Star Wars has it, what about Indiana Jones? The 4 movies would be canon of course, but what about the TV Series, the books, the video games, etc?
The Old Indy intros/outros that were originally shown on "Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" have been pretty much ruled non-canon. They were deleted from the DVD release of the series and aren't mentioned in any of the more recent books about the character. At least, last I knew, they're still viewable on YouTube. I liked those segments.
The movies and TV show (in their DVD format) are definite canon. As for the rest, I personally consider the 13 adult novels to be canon as they fit will within the TV and Movie timeline and from memory don't step on any toes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_(franchise)#List_of_novels Young Indy -> Original 12 Novels -> Temple of Doom -> Raiders -> Last Crusade -> Army of the Dead Novel -> Crystal Skull Covers 1899 to 1957
It did. Leland Chee called it the Expanded Adventures but I don't think I've seen anyone else use the term. Since the Star Wars canon got reset with the Disney purchase, Indy may have gone the same way.
In my opinion, Books are never canon...I don't care what anyone says...How can the old EU be canon when Lucas never read a single book? Also the EU had so many continuity issues...the new Disney canon already has continuity issues and it is inevitable when you have hundreds of different authors issuing their take on single universe...it's impossible not to have issues....whatever is a motion picture is canon...movies/Tv shows....
If Star Wars canon was reset. I imagine if Disney gave any thought to the Indy franchise and did something with it theyd end up resetting Indy canon starting with a prequel book about him meeting Marion for the first time- Dawn Of A New Adventure
I would count all the films as canon, no question. But TOD was actually a prequel to the rest of the series. That story happened before the other films in the timeline. But still canon none the less. I used to watch TYIJC, but it has been a long time since then. I would consider them canon as I can't imagine it contradicting the films. If the powers that be see it differently, then so be it.
Canon always works with movies and tv shows with everything else as "soft canon" for most franchises it seems unless otherwise stated. I would place things published (not just licensed) by Lucasfilm/Lucasarts closer to the top, i.e. the video games for example. Interesting you mention Army of the Dead. Curious why you find that more canonical? Anyways, I do know that book references Emperor's Tomb which is cool (for some people, maybe not) which btw, my thread about it's inclusion in the Ultimate Guide remains with 0 replies.
I didn't see Army of the Dead contradicting any of the past novels, and it was cool to have something that references Crystal Skull and features a secondary character from the movie. Plus, if I include the original novels in my personal canon, I see no problem with adding Army of the Dead.
Nor do I but I was wondering since Army of the Dead references Emperor's Tomb a couple times which itself contradicts a couple things. Personally, Emperor's Tomb should be in canon despite those contradictions but I know some people may not like that.
One other thing missing there.... Fate of Atlantis. That's been pretty well accepted as canon. It even appears with various pictures in the Lost Journal of Indiana Jones. It's widely regarded as one of the best uses of the license too.
IIRC, the West End Games Masterbook RPG rulebook 'The World of Indiana Jones' from 1994 had a pretty good timeline in it. It pulled stuff from the movies, the Chronicles TV show, the Dark Horse comics and the novels (including the Young Indy and untranslated German books).