OK, so, here is a theory that makes too much sense to be fake.
Independence Day in Star Wars.
Think about this: after the humans destroyed the aliens, they got the taste of it. They start developing space technology out of various reason. Space race to the moon? I say space race to Mars, or Saturn, or Pluto! After the brake-up of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, all of the European states start working together to make their own space agencies to protect their people. I am talking about a Northern American agency, a German agency, a Balkan agency, so one so fort.
After Earth becomes inhospitable they go on and colonise new planets: Alderaan, Tatooine, etc.
And so, after millennia of colonisation and living in peace with the local species, we get the Prequels.
Also, about Independence Day: I don’t care, I know I’m sadistic, there was totally a shipwreck at the entrance in Bucharest. Come on! There were more than 8 of those! You can’t tell me that Bucharest was not a target!