Fictional Star Wars spaceship
Tantive IV
|
---|
|
CR90 Corellian
Tantive IV
Alderaan Diplomatic Envoy used by
Bail
and
Leia Organa
as their Rebel Alliance mobile command center
|
First appearance
| Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker
(1976)
|
---|
|
Affiliation
| |
---|
Launched
| By 22
BBY
|
---|
Decommissioned
| 36 ABY, resistance base
|
---|
Captain
| Raymus Antilles
|
---|
Combat vehicles
| 3 fighters (external mounting)
|
---|
Auxiliary vehicles
|
- 1 shuttle (ventral bay)
- 4 12-passenger escape pods
- 8 4-passenger escape pods
|
---|
|
Class
| CR90 corvette
|
---|
Registry
| Corellian Engineering Corporation
|
---|
Armaments
|
- 2 dual anti-ship turbolasers
- 4 single anti-fighter turbolasers
- 1 tractor beam projector (optional)
|
---|
Defenses
| Shield generators
Ceramic hull plating
|
---|
Maximum speed
| 950 km/h (atmosphere)
|
---|
Propulsion
|
- Class 2-CEC Subspace Hyperdrive
- 11 Ion Turbine (Drive Overcharged sublight drive assembly)
|
---|
Length
| 126 metres (413 ft)
|
---|
Height
| 49 metres (161 ft)
|
---|
Population volume
| 165-300
- 200-600 passengers
- 3000 metric tons of cargo
- 1 year's worth of consumables
|
---|
The
Tantive IV
Alderaan Diplomatic Envoy
(also referred to by its model as the
CR90 Corellian corvette
or simply as the
Rebel
Blockade Runner
)
[1]
is a fictional spaceship in the
Star Wars
film series. Designed by the Corellian Engineering Corporation (CEC), the highly modified CR90 corvette is designed to be utilitarian, durable, modular, with its simplistic interiors featuring subtle luxury for Alderaan officials. It was used by
Leia Organa
in the
original
Star Wars
film
[a]
and was the first vessel audiences saw when
Star Wars
premiered in 1977. Other CR90 Corellian corvettes, which share the
Tantive IV
's design, appear in
Return of the Jedi
and in the
Star Wars
Expanded Universe
's books, comics, TV series, and games.
The ship first appeared in 1977 with the release of "Star Wars: A New Hope." It had a major role as the personal ship of Princess Leia, a key member of the Rebel Alliance, carrying the plans of the enemy superweapon "Death Star." After it was captured by the Galactic Empire, the ship was towed to an Imperial scrap yard for scuttling. Later, the Blockade Runner was rescued and returned to General Organa and its last appearance was in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, where it was destroyed by Emperor Palpatine's lightning attack.
Origin and design
[
edit
]
The ship's design stems from initial concepts for the
Millennium Falcon
.
[2]
When
Space: 1999
featured a ship called an
Eagle
Transporter
with an appearance similar to the
Industrial Light & Magic
's
Falcon
design, the model makers redesigned the
Falcon
and adapted the initial design for the
Tantive IV
. The revised model was scaled down, with replacements for outsized components and a different cockpit.
[2]
[3]
This also explains the 194-centimeter model's intricacy, which would have been necessary for depicting the prominent
Falcon
.
[2]
Although not visible in the first
Star Wars
film, modelmakers hung a miniature
Playboy
centerfold on the cockpit's starboard bulkhead.
[2]
The
Tantive IV
was the last model completed for the film.
[4]
A smaller 16-inch model was also made for the shot of the craft receding into the distance.
[5]
A separate model was needed for this because of the limited length of the
Dykstraflex
track used.
[5]
That model has lights for the eleven engines to give the illusion of exhausts.
[5]
The miniature model was in the collection of
Grant McCune
until he died in 2010 and it was then sold at auction in 2015 for a record sum of $450,000.
[5]
The model was altered slightly for
Return of the Jedi
, with the addition of windows along the ship's spine and larger weapons.
[3]
These modifications were removed in the 1990s.
[3]
The
Republic cruiser
in
Star Wars: Episode I ? The Phantom Menace
was designed to be reminiscent of the
Tantive IV
'
s shape.
[2]
[6]
Depiction
[
edit
]
The
Tantive IV
first appears in the opening of
Star Wars
as it is captured by the
Imperial I
-class
Star Destroyer
Devastator
over Tatooine. The ship was carrying
Princess Leia
and the plans for the Empire's
Death Star
battle station. Leia had taken the ship to
Tatooine
to recruit the
Jedi
Master
Obi-Wan Kenobi
to join the rebellion. Unable to find Kenobi herself, Leia gives the plans and a message to
R2-D2
, who escapes with
C-3PO
in an escape pod and lands on Tatooine. According to the
Star Wars Encyclopedia
, the ship was subsequently destroyed by
Darth Vader
.
[7]
Since the Disney purchase of Lucasfilm, this plotline is part of the non-canon
Legends
timeline.
[8]
The vessel appears at the end of
Rogue One
(2016), with the film's final scenes depicting how the Death Star plans reached the ship and Leia beginning their journey to Tatooine.
[9]
The film's novelization further states that the ship was meant to take part in the Battle of Scarif, but had been docked for repairs aboard
Admiral Raddus
' ship, the MC75 Star Cruiser
Profundity.
Once the battle was finished, the ship would head to Tatooine to deliver
Bail Organa
's request for help to Obi-Wan Kenobi. However,
Tantive IV
was forced to launch before repairs were completed due to the capture of the
Profundity
and in order to protect the newly stolen Death Star plans from Darth Vader. Although they were able to elude Vader initially, damage sustained during the escape and the still-unrepaired malfunctions allowed Vader's ship to disable and catch them above Tatooine.
[10]
[11]
The ship appears in
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
as the center of the
Resistance
's base
[12]
and during the final battle on Exegol as part of the Resistance's initial attack fleet.
[13]
It was one of the ships hit by the resurrected
Darth Sidious
'
Force lightning
assault, and although the fate of the ship and its pilot,
Nien Nunb
, are not mentioned in the movie, it is presumed to be destroyed and Nunb lost. This supposition was confirmed by the novelization's author,
Rae Carson
.
[14]
Name
[
edit
]
The ship was initially referred to as the "Rebel blockade runner", and
National Public Radio
's
radio adaptation of
Star Wars
in 1981 reveals the name "
Tantive IV
"
[3]
(pronounced 'Tan-tiv-ee four').
[15]
Star Wars
Expanded Universe
material initially referred to the class of ships as "Corellian corvettes", but Lucasfilm later identified them as Alderaan Cruisers.
[16]
The name
Tantive IV
was used in various merchandise as well as the official
Rogue One
novelization. The name may be derived from the term tantivy, referring to a rapid gallop or blaring of horns, associated with the sport of
fox hunting
, suggesting the
Tantive IV
's role in the early scenes of
A New Hope
as the hunters' quarry.
[
original research?
]
Games and models
[
edit
]
Both
Decipher, Inc.
and
Wizards of the Coast
published
Tantive IV
and Corellian corvette cards for the
Star Wars Customizable Card Game
and
Star Wars Trading Card Game
, respectively.
[17]
[18]
[19]
A small Lego model of the
Tantive IV
is included with the Ultimate Collector series 3,000-piece Star Destroyer which, at the time of its 2002 release was Lego's largest set.
[20]
Lego
's 1,700-piece Ultimate Collector series blockade runner model, released in 2001, was the first set to include dark red bricks.
[21]
In 2019, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of such models, Lego released an updated model of the
Tantive IV
.
[1]
Two
Micro Machines
three-packs included a Corellian corvette toy, and
Hasbro
's Collector Fleet line included an electronic blockade runner.
[22]
[23]
[24]
Kenner's Die Cast Star Destroyer from 1979 includes a miniature
Tantive IV
that can be inserted into a docking bay under the Star Destroyer.
[25]
The
Tantive IV
also appears as a ship model in both the X-Wing miniatures game and
Star Wars
Armada produced by Fantasy Flight Games. A 16-inch (410 mm) miniature of the
Tantive IV
sold at auction for $450,000, making it the most expensive
Star Wars
item sold at auction.
[26]
References
[
edit
]
Citations
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"Lego Star Wars celebrates 20th anniversary with Tantive IV special edition set"
,
Metro
, April 12, 2019
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
"Tantive IV (Rebel blockade runners) (Behind the Scenes)"
.
Star Wars Databank
.
Lucasfilm
. Retrieved
August 23,
2007
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Peterson, Lorne (2006).
Sculpting A Galaxy - Inside the Star Wars Model Shop
(1st ed.). San Rafael, California: Insight Editions. pp. 2?3.
ISBN
1-933784-03-2
.
- ^
Taylor, Chris
(2014).
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise
. New York:
Basic Books
, a member of the
Perseus Books Group
. p. 172.
ISBN
978-0-465-05693-4
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Ionut Ungureanu (October 5, 2015),
"Original Blockade Runner from 1977 Star Wars Sells for $450,000"
,
Autoevolution
- ^
"Republic Cruiser (Behind the Scenes)"
.
Star Wars Databank
.
Lucasfilm
. Archived from
the original
on September 30, 2007
. Retrieved
August 23,
2007
.
- ^
Sansweet, Stephen J.
(1998).
Star Wars Encyclopedia
(1st ed.). New York: Ballantine. p. 30.
ISBN
0-345-40227-8
.
OCLC
36960986
.
- ^
"The Legendary
Star Wars
Expanded Universe Turns a New Page"
.
StarWars.com
. April 25, 2014
. Retrieved
April 15,
2021
.
- ^
Armitage, Hugh (December 20, 2016).
"Rogue One director says THAT cameo is no plot hole"
.
Digital Spy
. Retrieved
November 8,
2019
.
- ^
"17 Rogue One Secrets Revealed in the Official Novelization"
.
ScreenRant
. January 16, 2017
. Retrieved
November 9,
2019
.
- ^
"Ah, So That's Why Leia Was at the Battle of Scarif in Rogue One"
.
io9
. January 22, 2017
. Retrieved
November 9,
2019
.
- ^
Szostak, Phil (2020).
The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
.
Carter, Rick
. New York: Abrams. p. 148.
ISBN
978-1-4197-4038-1
.
OCLC
1100598789
.
- ^
"Here's How Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Brought Back This Iconic Spaceship"
.
Star Wars
. Retrieved
January 1,
2020
.
- ^
"The Rise of Skywalker VFX Artist Confirms Star Wars Resistance Ship in Final Battle"
. January 9, 2020.
- ^
Kandell, Zachary (April 28, 2020).
"Star Wars: Why Tantive IV Is NOT Pronounced Like It Should Be"
.
ScreenRant
. Retrieved
April 29,
2020
.
- ^
"Alderaan Cruiser"
.
StarWars.com
.
Lucasfilm
. Retrieved
October 13,
2016
.
- ^
"Star Wars Customizable Card Game Complete Card List"
(PDF)
.
Decipher, Inc.
August 23, 2001. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on September 28, 2007
. Retrieved
August 23,
2007
.
- ^
"Tantive IV (A)"
.
Star Wars Cargo Bay
.
Lucasfilm
. Archived from
the original
on December 25, 2007
. Retrieved
August 23,
2007
.
- ^
"Corellian Corvette"
.
Star Wars Cargo Bay
.
Lucasfilm
. Archived from
the original
on December 25, 2007
. Retrieved
August 23,
2007
.
- ^
"LEGO Ultimate Collector Star Destroyer"
.
Star Wars Collecting
.
Lucasfilm
. September 23, 2002. Archived from
the original
on March 19, 2007
. Retrieved
August 23,
2007
.
- ^
"LEGO Store - Product (Rebel Blockade Runner)"
.
Lego
. Archived from
the original
on August 7, 2007
. Retrieved
August 23,
2007
.
- ^
"#4: Blockade Runner, Sandcrawler, Y-wing (1994)"
.
Star Wars Cargo Bay
.
Lucasfilm
. Archived from
the original
on September 27, 2007
. Retrieved
August 23,
2007
.
- ^
"#I: TIE Interceptor, Star Destroyer, Blocade Runner (1995)"
.
Star Wars Cargo Bay
.
Lucasfilm
. Archived from
the original
on September 30, 2007
. Retrieved
August 23,
2007
.
- ^
"Rebel Blockade Runner"
. Rebelscum.com
. Retrieved
August 23,
2007
.
- ^
"Vintage 1979 Kenner Star Wars Die Cast : Imperial Star Destroyer 100% Complete and Original With Mini Tantive IV Blockade Runner"
.
Etsy
. Retrieved
January 1,
2017
.
- ^
Serjeant, Jill (October 2, 2015).
"
Star Wars
spaceship model sets auction record"
.
Reuters
. Retrieved
October 4,
2015
.
External links
[
edit
]