Classic Star Wars character Dash Rendar is sticking to Legends for now
Dash Rendar is a fan-favorite Star Wars character that has been relegated to “Legends” post-Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like he’ll be canon any time soon.
Speaking with Gary Whitta, who penned Rogue One and several Rebels episodes, Screen Rant reported that a Dash Rendar return isn’t popular within Lucasfilm.
“You know, there are certain people at Lucasfilm that would hang you from a tree for saying something like that,” Whitta said. “He’s a very polarizing character! People either love Dash or they hate him.”
Whitta added that Lucasfilm only really brings back characters if they work for the plot, and not just for fan-service.
“But obviously, one of the great things about Rebels is you get to introduce characters from the wider pantheon of Star Wars,” he said. “One of the coolest things with season 3 is that we got to bring in Thrawn intro the canon and make him an essential character on the show. So I think they’re always looking for those opportunities but the people who work at Lucasfilm are very aware of not doing stuff necessarily just for fan service, you do it because it’s something the show needs or can benefit from rather than just ‘throw this in there because it’s an Easter Egg and someone will notice.’ ”
Dash Rendar in the Shadows of the Empire game.
Rendar made his Star Wars debut in the Shadows of the Empire novel that came out in 1996 and later starred in the game of the same name that also released in 1996 for the Nintendo 64. The game is where I personally associate the smuggler, who often draws comparisons to Han Solo—but with shoulder pads.
It’s worth adding that a Rendar’s ship, the Outrider, did get a bit of a nod in the past season of Rebels. In episode 8, Ezra counters a crew of three youngsters who are piloting a YT-2400 light freighter, which is the same type of ship as Rendar’s Outrider.
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