Star Wars: The Last Jedi has proven to be the most controversial entry in the saga, but its upcoming novelization may win round some of the film's detractors.

Since 1976, the release of a new Star Wars film has been accompanied by a novelization. Alan Dean Foster wrote this first novelization (even though it was credited to George Lucas) and established a proud tradition of not just retelling but expanding the story. The likes of Terry Brooks and Matt Stover continued this, although the novelization for The Force Awakens, also written by Foster, was generally viewed as disappointing.

Related: Biggest Reveals From The Force Awakens Novel

Thankfully, though, the novelization of The Last Jedi will be essential reading. Written by Jason Fry, an author with vast experience of the Star Wars universe, Lucasfilm are treating that this is an "Expanded Edition," promising a deeper story; one that may address those now-embedded criticisms.

This Page: What Makes The Last Jedi Novelization Different

What Makes The Last Jedi Novelization Different

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars The Last Jedi

On the face of it, Lucasfilm is making a strange claim, given that every novelization is "expanded". An author can dive deep into the character's mind or flesh out the history and backstory of events in a way that's just not possible on screen. The Rogue One novelization, for example, included amusing inter-office memos that revealed just how Galen Erso sabotaged the Death Star. Beyond that, it's certainly normal for a novelization to include parts of the script that ultimately didn't make their way on to the big screen.

However, Del Rey is promising that this novelization will go one step further. Writing on the Jedi Council Forums on TheForce.net, one of the publisher's Associate Editors has explained:

"It's not just about deleted scenes that you'll see on the Blu Ray. Expanded scenes, alternate scenes, and even brand new stuff you ain't ever seen before. With direct input by the filmmaker."

Related: Star Wars 8's Deleted Scenes Could Have Fixed Controversial Plotlines

Jason Fry has a long history with Star Wars. He's particularly interested in the smaller details of the galaxy far, far away; in fact, Fry wrote many of the reference books fans love to pore over. Most recently he co-wrote The Last Jedi: Incredible Cross-Sections and Bomber Command, and is a frequent contributor to the Star Wars Insider magazine. This background gives him a unique depth of knowledge when it comes to Star Wars, and the novelization is sure to answer a lot of fans' curious questions.

That's why Del Rey has taken the unusual step of describing this novelization as an "Expanded Edition." They believe it's like nothing published in Star Wars before, and the label is designed to catch the eyes of non-readers. Again, as Del Rey's Associate Editor explained:

"THAT line is - mostly - for less engaged readers (notice, I don't say casual). People who believe that novelizations are just the movie script printed and bound (a sizable group of people). Readers who see a novelization and ask themselves - "why do I need that? I saw the movie. I have the blu-ray." (another sizable group). Marketing and promotion are all about talking to multiple audiences of readers."

The Story Changes In The Last Jedi Novelization

So far, all Del Rey has said is that readers can expect "expanded, deleted, and all-new scenes not seen in the film." In an episode of The Star Wars Show, Fry explained that he had the chance to sit down and talk with The Last Jedi's director, Rian Johnson. "We got to write entirely new scenes for the book," he explained. "Han Solo's funeral, Rose and Paige Tico together, and further explorations of the fascinating world of Canto Bight, to name just a few."

Related: The Last Jedi Deleted Scene Footage: Luke's Final Lesson To Rey

Immediately there's some reframing of what fans read from the film, providing breathing room to the high-paced events. The Rose/Paige elements make it sounds as though the novelization will spend more time on the planet D'Qar; it was implied the First Order launched a blitzkrieg across the galaxy as soon as Starkiller Base was destroyed, including their swift attack on the Resistance at D'Qar (which they discovered the location of in The Force Awakens). This could reduce a sense of plot convenience in the opening, but also deepen later events. Paige Tico's death, for example, will have a far stronger emotional impact if readers have been able to take the time getting to know her.

The other major reframe in terms of D'Qar will be Han Solo's funeral. Han wasn't totally forgotten in the sequel, but his death was moved on from rather quickly. So, presuming this happens before the Resistance goes on the run, we'll get a chance to see the impact this has on Leia, and possibly gain some more insight into what fractured their relationship between Return of the Jedi and the Sequel Trilogy.

What will most likely soften the backlash will be more elaboration on the world and importance of Canto Bight. Johnson and Lucasfilm clearly loved creating that world; the "Journey to the Last Jedi" novels included a Canto Bight book, with novellas written by different authors. As the Canto Bight scenes were heavily edited for the theatrical cut, however, the sequence found itself criticized heavily (with some comparing it to the prequels). Expansion is sure to give it more purpose.

Could The Last Jedi Novel Be As Good As Revenge of the Sith's?

Anakin Skywalker attacks the Jedi Temple in Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars novelizations have something of a mixed history. Some - such as the novelization for The Force Awakens or The Phantom Menace - haven't really added anything to the story, and as a result fans have felt dissatisfied with the experience.

Related: The Last Jedi's Big Twist Explains Confusing Force Awakens Moment

Others, however, stand taller than the films themselves, perhaps most noteworthy Revenge of the Sith. Matthew Stover took an unusual approach; rather than simply write the novel of the film, he tried to "back-create" the story. As he told The Washington Post, he wrote "a novel as I think it might have been if he had been making the film based on it, rather than the other way around." The result was remarkably effective, diving deep into Anakin and Obi-Wan's minds and tightening the narrative (Stover ignored the Kashyyyk subplot which he felt acted as something of a diversion). The book was intense, powerful, and frankly unforgettable. Crucially, it worked apart from the film.

With its print-only scenes, The Last Jedi's is following that lead. It's unlikely to win over any ardent haters, but if the novel (which was delayed to enable this story expansion) can expand Episode VIII like Stover did Episode III, then Rian Johnson's story could find some new fans.

Next: Rian Johnson Responds to Last Jedi Haters: Wouldn't Change a Thing

The novelization of The Last Jedi will release on March 6.

Key Release Dates