The New Republic Cruiser represented a class of cruisers actively utilized by the forces of the New Republic. Several of these vessels were integral components of the New Republic Home Fleet. These cruisers, along with the entire fleet, met their end during the Hosnian Cataclysm. This devastation occurred when the First Order's Starkiller Base, a superweapon crafted from the planet [Ilum](/article/ilum] located within the Unknown Regions, unleashed its phantom energy beam, resulting in the destruction of the entire star system. One particular vessel bore a striking resemblance to the design principles of Mon Calamari Star Cruisers, featuring a rounded hull, prominent engines, and a sizable fin on both the port and starboard sides. Another variant exhibited a more circular form, yet still maintained the characteristic rounded hull.
The New Republic Cruiser made its initial appearance in the 2015 Star Wars saga film, Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, which was directed by J.J. Abrams. Their official identification occurred within an episode of Star Wars By the Numbers on StarWarsKids.com on July 31, 2020. Leland Chee, a member of the Lucasfilm Story Group and the Keeper of the Holocron, commented that he had yet to encounter a satisfactory reference for the models, explaining the vagueness surrounding the New Republic Cruiser's naming in the Star Wars By the Numbers video.
Subsequently, Pablo Hidalgo, another Story Group member, speculated that some of the models might have been repurposed assets from Star Tours, although he acknowledged the possibility of being mistaken. The update to Star Tours necessitated the creation of computer-generated versions of iconic ships, including the Mon Calamari cruisers and the EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigates. Consequently, these digital assets could have been reused in the design of the New Republic Home Fleet. Phil Szostak suggested that the ships might have been sourced from Industrial Light & Magic's digital library, potentially including 2D cards, while also admitting the possibility of error.