The Influence of Star Wars Legends on Disney's Sequel Trilogy

Many fans have pondered the question: why didn't Disney borrow more from Star Wars Legends when making the Star Wars sequels? The answer lies in a combination of strategic decisions and the nature of the source material, as well as the industry's financial realities.

Strategic Decisions and Source Material

Disney did borrow from Star Wars Legends, but the extent and manner of this borrowing were carefully considered. Instead of directly expanding on the EU's (Expanded Universe) stories and their multi-tiered canon, which often includes contradictions, Disney chose to treat it as part of the existing canon. They similarly followed George Lucas' example of using these stories and characters as inspiration for their own canon, a strategy they continue to employ.

This approach was likely taken for several reasons. Firstly, many of the Legends books are of varying quality, with some being mediocre in terms of plot and writing. Works like 'The Truce at Bakura' do not make for a compelling follow-up to the movies, lacking the cohesion and familiar elements that fans love. While there are certainly excellent Legends books, Disney likely found that more was mediocre than truly groundbreaking.

Key Borrowings and Adaptions from Star Wars Legends

Despite the initial appearance of ignoring Star Wars Legends, Disney has drawn significant inspiration from it in several ways:

Kylo Ren is a clear inspiration from Darth Caedus/Jacen Solo. The First Order is derived from the Imperial Remnant and the Empire of the Hand. Plot elements in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars series are taken from 'Dark Empire' and 'Glove of Darth Vader'. Starkiller Base and the concept of Exegol are also derived from Legends. Characters like Darth Bane, Thrawn, and TIE Defender were introduced through Legends. Imperial infiltration of the New Republic originates from 'The New Rebellion'. The idea of Luke being in exile comes from 'The Fate of the Jedi' books, where he is voluntarily exiled to learn more about Jacen's fall to the Dark Side. The plot of Rogue One shows additional connections to Legends.

Industry Realities and Audience Considerations

While Disney clearly has a deep love for Star Wars Legends, it's important to understand the industry context. When considering the financial implications, a strict adaptation of Legend elements would not have been a viable option. Here are some key reasons:

Known Storylines: Everyone familiar with Star Wars already knew the key outcomes, making adaptation less appealing for its novelty alone. Quality of Material: Much of Legends was not of high enough quality to attract top-tier talent. Without notable directors and actors, an EU adaptation might struggle to find financial backing. Age of Cast: Actors like Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford were not in their twilight years but old enough to make a sequel trilogy a riskier endeavor. Casting young actors to play these roles would have been challenging. Furthermore, the risk of a member of the cast dying before the project could be completed was a real concern. Commercial Viability: The practical audience base for a purely Legends-based adaptation was limited. Significant investment into a project based on lesser-known elements would not have been commercially sound.

In conclusion, while Disney has borrowed from Star Wars Legends extensively, their strategic approach has been to integrate elements without directly adapting them. This method has allowed Disney to build a strong, coherent, and engaging canon that resonates with existing fans and introduces the brand to a new generation.