Star Wars: Thrawn | Timothy Zahn | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Timothy Zahn discusses his experience writing for Star Wars, including the creative control he had over the official "Star Wars" continuity and the challenges of maintaining continuity in the expanded universe. He also expresses his excitement for seeing his character, Thrawn, in "Star Wars Rebels" and his hopes for more appearances of his creations, such as Thrawn and the Chiss, in the Star Wars canon.

Transcript

SPEAKER 1: Hey, everyone. Welcome to our talk today. We have here Timothy Zahn. TIMOTHY ZAHN: Hello. SPEAKER 1: He is the author of his latest novel, "Thrawn." You've also written a bunch of other "Star Wars" novels, including "Heir to the Empire," and you said over 50 short stories and novellas at this point? TIMOTHY ZAHN: Well, over 50 novels, 11... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥶 Zahn had more creative control in the old Star Wars Expanded Universe, but the new Disney canon has a Story Group overseeing everything.
• 📞 Continuity is important in the Star Wars universe, and Zahn is grateful for the help he receives in staying within continuity.
• 😮 Thrawn's appearance in "Star Wars Rebels" was a pleasant surprise for Zahn, and he believes the creators of the show have done a great job with the character.
• 🤞 Zahn hopes to see more of his creations, such as Thrawn and the Chiss, in the Star Wars canon.
• 💋 Research for Zahn's books is done as needed, with a focus on sticking to the established Star Wars universe.
• 💁 Zahn enjoys writing short stories and novels, recognizing the differences in character development and storytelling between the two formats.

Questions & Answers

Q: Were there any noticeable differences in how much creative control you had over the official "Star Wars" continuity when writing for the old EU compared to the new Disney canon?

In the early days of the old EU, Zahn had more control since no one had been allowed to write post-Return of the Jedi before. However, as more authors got involved, the canvas started getting filled, and there were challenges in avoiding duplication and running over each other's toes. The new Disney canon has a Story Group overseeing everything, which helps Zahn stay within continuity.

Q: How do you feel seeing Thrawn in "Star Wars Rebels"? Would you ever want to see him on the big screen in one of the live-action movies?

Zahn is thrilled to see Thrawn in "Star Wars Rebels" and thinks they have done a terrific job capturing his essence. He would absolutely love to see Thrawn on the big screen in a live-action movie. He believes the creators of "Rebels" and the Story Group, who grew up with the old legends books, will be careful and cautious with the character.

Q: If you could change anything about the Star Wars canon, even things from the movies, what would you change, and why?

Zahn would change how Anakin fell to the dark side, as he felt it happened too quickly. He believes there should have been more manipulation and hesitation by Palpatine, making it a more pivotal and dramatic moment in the Star Wars saga.

Q: What made you want to write sci-fi, and what drew you into writing for Star Wars?

Zahn was always a sci-fi fan and started writing as a hobby. He transitioned to writing full-time after realizing his passion for storytelling. He was approached by Bantam Spectra and Lucasfilm to write for Star Wars, and the rest is history.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Timothy Zahn has written over 50 Star Wars novels and over 100 short stories and novelettes since 1980.

• He had more creative control over the old Star Wars Expanded Universe (EU) compared to the new Disney canon, due to the clear canvas he had in the early days.

• The Story Group now oversees everything in the Star Wars universe to ensure continuity, and Zahn appreciates their help in keeping his work in line with the official canon.