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Expanded Universe (view source)

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The term comes from ''[[Star Wars]]'', which has an extensive [[Expanded Universe]] covering events before, during, and after the films. The ''[[Star Wars]]'' [[Expanded Universe]] [[Star Wars Expanded Universe|has its own page.]]
 
Note: the "primary medium" is usually the original one, but not always. For instance, few would dispute that the primary medium of the [[Buffy Verse]] is the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer|1997 TV show]], not the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Filmfilm)|1992 movie]] (which is only [[Canon]] for the television series in the form of its altered comic book adaptation which is based off of Joss' original script for it).
 
After a show's cancellation, the [[Expanded Universe]] may become the only place to get new material involving [[The Verse]] (outside of [[Fanfic]], of course), continuing the [[Canon]] in the minds of the readers/viewers. However, if a show is later [[Uncanceled|brought back]], this "new [[Canon]]" may be cancelled out, creating yet more conflict.
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{{examples}}
 
* [[Battle TechBattleTech Expanded Universe]]
* [[Doctor Who Expanded Universe]]
* [[Star Trek Expanded Universe]]
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* The cult favorite series ''[[Kolchak the Night Stalker]]'' has inspired a set of follow-on novels featuring the series characters. The latest one this editor can find was published in 2007--33 years after cancellation of the original series!
* ''[[Darkman]]'' spawned a series of (quite good) novels, and a short-lived comic book series. Recently the character was licensed to Dynamite Comics, who will be publishing original stories. They've already put out an [[Evil Dead]] crossover.
* Few people know that the film ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit?]]'', itself based (very loosely) on the Gary K. Wolf novel ''[[Who Censored Roger Rabbit? (Literature)]]?'', has some nicely concise [[Expanded Universe]] material. The novel ''Who P-P-P-Plugged Roger Rabbit?'' (it's really spelled that way, because Roger stutters his p's) is a direct [[Sequel]] to the film, and gives us plenty of more material on how the series' world functions, and much more about the life and family of Eddie Valiant. There are also comics and a couple of short stories.
* ''[[Aliens]]'' and ''[[Predator]]'' have their own [[Expanded Universe]], including several cross-over miniseries published by Dark Horse Comics during the late 80s and 90s. The first three miniseries for Aliens were originally a continuation of the second Alien movie; however, the release of ''Alien 3'' rendered the events of those series incompatible with the movie's [[Continuity]] since it killed Newt and Hicks at the beginning of the movie, and Ripley at the very end. Dark Horse got around this by rereleasing the series in graphic novel format, with new names for the series as well as [[Retcon|renaming Newt as Billie and Hicks as Wilkes]], and stuck with using original characters after that. There have also been many ''[[Aliens]]'' and ''[[Predator]]'' novels and [[Video Game|video games]] released, including a few ''[[Alien vs. Predator]]'' games for the PC.
* Each of the eight major characters from ''[[Repo! theThe Genetic Opera]]'' have their own Myspace page. Whatever happens there is considered [[Canon]]. Rotti is understandably a very busy man and only occasionally present, but his children are there whenever they're supposed to be working, and Grave-Robber apparently drums up a lot of new clientele through the site.
* Not counting (though some do) the [[In Name Only]] [[Friday the 13th: The Series|television series]], ''[[Friday the 13th (Filmfilm)|Friday the 13th]]'' has a surprisingly large number of books and comics.
* Other New Line Cinema horror properties such as ''[[A Nightmare On Elm Street (Film)|A Nightmare Onon Elm Street]]'', ''[[Final Destination (Film)|Final Destination]]'' and ''[[The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Film)|The Texas Chainsaw Massacre]]'' also have a large number of novels, short story collections, comic books, and in Freddy's case, [[FreddysFreddy's Nightmares|a television series]].
* ''[[Hellraiser (Film)|Hellraiser]]'' has a surprisingly huge, detailed [[Expanded Universe]], primarily due to many of the cast and crew from the film series contributing, even series originator [[Clive Barker]], and Peter Atkins (the writer of the second, third and fourth films).
* ''[[Labyrinth (Film)|Labyrinth]]'' had a four-volume [[OEL Manga]] followup, ''[[Return to Labyrinth]]'', published over 2006-10.
* Although not actually canon, [[Red Dawn]] got an [[Expanded Universe]] in the form of [[Red Dawn Plus 20]].
 
 
== Literature ==
* The ''[[Cthulhu Mythos]]'' is a particularly informal [[Expanded Universe]] based around the works of [[HPH.P. Lovecraft]], all writers (and [[Call of Cthulhu]] game designers) after him are generally considered to be outside "The Mythos Proper".
* ''[[Warrior Cats (Literature)|Warrior Cats]]'' has 13 comic books, 2 plays and 4 guidebooks (as well as one that was [[What Could Have Been|cancelled]]). These are all canon, being written by the authors themselves, except possibly ''Brightspirit's Mercy'', which happens in the middle of a book's story rather than in one the series' plentiful [[Time Skip|time skips]].
 
 
== Live Action TV ==
* The [[Doctor Who Expanded Universe]] may in fact be [[Canon]] to the TV series as two episodes directly reference it in [[Mythology Gag|Mythology Gags]]. Other parts contradict it. But then the [[Whoniverse]] (Expanded and otherwise) tends towards [[Broad Strokes]] [[Continuity]] and to a large extent anything goes within it. Former producer [[Russell T. Davies]] has stated that he considers the [[Big Finish Doctor Who]] audio plays to be in-[[Continuity]]. That statement was made back when the audio plays explicitly broke from [[Continuity]] with the books; they've since been amended into a single [[Continuity]] by the audio play ''The Company of Friends''. The Series 3 episodes "Human Nature" and "Family of Blood" have been acknowledged as an adaptation of the Seventh Doctor [[Virgin New Adventures|New Adventures]] novel ''Human Nature'' (the novels themselves form two distinct and only semi-compatible [[Continuity|continuities]]) and, confusing things yet further, some writers of the spin-off material took the view they took place in [[Alternate Universe|Alternate Universes]] to each other.
* ''[[Doctor Who]]'''s spin-off ''[[Torchwood (TV)|Torchwood]]'' has its own expanded materials in the form of novels, magazine strips, and audios. Perhaps the most interesting one so far is the magazine strip "Shrouded", penned by Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones' actor). {{spoiler|Our Ianto is quite dead, but an evil Ianto from an alternate timeline is very much alive, and saw the funeral. Is this [[Canon]]?}}
* The novel-based ''[[Star Trek Expanded Universe]]'', published by Simon & Schuster, primarily carries forward the future history of ''[[Star Trek: theThe Next Generation (TV)|Star Trek the Next Generation]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV)|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'', and ''[[Star Trek: Voyager (TV)|Star Trek Voyager]]''. It's been given full rein over [[Star Trek (Franchise)|Trek]] stories post-''Nemesis'', as it's likely that version of the [[Star Trek (Franchise)|Trek]] universe won't appear on-screen again. The ''[[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]]'' [[Expanded Universe]] most recently includes a fan series called ''[http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.12/startrek.html Star Trek: New Voyages]'', which is attempting complete the "five year mission" of [[Star Trek: theThe Original Series (TV)|the original series]]. It's being supported by a number of people with professional links to the official series runs, most notably Walter Koenig and [[George Takei]], who reprise their roles of Chekov and Sulu, respectively.
* ''[[Lost (TV)|Lost]]'' has a relatively small [[Expanded Universe]] so far -- a few books, two [[Alternate Reality Games]], and a [[Video Game]]. The only one of these that's been declared [[Canon]] is the first ARG, ''The [[Lost]] Experience'' -- and that only applies to the backstory information given relating to the series, not the main plot.
* ''[[Glee (TV)|Glee]]'' has its own [[Prequel]] book now.
* ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' has a small [[Expanded Universe]] with comic books and graphic novels, not much of it [[Canon]] and [[Retcon|the rest getting smaller the longer the show goes on.]] Now that the show itself has been canceled, the [[Expanded Universe]] presumably has free rein again.
* ''[[Babylon 5]]'' has [[Expanded Universe]] in the form of Role-playing game sourcebooks. There are [[Canon|canonical]] comics and a lot of novels. Of the novels, only To Dream in the City of Sorrows, the Psi Corps trilogy, the Passing of the Techno-mages trilogy, the Legions of Fire trilogy, and the Anna Sheridan plot of The Shadow Within are [[Canon]]. The John Sheridan plot of The Shadow Within is not [[Canon]]. That's right, [[Canon]] and non-[[Canon]] in the same book.
* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' has many novels and comic books written by writers of the series that are of varying apocryphal status, and a [[Joss Whedon|Whedon-helmed]] comic-book series (along with a similar comic-book series for its [[Spin-Off]] series ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]'') that's considered the [[Canon]] post-television storyline.
** The other, Non-Season 8/After The Fall comics are up in the air in [[Continuity]], as are all non-Post Chosen novels (those that are Post-Chosen are just non-[[Canon]]). Many of the novels are either side stories or [[Prequel|prequels]]. The novel ''Go Ask Malice'', for example, is a backstory for Faith that goes up until the episode ''Faith, Hope, Trick''. It's status as [[Canon]], like all of the novels, is unknown, but it does give a backstory for a character with very little and it doesn't violate [[Canon]].
*** The only bit of non-show or non-Season 8 comic that is considered "[[Canon]]" came from the fairly short-lived ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' role-playing game, and that is Faith's last name; Lehane. This has been confirmed as [[Canon]] by its use in the Joss-Whedon-written last issue of the Season 8 comics.
* ''[[Charmed (TV)|Charmed]]'' has novels of both original stories and several based on actual episodes.
* ''[[Firefly (TV)|Firefly]]'' (the original [[The Verse|Verse]]) has a small Expanded Universe in form of comics, RPG supplements and one novelization (of ''[[Serenity (Film)|Serenity]]'').
 
 
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== Tabletop Games ==
* ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' has taken its background and turned it into an [[Expanded Universe]], with material spanning not only the tabletop game but countless novels, graphic novels and [[Video Game|video games]], not to mention the vast and incredibly detailed faux-historical accounts. The same's been done for ''[[Warhammer Fantasy]]''.
* The [[Battle TechBattleTech Expanded Universe]]: A long series of sci-fi novels, a pair of [[Video Game]] [[Spin-Off|spinoffs]], and even a [[Western Animation]] series.
* ''[[Dark Future (Tabletop Gamegame)|Dark Future]]'' gained an expanded background courtesy of a series of novels by [[Kim Newman]], who also wrote many of the early ''[[Warhammer Fantasy]]''-related fiction.
 
 
== Theme Parks ==
* Having one of these is the reason why ''[[The Haunted Mansion]]'' has a page separate from the rest of the [[Disney Theme Parks]], having spawned [[The Haunted Mansion (Filmfilm)|a film]] with another coming soon, a [[Video Game]], a comic mini-series, and a few books.
 
 
== Video Games ==
* ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' took its first stab at this with [[Assassin's Creed the Fall]], a comic miniseries. It's canon, too.
* ''[[Halo]]'''s [[Expanded Universe]] consists of multiple novels, comics, guidebooks, online exclusives, live-action commercials, and [[Alternate Reality Game|Alternate Reality Games]], along with an [[Halo Legends|anime series]]. All of it, whether created directly by staff from Bungie or 343 (the studios behind the games), or by third parties working under their direct control, is not only completely canonical, but is closely integrated with the games. For example, much of ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' will only be understood by people who read the books; heck, this disclaimer even applies to its ''official website''.
** When canon does conflict, policy is that new material overrides old material, and that games and other media created directly by Bungie/343 staff take precedence over everything else.
* Some [[Video Game|games]] like ''[[Starcraft]]'', ''[[Diablo]]'' and ''[[Sid MeiersMeier's Alpha Centauri]] '' have a small [[Expanded Universe]], mainly consisting of a few books.
* The [[Warcraft Expanded Universe]] consists of about ten books, one trilogy of manga, two western comic series and two tabletop RPGs.
* The ''[[Final Fantasy (Franchise)|Final Fantasy]]'' series has built up an increasingly large [[Expanded Universe]] over time, particularly with regard to ''[[Final Fantasy VII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VII]]'', which, in addition to its [[Prequel]] and [[Spin-Off]] [[Video Game|games]], has the ''[[Advent Children]]'' movie, two [[Anime]] OVA's and several novellas. There's also the ''Legend of the Crystals'' [[Anime]] OVA, which takes place 200 years after ''[[Final Fantasy V (Video Game)|Final Fantasy V]]'', and the ''[[Final Fantasy Unlimited (Anime)|Final Fantasy Unlimited]]'' [[Anime]] series and the ''[[Final Fantasy: theThe Spirits Within (Anime)|Final Fantasy the Spirits Within]]'' movie (though their relationship to the [[Video Game|games]] is mostly thematic).
* ''[[Mass Effect]]'' and ''[[Dragon Age]]'' have [[Expanded Universe|expanded universes]]. Rather than having books or comics that are simply adaptations, they tell their own coherent story. The novels and comics are often a source of critical plot related information, leading to some events or people being referenced that the gamer may never have heard of. One notable feature is that both novel series are written by the [[Video Game|games]]' lead writers, which is different from the usual operating procedure of [[Expanded Universe]] materials. The comics, on the other hand, are written by other people (in both series).
* ''[[Wing Commander (Videovideo Gamegame)|Wing Commander]]'''s [[Expanded Universe]] includes ten novels (both adaptations of other material and original stories), multiple [[Video Game|game]] guides, a [[Western Animation]] series, a [[Collectible Card Game]], and a movie, all of which officially count towards [[Continuity]].
* ''[[Disgaea]]''’s [[Expanded Universe]], the [[Disgaea Novels]], has currently 15 books. It introduces new family members of the game’s cast and is plays out like traditional [[Disgaea]] crossed with the [[Harem Genre]].
* [[Game Mod]] ''[[Red Alert 3 Paradox]]'' has an Expanded Universe [[Red Alert 3 Paradox Expanded Universe|(ATT page here)]]. It consists of fan-made factions with the goal of building them into their own game mod.
* [[Super Mario Bros.]] has/had one, having multiple TV shows, the movie, the anime movie, the various comics and the choose your own adventure books in various different 'continuities'. They tend to be even stranger than the original games.
** Note that Mario does not have a continuity, which means that each of these is as canon as any of the games.
* Surprisingly Gears of War has a very big one that includes the games, several books, and a comic book that as of 2012 is still going.
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== [[Western Animation]] ==
* ''[[Transformers]]''. A bunchload of comic books. A number of text stories. A handful of [[Video Game|video games]]. And that's not even counting that not all the cartoons are in the same [[Continuity]]. Many fans are split over what the primary source really is: the original cartoon is named as such by most, but many others choose the original comic series instead, or the British version thereof, with mixing-and-matching becoming increasingly popular. The term ''[[Canon]]'' is hard to apply here: It all happened, but didn't all happen in the same timeline. And with all the other [[Continuity|continuities]] created since, it's become an expanded ''multiverse.''
** ''[[Beast Wars (Animation)|Beast Wars]]'' itself is an example of an [[Expanded Universe]]. The TV series, due to the expense of CGI, could only have a limited roster of characters, which meant that most of the [[Merchandise-Driven|toyline didn't get to be in it.]] The later IDW ''[[Beast Wars (Animation)|Beast Wars]]'' comics exploited this situation by using all the toy-only characters they could, as well as some from the Japanese-only ''[[Beast Wars (Animation)|Beast Wars]] II'' and ''[[Beast Wars (Animation)|Beast Wars]] Neo'' shows-albeit chronally displaced or on Cybertron, so the TV series and the comics didn't clash.
* ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' has a number of comics that chronicle the adventures of the Gaang that are not shown in the TV series.
* ''[[Daria]]'' has one, including the show, its two [[All There in the Manual|published manuals]], its parent show ''[[Beavis and Butthead]]'' and any of its spin-offs. However, the ''term'' "Expanded Universe" usually refers to a group of interconnected [[Fan Verse|Fan Verses]] that most serious fans know, with its own set of [[Original Character|Original Characters]] who appear in multiple creators' fanworks.
* ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' has had comic books, movies, picture books, TV specials, spinoffs, and story CDs galore.
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