Is the outrider in A New Hope?

Answered by James Kissner

As a Star Wars fan, I can tell you that the Outrider is not actually seen in the original release of A New Hope. However, it was later included in the 1997 Special Edition of the film. In this version, the Outrider can be seen leaving Mos Eisley shortly after Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO, and R2-D2 arrive in the spaceport.

I remember watching the Special Edition of A New Hope and being excited to see the Outrider make an appearance. It was a great addition to the scene and added more depth to the Star Wars universe. The Outrider is a Corellian YT-2400 light freighter, piloted by the smuggler Dash Rendar. Its inclusion in the Special Edition was a nod to the Expanded Universe, which featured the Outrider prominently in the Shadows of the Empire multimedia project.

The Outrider’s appearance in A New Hope was a clever way to connect the original trilogy with the expanded universe material. It allowed fans to see another iconic ship from the Star Wars universe in action, even if it was just a brief glimpse. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Outrider fly off into space, adding to the overall spectacle of the Mos Eisley scene.

Including the Outrider in the Special Edition of A New Hope also sparked my interest in learning more about Dash Rendar and his adventures. I delved into the Shadows of the Empire book and video game to explore his story further. It was fascinating to see how the Outrider fit into the larger Star Wars narrative and how it played a role in the events surrounding the original trilogy.

While the Outrider does not appear in the original release of A New Hope, it does make a memorable appearance in the 1997 Special Edition of the film. Its inclusion added depth to the Star Wars universe and connected the original trilogy with the expanded universe material. As a Star Wars fan, I appreciate the attention to detail and the opportunity to see iconic ships like the Outrider on the big screen.