Star Wars expanded to other media
Although the "Star Wars" film series itself has never been rebooted, a decision was made, due to works set after the original trilogy that contradict and deviate from Lucas' own view of the "Star Wars" story, to discard the "EU" works from the franchise canon. Lucas decided to cease creative involvement after selling, in October 2012, the "Star Wars" franchise as well as Lucasfilm (the production company of "Star Wars") to The Walt Disney Company. When Disney began development of a sequel trilogy of films and other works, and needed its films to have full creative freedom unbound by the "EU", nearly all "EU" works were removed from "Star Wars" franchise canon and rebranded as "Star Wars Legends". (The two 2008 "EU" works which remained in canon were and its .)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)
Due to Lucas' sudden decision to produce the film, Lucas Licensing did not have time to enter into agreements with previous "Star Wars" marketing partners like Pepsi, Burger King and Kellogg's, with which the Lucasfilm licensing company had a ten-year marketing plan for the other films. When questioned by "The New York Times" about "Star Wars" merchandising in July 2008, a Pepsi spokesperson was unaware a new "Star Wars" film was being released. On August 15, McDonald's held its first ever Happy Meal promotion for a "Star Wars" film and for four weeks, 18 exclusive toys came in specially designed Happy Meal boxes.