It didn't focus too much on the Empire's influence, but mainly on the force awakening through a couple of the main characters.

There's no reason they couldn't still adapt Shadows of the Empire either to film or as an animated movie. Nothing in there is overwritten by TFA, same as much of the EU.

The Force Awakens is a bit better. Fits the pathos and story of the film more. The Force is a large part of the film

SHADOW of the EMPIRE fits awesomely, but the FORCE AWAKENS hits on multiple meanings. Similar to how the PHANTOM MENACE could refer to Palpatine, Anakin or even Darth Maul. Turned out to be Jar Jar but you get mu meaning.

@rulk

Bro im a little behind on news...can you tell me how much it made so far? Thanx !

I would have preferred 'A New, New Hope'

Shadows of the Empire might not be canon, but at least Dash Rendar's Outrider is thanks to ANH:SE.

It should've been called "The Search for More Money"

Should have called it Star Wars: Han's Flying Adventure

The next one can be called Star Wars: Lonely Wookie Society

Looking forward to Episode IX: Vengeance of the Ewoks

@Bread I'll be right back. *goes to get butter*

Y’see…
They can’t use “Empire”, because it’s already been used. But “Shadow” is fine. “Shadow” is a word that was used frequently in chapter titles of the old movie serials.
“Force” is okay, but “Awakens” is not. “Awakens” was never used once in any chapter title of any movie serial ever.
I checked.

I’m still pissed off about the name. I was pissed off about the lack of wipes in the edit of “The Force Awakens” but I’ve just got back from seeing it for the umpteenth time and I noticed that there actually was at least one wipe used at the end of the very last shot. So I’m not so pissed off about that anymore. As long as Rian Johnson has the good grace to bring the wipes back a bit more in the next one.

I still don’t get why there is a “Resistance”, though. We know that the galaxy is under The Nee Republic and we assume that The First Order is some kind of dangerous terrorist state, like the Nazis or the Islamic State. They do mention those that might be “Sympathetic” to The First Order. Maybe they have some territory here and there or something. But why would there be a “Resistance”? Would it not just be an army of the New Republic?
I just don’t get it. It shouldn’t be so confusing. I know that the prequels were very heavy on seemingly inconsequential and unnecessary political exposition, but this was the opposite extreme. I literally had only the faintest whisp of an idea about what was going on. And I might even be wrong about that.

NerdMan I totally agree with you. And even though the SE's make me angry his ship does appear. I think Disney just broad stroked it just to be safe.

Optimist@
Ah, I did not know that. Thanks.
They really should have explained that, though. I mean you just said it in one sentence. They couldn't have squeezed that tiny bit of exposition in there somewhere? Not even in a film with an OPENING SCRAWL?!
Cheers for clearing that up for me, though.

Maybe they should have called it "Star Wars: Haters Gonna Hate"?

You don't like this movie? Good. That pleases me.

i played shadows of the empire to death when it came out

@NerdMan

I would've loved Dash to have been Max Von Sydow's character in TFA