The Tantive IV Alderaan Diplomatic Envoy (also referred to by its model as the CR90 Corellian corvette or simply as the Rebel Blockade Runner) When Space: 1999 (1975–1977) 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. This also explains the 194-centimeter model's intricacy, which would have been necessary for depicting the prominent Falcon. A smaller 16-inch model was also made for the shot of the craft receding into the distance.
Depiction
thumb|200px|The Imperial I-class [[Star Destroyer Devastator chases the Tantive IV over Tatooine.]]
The ship started life as a CR90 named as Star of Alderaan, but was renamed in honor of diplomats from Tantive IV who visited Alderaan.
The final scenes of Rogue One depict the plans for the Empire's Death Star battle station reaching the Tantive IV with Leia on her journey to Tatooine. According to the film's novelization, the ship was docked for repairs aboard Admiral Raddus' MC75 Star Cruiser Profundity, though it was intended to take a part in the Battle of Scarif. With the capture of the Profundity, the ship was forced to launch with partial repairs to protect the plans from Darth Vader. Although they were able to elude Vader initially, damage sustained during the escape allowed Vader's ship to disable and catch them above Tatooine.
The Tantive IV appears in the first scene of Star Wars as it is captured by the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer Devastator over Tatooine. Leia had taken the ship, alongside the plans, to Tatooine to recruit the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to join the rebellion. Unable to find Kenobi, Leia gives the plans and a message to R2-D2, who escapes with C-3PO in an escape pod and lands on Tatooine.
Though the Tantive IV's ultimate fate was left unknown in Star Wars, according to the 1998 Star Wars Encyclopedia, the ship was subsequently destroyed by Darth Vader. This is now considered a part of the non-canonical Legends timeline.
The ship appears in The Rise of Skywalker as the center of the Resistance's base and during the final battle on Exegol as part of the Resistance's initial attack fleet. Prior to the events of the film, it was discovered in a state of disrepair decades after the Battle of Yavin by a former Imperial senator in the Yarma system. The senator, who was sympathetic to Leia's cause, repaired the vessel and returned it to her as a gift. The ship and its pilot, Nien Nunb, were hit by Darth Sidious' Force lightning assault. According to Rae Carson, author of the film's novelization, Nunb died mid-battle.
Name
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" Star Wars Expanded Universe material initially referred to the class of ships as "Corellian corvettes", but Lucasfilm later identified them as Alderaan Cruisers. 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<nowiki/>'s role in the early scenes of A New Hope as the hunters' quarry.
Games and models
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.
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. Lego's 1,700-piece Ultimate Collector series blockade runner model, released in 2001, was the first set to include dark red bricks. In 2019, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of such models, Lego released an updated model of the Tantive IV .
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.
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 miniature of the Tantive IV sold at auction for $450,000, making it the most expensive Star Wars item sold at auction.
References
Footnotes
Citations
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