The expanded universe is like a big playground where people can create new stories and adventures for characters from their favorite books, movies, or TV shows.
Imagine that you have a toy box full of your favorite action figures, superheroes, and princesses. You can make them do different things, go to different places, and meet new friends or enemies. That's what the expanded universe is like, but for grown-up fans who love to write, draw, or imagine stories.
For example, you may have watched Star Wars movies and loved the characters of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo. But what if you want to know more about their past, their adventures after the movies, or their friends and enemies who weren't shown on screen? That's where the expanded universe comes in.
Authors, artists, and game designers can create new stories, comics, novels, TV shows, or games that expand the Star Wars universe beyond what we've seen on the big screen. They may introduce new characters, planets, creatures, and even technologies that add more depth and complexity to the Star Wars universe.
The expanded universe can also connect different stories, timelines, or media formats. For example, you may read a comic book about the Avengers, and then watch a movie about the same characters. The expanded universe can explain how the events in the comic book are connected to the movie, or fill the gaps between them.
However, not all expanded universe stories are official canon, which means that they may contradict or override the original story. It's like saying that your toy Luke Skywalker is now a ninja, even though he was a Jedi in the movies. Some fans may like these new stories and some may not, but they are all part of the expanded universe, which is a big and diverse playground for everyone to enjoy.