As media continues to evolve, stories gain access to more and more platforms from which they are told. The novel you’re reading now may be continued by a movie and vice versa. When a story does this, it has become an expanded universe.
This kind of multi-media storytelling has made it possible for stories to be experienced on different levels. It’s also one of the reasons why a few niche stories are currently getting more attention.
The Expanded Universe?
An expanded universe is used to describe a story that extended beyond its source material and into multiple mediums. The primary medium might be a novel, which is later added upon by other media such as comics, tv series, movies, and video games.
It usually happens when new stories are added about certain elements that already exist in the source material. For example, a side character’s exploits may be the focus of the new medium. Or new characters and concepts are introduced that add to the worldbuilding.
An expanded universe is not necessarily an adaptation. An adaptation is a retelling of the original story. Depending on how loose the retelling is, some of the information in it might not even be considered canon.
As a media franchise expands, it’s inevitable for it to become more complex, which can cause problems in the storytelling and reading experience. Apart from the sheer amount of information needed to understand a story, what’s canon might retroactively be altered or taken off entirely.
Examples of an Expanded Universe
You have likely watched, read, or played something that is part of an expanded universe. Here are a few examples of stories that have used multi-media storytelling:
1. Star Wars
The Galactic Empire unveils a weapon that destroys planets, leaving the Rebel Alliance scrambling for a way to destroy it. Young Luke Skywalker is thrust in the middle of the war when he intercepts a distress call from Princess Leia, one of the Rebellion’s leaders.
Star Wars has one of the biggest expanded universes in media. While it started out as a trilogy of films, it has since added spin-off films, novels, comics, video games, and other types of media to its arsenal.
2. Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
After surviving capture from terrorists, Tony Stark builds himself a suit of mechanized armor and becomes the superhero Iron Man. With his suit, he tracks down weapons his company made and were illegally sold under the table.
Kickstarted by Iron Man, the MCU was later expanded by other films that featured other superheroes based on Marvel Comic’s intellectual properties. Multiple tv series and tie-in comics were made to accompany these films.
3. Harry Potter
On Harry’s eleventh birthday, a giant man comes bursting in with news he never expected to receive. Harry’s a wizard, and he’s been invited to Hogwarts School of Witchraft and Wizardry.
Harry Potter started out as a series of novels that were soon adapted into feature films. It slowly grew as spin-off films and a stage play were added to the canon. The series’ official website, Pottermore (now named The Wizarding World) also puts out extra story material and other information.
4. Warhammer 40,000
In the far future, humanity has stagnated. No scientific and social progress has been made and human civilization is constantly threatened by hostile aliens and supernatural creatures. And so the Imperium of Man is not fighting for a better future, but an end that will leave a lasting mark on the universe.
Warhammer 40k was originally a tabletop game much like Dungeons And Dragons. Because of its popularity, a lot of spin-off miniature wargames, tie-in novels, music, board and video games, and film, and tv series were made.
5. Gundam
In the future, humanity has expanded to the stars, colonizing planets and moons. Wars are no longer fought with guns, but giant robots piloted by Newtypes, genetically advanced humans adapted for space.
Gundam was originally an anime series that later revolutionized the mecha genre. Because of its popularity, more than 50 tv series, movies, novels, and manga were made. Gunpla, model kits depicting many of the franchise’s robots, soon became a popular hobby all over the world.
Using Multiple Mediums
Expanded universes can reach a wider audience. Some people prefer consuming one type of media over another. By utilizing multiple types, franchises are able to reach a wider audience.
A wider audience means more possibility for success in a lot of different ways. They can bring an existing fan base to another platform, explore different avenues not available to certain media, and take advantage of more profitable channels.
There’s also a kind of security in having a franchise be available in different ways. Some platforms are more economical and easier to produce than others. This is why some stories get cancelled in one platform but the creators find a way to continue them in another.
Using multiple mediums also has a compounding effect. While the main source is focused on the main storyline, other platforms offer fans secondary stories, multiple point-of-views, and additional information. These “extras” (while not necessary to understand the source material) give people a more complete version of the whole thing.
What’s your favorite expanded universe? Share it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- The Shared Universe: Why Writers Blend Multiple Stories
- Worldbuilding Questions to Bring Your Setting to Life
- The Frame Story: Why Writers Write Stories Within Stories
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
