Wicket W. Warrick
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Wicket W. Warrick | |
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Star Wars character | |
First appearance | Return of the Jedi (1983) |
Last appearance | The Rise of Skywalker (2019) |
Created by | |
Portrayed by | Warwick Davis |
Voiced by |
Other:
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In-universe information | |
Full name | Wicket Wystri Warrick |
Nickname | Wicket W. Warrick |
Species | Ewok |
Gender | Male |
Family |
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Spouse | Kneesaa |
Children | Pommet Warrick (son) |
Homeworld | Battle of Endor as an ally of the Rebel Alliance .
CharacterDevelopmentIn concluding his original Star Wars trilogy, George Lucas had foreseen the decisive battle in the Galactic Civil War taking place between the Wookiees and the Empire; however, he considered Chewbacca too skilled with technology, and wanted a more primitive species than the Wookiees to defeat the Empire. A few different creatures, such as the stilt-legged Yuzzums, were proposed before the diminutive bear-like design of the Ewoks was settled on.[1] Although neither the word Ewok nor any of the Ewok names are actually mentioned in Return of the Jedi, a handful of Ewoks were named by the production, mentioned in the novelization, and first appeared in the Kenner action figure line based on the movie. The main focal point of this new Ewok species was to be Wicket Wystri Warrick, a small young male scout and warrior. Generally considered to be the most well known of the Ewoks, Wicket would be given the lead role in almost all subsequent Ewok related media released after Return of the Jedi.[2] CastingWicket was portrayed by Warwick Davis in 1983's Return of the Jedi. The then 11-year-old actor came to be involved in the film after his grandmother heard a radio ad calling for short actors.[3] Davis began work on the film in January 1982. Originally cast as a generic Ewok, Davis caught the eye of George Lucas with aspects of his performance, such as his ability to stick his tongue through his Ewok mask and the inquisitive tilting of his head (which was inspired by Davis' dog). Kenny Baker (who also portrayed R2-D2) was originally set to take the role of Wicket; however, Baker fell ill with food poisoning, and Davis was called in as a replacement.[4][5] AppearancesFilmThe character made his first appearance in the 1983 film At the end of Forces of DestinyWicket appears in the micro-series Star Wars Forces of Destiny.[6] LegendsIn April 2014 (with the sequel film The Force Awakens in production), Star Wars Expanded Universe (rebranded as Star Wars Legends) from official Star Wars canon.[7]
Television filmsWicket was featured in the 1984 TV film Wicket would return the following year in a sequel, EwoksWicket was the main character in the animated series Ewoks, which ran for two seasons in 1985 and 1986, consisting of 35 episodes. This children's cartoon series, set in the fictional Bright Tree Village, mostly featured the antics of Wicket and his family (in line with the TV movies). Wicket's friends Kneesaa and Latara were introduced, and further backstories for existing Ewok characters Teebo, Paploo, Chief Chirpa, and Logray were established. The series's would also often showcase Wicket and the Ewoks' battles with the Duloks, Morag the witch, and other creatures on the moon of Endor.[9] Related works and merchandisingIn the 1980s, Wicket was heavily featured in several promotional items, toys, children's books, read-along records and cassettes and comic books.[10] ReceptionWicket and the Ewoks are a controversial addition to Return of the Jedi and the Star Wars Universe in general, and are seen by some to be the weakest link of the original trilogy. According to Tami Katzoff of MTV News, "a prevailing theory among Ewok-haters is that the creatures were originally conceived as a sure way to appeal to small children and sell plush toys to their parents."[11] The Ewoks have some defenders, and have proven to be very popular with children from their introduction in the 1980s to the present day.[12] References
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