Wookieepedia:Canon policy

The "new canon," which was set forth on April 25, 2014 and which is overseen by the Lucasfilm Story Group, exists in a connected, "one universe" continuity. This means that, beginning with the Star Wars Rebels animated television series and the 2014 novel A New Dawn, all officially licensed Star Wars storytelling from this point forward stands on equal canon footing. This differs significantly from the previous system of Star Wars canon, in which George Lucas's personal projects—namely, the six films of the original trilogy and prequel trilogy, and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series—took absolute precedence over any Expanded Universe material.

Lucasfilm Ltd. identifies the six films of the original trilogy and prequel trilogy, and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series as the "immovable objects of Star Wars history, the characters and events to which all other tales must align." The following list identifies what is now considered official canon. This section may require updating as Lucasfilm releases new updates.

• The Star Warsoriginal trilogy films—Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
• The Star Warsprequel trilogy films—Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
• The Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series and film
• The Star Wars Rebels television series and its supplementary source material
• Star Wars Insider fiction, beginning with "Blade Squadron" in Star Wars Insider 149
• Information found in the StarWars.comDatabank
• Information previously found in the now-defunct StarWars.com Encyclopedia
• Per confirmation by Leland Chee, Wookieepedia treats the digital cards introduced in Star Wars: Force Collection prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014 as both canon and Legends, while the cards released after that date are considered canon only
• All officially licensed source material released following the September 2, 2014 novel A New Dawn. Please see below for specific exceptions.

Although the Expanded Universe has been relegated to non-canon "Legends" status, Lucasfilm considers all Expanded Universe material to be a "resource" of information that any author may freely draw upon for "new canon" stories. In the event an Expanded Universe subject appears or is mentioned in a new canon story, that subject becomes official canon once again. However, that does not necessarily mean that the subject's entire previous Expanded Universe history regains canon status. Wookieepedia contributors must take care to treat as canon only elements of a subject presented within the confines of new canon source material.

Certain sources previously released as part of the Expanded Universe may remain unclear to readers as to whether they are now considered to be canon. Wookieepedia considers the following, based on statements made by personnel associated with Lucasfilm or its licensees. This section may require updating as Lucasfilm releases new updates.

• . Del Rey has stated that the original film novelizations "are canon where they align with what is seen on screen in the 6 films and the Clone Wars animated movie." As these novelizations contain many supplementary details not found in the films themselves, Wookieepedia treats them as Legends material in whole.
• Star Wars: The Old Republic. According to GameSpot, a Lucasfilm representative has confirmed that the ongoing Star Wars: The Old Republic video game remains part of the Expanded Universe, saying, "[A]s far as The Old Republic MMO is concerned, nothing is going to change. [TOR] has always been a part of the Expanded Universe, and that's not going to change."
• . Lucasfilm has not issued any definitive declarations regarding the canon status of roleplaying and gaming material published by Fantasy Flight Games, so this material remains publicly undetermined. Please refer to this page to see how Wookieepedia documents Fantasy Flight Games source material.
• . Lucasfilm has also not issued any definitive declarations about Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon, so this material also remains publicly undetermined. Per Consensus Track vote, Wookieepedia treats issues 1-16 of Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon as Legends and issues 17-100 of the magazine as canon, excluding any section explicitly labeled as Legends.
• . Non-fiction sources such as those covering the real world production of Star Wars may introduce new in-universecanon information if it is given as in-universe in relation to a piece of canon material. For example, a Star Wars Insider interview that gives a film character's in-universe name may be used as a canon source. A more detailed breakdown of where to list non-fiction material can be found on the in-universe section of the Layout Guide.
• All LEGO sources and media are considered non-canon unless otherwise confirmed by an official source due to the parodic and occasionally anachronistic or canon-contradictory nature of such media. LEGO sources can, however, provide canonical names or identifications for subjects that are considered fully canon, insofar as they are previously unidentified, based on a statement by Lucasfilm Story Group member Pablo Hidalgo regarding character names from the LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens video game.

Social media posts establishing authorial intent or clarification on their own work from creators of official Star Wars media can be used as a valid source of in-universe information. However, posts in which creators or Lucasfilm employees are simply sharing their opinion or personal theories on in-universe elements should not be used as valid sources within articles. If contacting creators with queries about their work, please ensure that you do so in moderation and treat them with respect. Repeatedly asking the same unanswered question of a creator or pinging them multiple times a day with different questions is inappropriate, and will result in a warning and potentially further action from the Administration.

Social media posts from official Star Wars brand accounts, such as the official Star Wars Twitter and Facebook page, are also allowed as independent sources of in-universe information. In addition, Jason Fry's Jedi Council Forums comment on the "Planetnamia" reasoning, as presented in {{Planetnamia}}, which is assumed to also apply to the Star Wars Galaxy Map. Posts from Story Group members and authors may be used in out-of-universe pages and page sections as needed, such as to document background development.

The Expanded Universe, which technically began in October 1977 with the Marvel comic Star Wars 7, existed until April 25, 2014, when Lucasfilm declared its content to be non-canon, organized under the "Legends" banner, in preparation for the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Although George Lucas permitted the Expanded Universe to run parallel to his personal Star Wars creations, he never considered its stories to be part of his official canon. As explained by Pablo Hidalgo in the 2012 The Essential Reader's Companion, "Though these [Expanded Universe] stories may get his stamp of approval, they don't enter his canon unless they are depicted cinematically in one of his projects. That said, unless something occurs in a canon project to directly contradict a published source, it can reliably be said to have occurred."

According to Lucasfilm senior editor Jennifer Heddle, the Expanded Universe now exists as a non-canon resource for Star Wars authors, who may use any Expanded Universe subject in a new canon work, subject to approval by the Lucasfilm Story Group. In the event an Expanded Universe subject is referenced in a new canon work, that subject becomes official canon once again. However, the subject's previous Expanded Universe history does not necessarily become canon. Heddle confirms that the Expanded Universe now basically stands as a non-canon alternate universe and that no new stories will be added to the Expanded Universe line of continuity.

In 2000, Lucas Licensing, through the Holocron continuity database, as overseen by Leland Chee, began categorizing all Expanded Universe content into a tiered hierarchy of canon. This system applied a limited degree of canonicity to Expanded Universe stories, though they remained absolutely subordinate to Lucas's personal canon. Chee created the following classification system, which no longer applies:

• , or : The six Star Wars films in their most recent incarnations, including unpublished production notes from Lucas or his production department. Elements originating with Lucas in the film novelizations, reference books, and other adaptations. Direct declarations made by Lucas. Deleted scenes from the films that do not conflict with the film itself.
• , or : The Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, its feature film, and the Star Wars Rebels animated series.
• , or : The majority of Expanded Universe stories, including novels, comics, video games, and other content originating from other authors. C-canon material could be elevated to G-canon if a subject appeared in a Lucas project.
• , or : Material that could be used or ignored as desired by authors, including older works that predated a concentrated effort to maintain a consistent continuity, such as the Marvel Star Wars comics. Anything that is not completely outrageous or intentionally comic.
• , or : "What-if" stories, including those published under the Infinities label. Any content directly and irreconcilably contradicted by higher canon. Cut content and canceled projects. This was the only level that Lucasfilm did not consider to have some degree of canonicity.
• , or : The Star Wars Detours animated series, which was not released before the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014. This canon level was never fully defined as a result.

With Lucasfilm's creation of a single, unified continuity that excludes the Expanded Universe, this canon hierarchy system is now defunct. All content that was previously considered to be below T-canon is now officially non-canon, unless it is referenced in a new canon work.

Although the Holocron continuity database's canon hierarchy system no longer officially applies to Star Wars canon, Wookieepedia contributors must still apply this system as needed when writing a Legends article in order to determine conflicting "canonicity" in regards to a given Expanded Universe subject. Because the Expanded Universe is so closely intertwined with the six Star Wars films and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series and feature film, Wookieepedia contributors must fully incorporate these works into Legends articles, even though these works are now officially considered to be part of the new canon and therefore unconnected to the Expanded Universe.

For Wookieepedia's purposes in regards to Legends articles, G-canon and T-canon are now effectively synonymous, and C-canon and S-canon are now similarly synonymous, with G-canon and T-canon taking precedence over C-canon and S-canon in the event of a conflicting story. Therefore, Wookieepedia may now effectively use the following, more simplified system:

• : This level combines and , as defined in the previous section (with the exception of Star Wars Rebels, which was not released before April 25, 2014 and therefore did not apply to the Expanded Universe). Cinematic canon trumps Expanded canon in the event of a conflicting story.
• : This level combines and , as defined in the previous section, as well as all other Expanded Universe material previously considered to be of "ambiguous" canonicity, such as unlicensed sources. In the event two Expanded canon sources conflict, precedence should typically be granted to the more recently published source, except in the instance of a clear continuity error.
• : This level includes all Expanded Universe stories that Lucasfilm previously declared , as defined in the previous section, prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014, such as Infinities. Even though all Expanded Universe content is now officially non-canon, Wookieepedia distinguishes Expanded Universe content that Lucasfilm never considered to be canon by covering this content within a Legends article's "Behind the scenes" section where appropriate.

As Wookieepedians write Legends articles, they will still draw upon the wealth of Expanded Universe source material, as they always have, to properly and comprehensively document a Legends subject. To this end, the same standards apply in regards to using reliable and valid Expanded Universe resources. The following identifies reliable, officially licensed sources of information for Expanded Universe material. This section may be revised as necessary and is not necessarily comprehensive.

• The six Star Wars films of the original trilogy and prequel trilogy (with the 2011Blu-ray release being the films' most recent and therefore canon incarnations in regards to the Expanded Universe), the Star Wars: The Clone Wars film, and all spinoff films created prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014
• The Star Wars: Droids, Ewoks, and Star Wars: Clone Wars television series and related material
• The Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series and related material that was published prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014. Wookieepedia treats The Clone Wars: Season Seven as canon only, and Star Wars: Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir is treated as both canon and Legends
• All StarWars.com online content, defunct and otherwise, published prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014, including but not limited to, the Databank, Encyclopedia, Message Boards, Hyperspace, and Star Wars Blog, as well as content that was published after April 25, 2014 and pertains to Legends source material, such as Star Wars: The Essential Atlas Online Companion, Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Warfare Author's Cut and SkyeWalkers: A Clone Wars Story.
• All other official Star Wars online content, defunct and otherwise, that was published prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014, such as HoloNet News, or was published after that date but pertains to Legends source material, such as swtor.com
• All novels, junior novels, reference books, sourcebooks, and other books published prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014
• All Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics published prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014, with specific exceptions as noted by Lucasfilm, such as the Star Wars: Rebel Heist, Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2, and Dark Horse Comics' 2013 Star Wars series, which continued past April 25 but were nonetheless classified as Legends
• All comic stories included in the Star Wars Comic UK magazine, including its issues published following the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014
• All video games, video game manuals, official strategy guides, and official related websites released or published prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014, with any specific exceptions as noted by Lucasfilm
• All West End Games, Wizards of the Coast, and Fantasy Flight Games roleplaying material, both online and print, published prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014, with any specific exceptions as noted by Lucasfilm
• All Star Wars magazines, such as Star Wars Insider, Star Wars Gamer, Star Wars Official Poster Monthly, and The Official Star Wars Fact File, published prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014, with any specific exceptions as noted by Lucasfilm
• All trading card game material and websites, defunct and otherwise, published prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014, such as the Star Wars Customizable Card Game, Star Wars Trading Card Game, and Star Wars: The Card Game, with any specific exceptions as noted by Lucasfilm
• Kenner and Hasbro action figures and toys, including packaging descriptions, released prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014
• Wookieepedia also treats the following Star Wars media, published after the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014, as Legends:
• All re-releases, remakes, and adaptations, such as Star Wars Insider: The Fiction Collection, The Essential Legends Collection, The Story of the Faithful Wookiee (Little Golden Book), and LEGO Star Wars, of the abovementioned exclusively Legends resources published following the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014 and not updated to include information from canon source material
• Official Lucasfilm decrees made by such authoritative individuals as George Lucas, Leland Chee, and Dave Filoni regarding the content of the now-defunct Holocron continuity database prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014
• All other Lucasfilm promotional material and decrees issued through social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, prior to the Lucasfilm declaration of April 25, 2014

• Fan-fiction, otherwise known as fanon, in any form
• Conjecture and assumptions based on real-world standards
• Fan websites and message boards
• Video game elements that appear only when triggering a non-canon storyline. For example, characters who appear when the Jedi Exile is male or when Kyle Katarn chooses the dark-side ending. However, these details nonetheless originate in officially licensed sources and must therefore be documented within an article's "Behind the scenes" section where appropriate. The same holds true for non-canon Infinities stories.

Certain Expanded Universe source material was of an unclear canon nature. Because the Expanded Universe is now non-canon and will no longer be receiving new additions to its line of continuity, Lucasfilm is unlikely to make any further clarifications regarding this material. Wookieepedians must carefully consider how best to present this information within the confines of a Legends article.

• Star Wars Tales, issues 1–20. The Holocron continuity database included all of the stories from these issues with varying levels of canonicity. Leland Chee stated, "Consider everything that's not completely outrageous or intentionally comic as S-canon. If it's referenced in another non-Tales story, then elevate it to C-canon."
• Comments made by Lucasfilm personnel other than George Lucas and Leland Chee. Statements of authorial intent and information released by authors to clarify details of their works may or may not have been canon.
• Alternative outcomes and side quests in video games and roleplaying games, such as the fate of the character Matrik in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Legends articles should typically assume 100 percent game completion when side quests do not conflict with the overall storyline. Similarly, the light-side outcomes of games typically trumped dark-side outcomes.
• Information from cut content was usually considered non-canon but in some cases may have been confirmed as canon.