A pilot of the Ardennian species, possessing four limbs, was known as Rio Durant. He lived during the Galactic Empire's era. For a considerable number of years, Durant engaged in hazardous assignments with the rogue Tobias Beckett, demonstrating a cheerful disposition and a readiness to face any challenge.
Rio Durant was a former member of Freedom's Sons, an independent military force that aided the Galactic Republic's Grand Army during the Clone Wars. However, due to the absence of retirement benefits, he chose a criminal path to earn a living, utilizing his military expertise. Sometime during his criminal career, Rio attempted to pilfer a speeder belonging to Tobias Beckett and Val, but they were impressed, leading to Rio's inclusion in their group. Together, they established a crew that executed perilous yet rewarding heists. As time passed, Durant participated in numerous risky missions alongside Beckett, functioning as his pilot.
Rio and his companions were contacted by Dryden Vos, the head of Crimson Dawn. Vos desired the collection of blank I.D. chips held by Dvorad. Rio accompanied Beckett and Val to Hovun IV. While there, he engaged in a game of sabacc until Beckett, disguised as a death priest, made his entrance. Rio feigned being choked by Beckett, prompting the other players to scatter. Rio gathered the credits, while Val attached a tracker to Dvorad's speeder. Beckett abandoned Rio and Val as he commandeered Dvorad's speeder. He and Val later reunited with Beckett by commandeering a speeder equipped with a bar. Rio indulged in alcohol as Dvorad summoned his starship.
Rio, Val, and Beckett raised their hands in surrender when Dvorad aimed a weapon at them. Subsequently, an unidentified creature launched an assault on Dvorad and his vessel. Rio and Val provided cover for Beckett as he boarded the ship and defended against the creature. Following their escape from the creature and Dvorad's ship, Rio suggested they retain a portion of the I.D. chips for their own benefit, despite Val's reservations about Vos. Rio and the others then boarded the Rampart and departed from Hovun IV.
After piloting the Rampart to Munt Ontdal, Rio, Val, and Beckett were apprehended by Enfys Nest and her Cloud-Riders. Rio and his companions attempted to persuade the riders to release them before Vos's arrival. However, Val discerned that the riders had supplied them with the details for the heist. Upon Beckett's refusal to relinquish the chips, he detonated the Rampart. As they fled from the riders, Rio and the others encountered stormtroopers. After evading the troopers, Rio impersonated a scrambler.
A decade prior to the Battle of Yavin, amidst a conflict on the marshy planet of Mimban, Rio, along with Beckett and Val, infiltrated the ranks of the swamp troopers. It was there that they encountered a young Han Solo, who expressed a desire to join their crew. Durant expressed reservations about admitting Solo, but Beckett opted to grant the boy an opportunity by orchestrating his imprisonment for insubordination. Solo ultimately managed to escape alongside the Wookiee Chewbacca, who was initially intended to devour Solo. Consequently, Beckett instructed Rio to lower the ship to facilitate Solo and Chewbacca's boarding, an event that filled Rio with surprise at the Wookiee's presence. Once onboard, Solo engaged Rio in conversation regarding disabling the AT hauler's tracking system to finalize their escape.
Upon reaching Vandor, Beckett's crew observed the 20-T Railcrawler conveyex transport, which they intended to seize in order to obtain its coaxium cargo to settle Beckett's debt to Dryden Vos. As the crew observed, they expressed a desire for the absence of Enfys Nest and the Cloud-Riders on the following day. That evening, while seated around the campfire they had constructed, Durant engaged Solo in conversation, inquiring about the girl he had mentioned, playfully questioning if she was pleasant and possessed sharp teeth. Rio also lightheartedly mocked Solo's piloting skills.
On the subsequent day, the crew proceeded to secure the cargo wagon. Rio transported Beckett, Solo, and Chewbacca onto the wagon, inquiring of Beckett if it was an auspicious day for them. Beckett affirmed that it would be the finest day of his existence. The strategy involved eliminating the range troopers guarding the train and having Chewbacca detach the wagon using his strength. Rio positioned the ship strategically to enable Solo and Beckett to hook the wagon, facilitating their escape with the cargo from the scene.
Nest and the Cloud-Riders materialized, aiming to seize the coaxium from Beckett's grasp. The Marauder Baroosh Pawk successfully boarded Beckett's ship and fired upon Durant. Rio shouted at Pawk to vacate his vessel and leaned around to discharge his dual SE-14r light repeating blasters at the intruder, eliminating him, but was mortally wounded in his left shoulder by Pawk. Injured, Rio began to relinquish control of the ship, prompting Han to enter the vessel to assist Durant. Despite Rio's assertion that the wound was not severe, it became evident that Durant was succumbing to it. Anticipating his impending demise, Rio sought forgiveness from Han, acknowledging that the young man was a superior pilot. On the verge of death, Rio declared that Val was correct in her belief that no one should perish alone, reinforcing Han's objective of returning to Corellia to locate Qi'ra. Durant then died from his injuries, leaving Solo to assume control of the ship.
Following the deaths of Rio and Val, Beckett arranged for graves to be erected for them, with Durant's grave marked by his goggles hanging from the stick.
Although his death appeared to be futile, as Han was compelled to jettison the coaxium to rescue Beckett, it seemed to reinforce Han's determination to locate Qi'ra on Corellia. Furthermore, despite his involvement in smuggling, Han continued to keep Chewbacca by his side, recognizing the rarity of a loyal companion in such a ruthless galaxy.
Jon Favreau provides the voice for Rio Durant, while circus performer Katy Kartwheel embodies the character in the 2018 Star Wars Anthology film Solo: A Star Wars Story. Durant marks Favreau's second venture into the Star Wars universe, having previously voiced Pre Vizsla in six episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
According to the DVD commentary of Solo, Kartwheel played the physical aspect of Durant, while CGI was used for other parts of his body. Favreau was recruited to voice the character after director Ron Howard successfully persuaded him to take a break from his directing responsibilities for the live-action remake of The Lion King.
Early story drafts for Solo featured an additional member of Beckett's gang, a "squid-monkey" named Zapf, who was eventually integrated into Durant's character. Actor Wilford Brimley served as an early inspiration for Durant, who, coincidentally, portrayed Noa Briqualon in the 1985 Star Wars Legends TV movie Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, back when Durant was envisioned as a gruff, mustachioed alien pilot with multiple eyes.