Could Rian Johnson's Star Wars Trilogy Bring Back Dash Rendar?

Lucasfilm shocked the world last week with the announcement that Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson was working on a brand new trilogy in the franchise, separate from the Skywalker Saga.

While fans immediately began pondering the possibilities of what would possibly be in the new film, we couldn't help but wonder about one cult-favorite character from the '90s who has since been forgotten.

What about Dash Rendar?

A brand new trilogy has a lot of promise, but it also seems like a risk for company like Lucasfilm that usually produces 'sure things.' Maybe Dash, Leebo, and the Outrider would add a sense of familiarity and please some of the diehards who are averse to new things.

For those who don't know, Dash Render was a character created for the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire multimedia project. It consisted of a new novel, comic book miniseries, video game, action figures, and many other tie-in products all centered around the same story.

Shadows of the Empire was set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, telling the (failed) efforts of Rebels such as Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, and Chewbacca in their attempt to find Boba Feet and save Han Solo. It also involved the Emperor colluding with a powerful crime lord named Prince Xizor.

Dash and his co-pilot LE-BO2D9, aka Leebo, get involved with the plot after they arrive on Hoth to deliver food to the Rebel Alliance. Dash, a paid smuggler and not an official member of the Rebellion, is embroiled in the fight after the invading Imperial military commences the Battle of Hoth.

In the end, Dash is thought dead after an explosion but actually sent his ship, the Outrider, and Leebo into lightspeed and warped out of there, deciding he'd rather continue making money in another corner of the galaxy than risk his life for the Rebellion.

So would Johnson consider including Dash Render in his new movie? It's possible, but maybe not likely. 

The director seems to prefer making his own stories, and though it will exist in the Star Wars universe it will have all new characters.

Though the Lucasfilm Story Group will opt to include old Legends characters if they fit and make sense to the narrative, we don't know what Johnson's story will be yet. And it seems like some members of the Story Group don't really like Dash, especially after the Star Wars Rebels takeout in Season Three where an Outrider-looking ship popped up without Dash piloting.

Will we ever see Dash Rendar again? Or is he doomed to the disregarded Legends canon?