After Disney purchased Lucasfilm, they made the controversial decision to reset the Star Wars canon. Lucasfilm released a statement back in 2014 detailing the extent of the universe reset.
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. This includes the six Star Wars episodes, and the many hours of content he developed and produced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. These stories are the immovable objects of Star Wars history, the characters and events to which all other tales must align.
However, they did mention Extended Universe (EU) story elements would be included in the new canon.
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.
Star Wars Rebels also introduced Grand Admiral Thrawn as an in-canon character and reintroduced the Hammerhead-class cruiser which was used extremely effectively in Rogue One.
But now it looks like more Legends characters will be introduced into the new Star Wars canon. Lucasfilm Story Group member, Leleand Chee answered a question about whether beloved Star Wars characters like Revan or Darth Zannah would show up in the new canon. Chee replied, “You wouldn’t believe some of the Legends characters that will be cropping up in various media in the coming months. Hey, if Tag and Bink can show up, ANYthing is possible.”
https://twitter.com/HolocronKeeper/status/954862818846748672
Tag and Bink are two Rebellion members who comically fumbled their way into the Star Wars in the Dark Horse Comics courtesy of writer Kevin Rubio and artist Lucas Marangon. The two will be appearing in the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Movie. Director Ron Howard revealed their inclusion in the upcoming film. Interestingly enough, the two are dressed as Imperial officers.
#tagandbink ? pic.twitter.com/1EzUbS3MQs
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) October 14, 2017
When exploring other eras of the Star Wars universe was mentioned, Leland Chee was optimistic saying, “I’d love to see storytelling in other eras as well.”
https://twitter.com/HolocronKeeper/status/955192973095968768
He even hinted that we might see some of The Old Republic.
https://twitter.com/HolocronKeeper/status/957806811653931008
However, as one user pointed out, Chee “learned much about answering without answering.”
https://twitter.com/HolocronKeeper/status/957813325168979968
Many took Chee’s news as good and began pitching for the characters they want to see show up in the new canon.
Darth Revan?
— Real Dende (@seal1529) January 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/MaraJadeCanon/status/955564936415113219
https://twitter.com/artisticbum/status/957862227725471746
Still holding out for some of the republic commando characters like Bardan Jusik and Kal Skirata
— Talon ordo (@TalonOrdo) January 23, 2018
However, a number of fans were not happy with the news. They suggested the Expanded Universe continue in its own universe separate from the new canon.
Expanded Universe Fans want #ContinuationNOTIntegration Marvel has 2 separate timelines many other franchises do. You toss out the Expanded Universe for 'creative freedom' than be creative and come up with NEW characters. a name w/ different history is different person.
— Rebel Je'Daii (@SWForce4EU) January 22, 2018
Please continue Legends itself. Don't ruin the stories by integrating. Give us Sword of the Jedi and more Legends. #RealStarWars #GiveUsLegends
— The EU Rebellion (@EU_Rebellion) January 22, 2018
While it seems a little demanding in these comments, I just want to see two timelines more than just one with traces of my childhood stories, and that's the same for the EU movement.
— IJosh64 (@CaptainJoshSixF) January 22, 2018
This is NOT what many fans have been asking for when we say #GiveUsLegends. We don't want our EU characters stolen, amalgamated, whitewashed….they're not even close to the same great characters. We want #ContinuationNotIntegration
— John Spain (@JohnMSpain) January 22, 2018
This is it right here. We know some people like Disney's continuity, but we want to see Legends continue as it's own thing. If Marvel or DC can have multiple universes simultaneously, why not Star Wars with just 2? #giveuslegends
— David Markson אבשלום בן אברהם ושרה (@UndyingHunter) January 22, 2018
Others were even more negative. They don’t want the Lucasfilm Story Group and Disney’s influence to “ruin characters.”
https://twitter.com/AWynne7/status/957905950404435968
https://twitter.com/TrueTanker/status/955495982812217344
What do you think? Is this good news that the Lucasfilm Story Group will be introducing Legends characters into the new Star Wars canon or do you want them to continue the stories from Legends in a separate universe similar to Marvel’s 616 universe and the Marvel Ultimate Universe?