Via Moviepilot.com:

Long before Marvel Studios and Disney built an empire on the concept of the “shared universe” there already existed an epic tale of interconnected stories so elaborate it blows one’s mind as to how it all held together. I’m, of course, referring to the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

At one point, the Expanded Universe was a flourishing series of novels, cartoons, comic books and video games that kept the spirit of the Star Wars saga alive and well for all of the fans. Nothing was published or produced without the George Lucas stamp of approval and all of the creative teams and authors involved had to know what was happening and when before embarking on their own journeys in the galaxy far, far away.

But then Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4 Billion and subsequently green lit a new trilogy of movies to take place after Return of the Jedi. They hired J.J. Abrams to helm Star Wars: Episode 7 – The Force Awakens and, with the flush of a toilet and use of a very large plunger, did away with the entire Expanded Universe.

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