Retcons in Star Wars: How Did the Prequels Affect the Expanded Universe?

The Star Wars prequel trilogy, consisting of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, introduced substantial changes and contradictions to the established Expanded Universe (EU) of the Star Wars universe. These changes, known as retcons (retroactive continuity changes), affected various elements of the lore, particularly the history of the Galactic Republic and the Sith.

Retcons and the Galactic Republic

The prequel trilogy made a few significant changes to the history of the Galactic Republic and the Empire:

Republic and Jedi History: In the prequels, Anakin Skywalker and Count Dooku mention that the Republic and Jedi have been around for a thousand years, contradicting the EU, where it was said to have lasted for approximately a thousand generations. This change was later rectified in the expanded universe but initially confused many fans. Coruscant as the Capital: The prequels revealed that Coruscant, the capital of the Republic and later the Empire, is a massive city-planet in the Core Worlds, which was less definitively established in the EU.

Specific Retcons in the Extended Canon

Several specific elements were altered or contradicted between the prequels and the expanded universe, leading to some confusion among fans. Below are some notable examples:

Timeline and Events

Number of Conflicts: In Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Senator Sio Bibble states, "We have not had a full-scale war [in the Republic] since the formation of the Republic." However, bibliographies in the EU recognized that full-scale conflicts such as The Great Hyperspace War, The Mandalorian Wars, the Ruusan campaign, and the Exar Kun conflict occurred prior to the formation of the Republic. Mustafar Duel Incident: In the Episode 6 novelization by James Kahn, Anakin falls into a molten pit on Mustafar during his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi. This was later contradicted by the events in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Padmé’s Fate and Anakin’s Priorities: In the expanded universe, it was said that Anakin never knew Padmé was pregnant until her death after the birth of their twin children. Moreover, in these sources, Owen Lars was initially Padmé’s stepbrother and much closer to her than Obi-Wan Kenobi. However, this information was later updated and simplified in the films. Death Star Plans and Separatists: In the expanded universe, the Sith received the Death Star plans from Raith Sienar, but in Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Count Dooku is shown obtaining the plans from the Separatists.

Character Names and Origins

Jaster Mereel and Boba Fett: Initially, Jaster Mereel was the original name of Boba Fett in some early scripts. This detail was later changed, but the connection between Jaster Mereel and Boba Fett persisted throughout the prequels and beyond.

Conclusion

The Star Wars prequel trilogy brought significant changes to the established lore, particularly related to the history of the Republic and the Sith. These alterations often created discrepancies with the earlier expanded universe materials, leading to a period of retcon and re-establishment. While these changes sometimes caused confusion, they also enriched the overall narrative coherence of the Star Wars universe, making it more detailed and interconnected.

The impact of these retcons is still discussed among fans and scholars, with some arguing for the authenticity of the EU and others praising the continuity provided by the prequel trilogy. Regardless of the opinion, the prequels undeniably changed the way the Star Wars universe was understood and appreciated by fans worldwide.