Only getting the hang of your site now. My last post should have been here and not on your “Welcome” page. Like to have things in it’s right place. You can remove the other post if you want. Please reply, it be great to hear what you think.

First of all I would like to congratulate you on an excellent and gripping article. Some of your points – compelling and well thought out – I would disagree with. But that’s one of the many things about the “Disney-Star Wars” announcement that has me buzzing; listening to other peoples ideas and sharing my own. There is no wrong or right idea, just different ones.
So as you asked “Am I right? Share your thoughts and theories below.” Well let’s find out. I’m not dissecting your points, but let’s go through them one at a time.
1. Your last line, sums it up nicely. “Here’s the important thing: He has never overwritten anything involving the main characters – the Skywalker and Solo families.” No he hasn’t, so this can only be a good thing, but has there really been an opportunity to do this until now. I don’t think so.
2. Yes Lucas has been very vague about a third instalment of movies, but I think that point alone pokes a hole in your theory. If Lucas was more involved in the E.U. – especially post ROTJ – guiding it as it expanded, then yes I think your argument would be valid, but he hasn’t. Yes I think there is a strong possibility we will see an older Luke Skywalker passing on his knowledge of the force to a new generation of Jedi, most notable the next generation of Skywalkers, which has been done in the E.U. but it doesn’t necessary mean it’s going to be done the same way, (Jedi Academy Trilogy)
3. Actors being the same age as their characters, coincidence, I would have to say yes. If Disney want Harrison Ford to look 50, to play Solo in a film set 20 years ABY, then I think Ford will get one hell of a make over. Nice idea, but I’m afraid a bit weak.
4. I think this is one of your strongest arguments. It could be just another coincidence, but still possible, has Lucas already asked Del Rey not to go past the 45 ABY mark because of the films.
5. Yes I totally agree, Lucas does respect the E.U. But I think it’s a case taking out what he likes, and discarding the rest. If Lucas has a vision that the Sith return 20 ABY, and has Disney on board to explore this idea in the films, he’s not then going to say, hang on what about the E.U.
6. Another valid point, but in a way also contradicts your main point. Your title “Evidence suggests Star Wars sequel trilogy will respect, not ignore, the E.U.” But how can the E.U. be respected if one of the main characters – Anakin Solo – is going to be written out of the next instalment of films (and he will) If Lucas requested Anakin Solo to be killed off because he didn’t want two Anakins running around in various books, then there isn’t a hope in hell he is going to make an appearance, or be mentioned in the new trilogy. And if that is the case for Anakin Solo, then I’m afraid young Ben Skywalker will get the chop as well, for the same reason. Yes some of the E.U. characters will be pared down, allowing for new characters to be introduced, but discarding prominent characters like Anakin I’m afraid is disrespecting the E.U. Also if the film is to be set 45 ABY, how will they explain the absence of Chewbacca. Such an iconic Star Wars character – if killed – deserves to be killed off on the big screen in a blaze of glory, and not using big yellow words in the opening credits of Episode 7.
7. Sorry have to disagree with this one as well. The prequels were based around Anakin Skywalker, the original trilogy around the Skywalker twins, Luke and Leia. So keeping with this trend, and with Lucas influence, the new Trilogy has to be about the next generation of Skywalkers. If the film is to be set 45 ABY it means skipping a whole generation of Skywalkers. Jaina would be 36, and Anakin and Jacen already killed off. Don’t see the logic with Disney jumping in at this point.
8. Yes Disney would be foolish not to use all the reference books that are currently out there, and yes Disney did use the reference “treasure trove”. I don’t think they will discard large chunks of it, just ignore parts they thing won’t be relevant to the new movies, and use what they think will. I’ve no doubt there will be hidden Easter Eggs in the movies that only E.U. fans will get.
9. I won’t dog on your 9th point. Might not totally agree with it, but your opening crawl is excellent.

For what’s it worth here’s my 2-cents worth, posted on http://www.swbookreport already.

My knee-jerk reaction when I first heard the “Disney-Star Wars” news was PROTECT THE EU! Like many E.U. fans – I presume – I have become quite attached to the ever-expanding universe, and the thought of Disney coming along and re-writing it, appalled me. I thought, if the scrolling intro to the Episode 7 started with…”1,000 years have passed since the death of Emperor Palapatine,” then Disney could leave the E.U. timeline along, avoiding alienating fans, and still allow the E.U to go on after the Legacy era.
But the next day – after most knee-jerk reactions – I reconsidered, and thought maybe that might not be the best approach. If there was a chance of seeing Luke Skywalker on the big screen wielding his lightsaber, or seeing Han Solo shrug “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” as he turned to Leia, just one more time, do I think an opportunity like this should go by without at least being explored, the answer would have to be no. So what are the chances of this happening? I think quite high. We’ve already heard reports that, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill are willing to return, so why not.
So what does lie, or, should I say not lie, ahead? I would like to make three points before going any further.
1. Lucas hasn’t passed over the Start Wars mantle to Disney to stamp all over it. The eighteen-month negotiations weren’t on the lines of, Disney: George, we like to buy Star Wars. George: Eh! No freaking way! Disney: We pay you $4 Billion. George: Ok where do I sign? No way would Lucas pass over Star Wars to Disney – or anybody else for that matter – if he didn’t like what he heard, if they didn’t share his vision. And as Lucas has been kept on in a consultancy roll, he will still have some influence on the new films.
2. Disney haven’t paid $4 billion to be constraint to what’s in, or isn’t in the E.U. novels. They would be foolish not to use the mammoth collection of reading material in some way or another, but don’t expect the films to be based on what solely can be found in the E.U.
3. One word, Skywalker. The prequels were based around Anakin, the original trilogy around the Skywalker twins, Luke and Leia. So keeping with this trend, and with Lucas influence, the new Trilogy has to be about the next generation of Skywalkers.
With all this in mind – I think – there are two possible entry points to the Star Wars universe timeline for Episode 7. It is a fair assumption they will be set after ROTJ, so we are looking at either within the E.U. timeline, or after the E.U. timeline, i.e. after the Legacy era, 45 years after ABY.
Before trying to predict when, let’s discard a couple of options that may be on the table. This is kind of a response to your link to John V. Hansen, excellent and compelling article. I can only think of one reason for Disney going post Legacy era – 45 years after ABY – and that would be to accept what came before in the E.U, as canon, that everything (all the major plots anyway) happened in the E.U. novel, and that Episode 7 is a continuation of the Star Wars story from that point. I just can’t see this happening. This would mean, no Chewbacca, no Jacen, no Anakin, and picking up with Jaina at the age of 36. You have already skipped over a generation of Skywalkers, which I don’t think fits into Lucas vision. I just think the 45 year gap is too long, too much has happened. Some could argue, the Solo children could be made younger, or not to kill off Jacen and Anakin, but if you’re doing this, you are already stepping all over the E.U. so why set the movies so far after ROTJ. And how would you explain the absence of Chewbacca. Such an iconic Star Wars character – if killed – deserves to be killed off on the big screen in a blaze of glory, and not using big yellow words in the opening credits of Episode 7. I just won’t stand for it, and to be honest I don’t think a lot of Star Wars fans will either. So would Disney then not kill off Chewbacca, which then brings me back to my earlier argument, why set the movies so far after ROTJ if you’re going to discard a lot of what’s in the E.U. novels?
So if the new movie isn’t going to be set post E.U. novels, then this just leaves within the current E.U. timeline. So, will Disney stay loyal to the E.U. fans and use just what is in the Novels, or, actually base the film on one of the books or Trilogies, I think it’s safe to say the answer is no. This – again – brings me back to an earlier point, Disney haven’t paid $4 billion to be tied to what is, or isn’t in the Novels. I would be shocked if they didn’t use some of the material that can be found in the novels, which Lucas has done before – Coruscant being the prime example – but don’t expect Episode 7 to be based around one or some of the novels, like Timothy Zahns’ Thrawn Trilogy, but I wouldn’t rule out Thrawn making an appearance, or at least being referenced.
Another point I think is the Solo and Skywalker children, or more importantly their names. From John V. Hansen article he states “Lucas requested that Anakin Solo be killed off so as not to have two Anakins running around in various books” If this is the case – and I have no reason to doubt Hansen – I can’t see a second Anakin making an appearance in Episode 7, and if this is the case, I think it’s safe to say Ben can be ruled out as well, not to say we won’t see Luke handing over his lightsaber to a younger version of himself, it’s just that his/her name won’t be Ben.
I’m a big E.U. fan, but I think a lot of what has gone on in the E.U. novels is going to be discarded, especially post New Jedi Order. Disney has big plans for the next instalment to the Star Wars saga, what this will be remains to be seen, but I think it’s a safe bet, it’s going the be brand new, something we haven’t seen, or read before – and this does pain me to say – may be a good thing.
My prediction would be around the 25 ABY mark, around the New Jedi Order Series. It would allow Disney to use the Solo twins (sorry no Anakin), which would make them around 16. It still allows Disney the ability to reference the books, like the Jedi Academy, and the rise and fall of Thrawn. It also gives them the opportunity to introduce a new enemy to the New Republic that hasn’t been seen on the big screen before in the shape of the Yuuzhan Vong, and we still – more then likely – get to see our old favourites, Han, Luke and Leia. And how cool – and gruesome – would it be to see Chewbacca getting killed on the big screen. This is hopeful thinking on my part as above I expect Disney to dazzle us with something new.

Thanks again
Fransulo