Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi looking seriousCredit: MovieStillsDB
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Liz Declan
Published 40 minutes ago
Liz Declan is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant, primarily covering Star Wars. She is a massive fan of Star Wars, the MCU, and Supernatural. In addition to writing, Liz loves attending and covering conventions. Find her on TikTok and Instagram @va.va.vera
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Star Wars has focused heavily on canon movies and TV shows for many years, particularly since Disney bought Star Wars, yet Star Wars: Visions has truly brought the Expanded Universe back. When Star Wars established a clear divide between canon and Legends—previously called the Expanded Universe—it proved incredibly divisive.
For many fans, letting go of certain characters and story arcs (especially those set after Return of the Jedi), at least in terms of their canonicity, was not easy. This included characters like Mara Jade, who was written entirely out of Star Wars canon, as well as the glory of Luke Skywalker's Jedi Temple in that arc.
To make matters worse, Star Wars effectively overhauled much of what was done in the Expanded Universe, such as in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, which continues to be seen as some of Star Wars' worst movies. However, Visions has provided a way for Star Wars to bring the Expanded Universe back, and so far, it's paid off.
The Ninth Jedi Show Means Visions Has Become Its Own Expanded Universe
Kara wielding a green lightsaber as the Ninth Jedi in Star Wars: Visions Volume 1
Visions just released its third season—or Vol. 3—earlier this year, and just as the two previous seasons were, these episodes were all anthology-style, and none of them was canon.
In fact, Visions is innovative both in terms of its art style, anime, and in the fact that it is a non-canon Star Wars show, neither of which is common for the franchise. Yet, this show's deviations from Star Wars' norms don't stop there. Now, Visions has an upcoming spin-off, The Ninth Jedi, which is another major update.
With The Ninth Jedi, Visions isn't just a one-off non-canon show. On the contrary, it is officially building a non-canon universe in the larger Star Wars franchise. In that sense, this is a brand-new era of the Expanded Universe, at a time when canon stories have absolutely dominated the franchise.
Disney's Star Wars Has Been All About Canon—Except For Visions
Anakin Skywalker smiling in Ahsoka in the World Between Worlds
It's been somewhat surprising just how much Disney Star Wars has emphasized canon stories since the company's acquisition. This isn't just true of the movies, all of which have been canon, but also of the TV shows.
Be it animated shows like Star Wars: The Bad Batch or live-action shows like The Acolyte or Skeleton Crew, the focus has clearly and nearly exclusively been on canon stories. This is particularly notable when it comes to live-action TV shows because they have spanned a huge part of the Star Wars timeline.
What's more, these shows, especially The Acolyte, have at times been subjected to significant backlash and criticism. Yet, Star Wars has planted its feet in terms of each of these shows being canonical—Visions and its impending spinoff, The Ninth Jedi, being the exceptions.
This has also been interesting in terms of the stories that Star Wars shows have brought in of late. While Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was said to have been the end of the Skywalker Saga, recent shows have proven that the importance of the Skywalker family isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
After all, Luke, Leia, and Anakin were all front and center in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and not only was Hayden Christensen back as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka season 1, but also, Anakin's return in Ahsoka season 2 is already confirmed. This not only reflects a prioritization of canon stories but also a return to form in terms of whose stories.
Star Wars: Visions' Reception Is A Reminder That Not Everything Has To Be Canon
Lah Kara and Teto in Star Wars Visions Vol. 3
While canon shows still rank very highly in terms of Star Wars' best TV shows, the success of Visions should absolutely be a sign that not all Star Wars shows and movies need to be canon to be successful. In fact, at present, Visions' Rotten Tomatoes score with critics is a jaw-dropping 98%.
Even more impressive, Visions Vol. 3 currently has a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Admittedly, audience scores are considerably lower, both for that season and the show as a whole, although that arguably has more to do with the negativity that (unfortunately) continues to permeate the Star Wars fanbase than the show itself.
Regardless, going off of the incredible ratings Visions has with critics alone, it's clear that the franchise can find success with non-canon stories, which may only prove truer with the upcoming spin-off. Interestingly, Star Wars movies may also be taking a page out of the Expanded Universe's book in the future.
Star Wars' New Movies Are Also Continuing An EU Trend
Ryan Gosling with Flynn Gray in front of an ocean in a behind the scenes image from Star Wars Starfighter
Although Star Wars' upcoming movies are all canon, at least as far as we now know, these new movies will also be following an interesting Expanded Universe trend: moving all around the Star Wars timeline. The next two movies to be released, The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter, aren't very far apart.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is set between the original and sequel trilogies, whereas Starfighter will take place a few years after The Rise of Skywalker. However, if all the Star Wars movies currently slated for the future are indeed going to be released—which is a pretty big if—then they represent a huge span of time.
As just one example, James Mangold's Star Wars movie, thought to be titled Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, would reveal the first Jedi, thousands of years before any stories we've seen thus far. In that sense, even the canon Star Wars projects are borrowing from the Expanded Universe, but it's Star Wars: Visions that has truly brought it back.
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Kara wielding a green lightsaber as the Ninth Jedi in Star Wars: Visions Volume 1 
A lightsaber duel in Star Wars Visions 
Sith acolytes draw their red blades in preparation for combat.
Kara splitting a hat with her lightsaber in Star Wars: Visions season 3, "The Ninth Jedi: Child of Hope"
Jedi Grandmaster Taunting Ronin in Star Wars Visions Vol. 3 The Duel Payback
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An Ewok poking his head out of the snow in Star Wars: Visions season 3Close
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