermo del Toro almost broke the internet when he pitched his idea for a crime-drama epic about Jabba’s rise to power. However, the SWEU is no stranger to introducing us to Jabba’s family. From Jabba’s son Stinky to Jabba’s uncle who feels like a dated gay stereotype, it might not hurt anyone if the Hutts’ backstory is left out of the films for good. It should have probably been left out of the SWEU, too.
2 Want: Jedi Fighting Hand-To-Hand
Even though several Jedi Knights are experienced martial artists, the film series has yet to deeply explore their skills in hand-to-hand combat. Shadow of the Empire, the first novel in Timothy Zahn’s seminal trilogy, finds Luke duking it out with an android assassin. He promptly kicks the android’s synthetic butt, proving that Jedi Knights are far more dangerous than just their lightsaber skills or telekinesis. The real question is whether or not Yoda knows how to fight. Yoda usually deploys his Force skills with grace and restraint. Still, it would be a nice change of pace for the little guy to slap the evil smile off of a Sith Lord’s face.
1 Don't Want: Ewoks Aren't The Worst Things Living On Endor
How is this even real? Thanks to the SWEU, we now know that Ewoks aren’t the most obnoxious characters living on the forest moon Endor. Introduced in Marvel’s Ewoks comic books, Mount Sorrow is a crying mountain with tears that have extraordinary healing powers. On top of just being plain goofy, Mount Sorrow is kind of a jerk and takes a liking to killing Ewoks for giggles. Although dead Ewoks would satisfy many fans of the canonical Star Wars films, the cuddly little guys being killed by a big crybaby rock probably isn’t what fans had in mind.