The latest Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker featurette teases a return of the Ewok, Wicket W. Warrick. The adorable character is best know for aiding the Rebellion’s battle against the Empire in Return of The Jedi. He was played by a young Warrick Davis in 1983; his prospective inclusion adds another layer of nostalgia to the trip Disney has been on promoting Star Wars’ latest epic.

Over the course of the last week, Disney has released one clip (“they fly now”), handful of TV spots, and special looks/featurettes exploring all things quintessentially Star Wars. It appears extraordinarily important to all involved in the Skywalker saga’s final entry that it brings everything full circle. The bulk of the aforementioned teasers focus on drawing connections between the older movies, the newer ones, and whatever it is we will see in The Rise of Skywalker. For example, one of them features “The Evolution of the Stormtrooper." The newest dives even deeper into Star Wars history.

It begins with a very candid blooper from A New Hope; the scene shows Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), and Harrison Ford (Han Solo) in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon; Ford cant remember his lines. Serving as a catalyst for the franchise’s humble beginnings, the featurette precedes to touch upon Star Wars’ original conception as a “modern fairy tale” that follows a farm boy on Nebraska—about “good and evil: what prevails and what doesn’t prevail.” The poignant mosaic of clips, interviews and behind the scenes footage also shows a present-day Warrick Davis (in Ewok garb) at its 2:43 mark.

Davis’ last appearance in the Star Wars saga as an Ewok was over 30 years ago: he was 11 years when he auditioned. He has since inhabited smaller roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. There would be no reason for footage of a now 49 year-old Davis to be dressed as an Ewok, unless of course, he is appearing as Wicket (or another member of the species) in The Rise of Skywalker. Fans will be no doubt be speculating the circumstances of the character’s return. His first appearance took place on the forest moon of Endor, and some theorized the Death Star wreckage seen in the trailers might be on Endor. However, it’s since been confirmed the wreckage is on the ocean moon Kef Bir, so like much in The Rise of Skywalker marketing, there are no easy answers. Perhaps Kef Bir is another one of Endor’s moons, and Ewoks live there as well.

This trip down memory lane is a testament to the amount of effort everyone is putting into giving the saga a faithful conclusion; anyone could be in that Ewok costume at the end of the day—it’s important that it’s Davis. In this way, Disney’s marketing of the film (and hopefully the film) is tapping into the special something that has helped Star Wars affect so many. It’s anyone’s guess how Ewoks factor into Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but it’s fun to know the film will feature them in some capacity.

More: Star Wars’ Biggest Debate Is Over - Porgs Are Better Than Ewoks

Source: Disney

  • Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Release Date: 2019-12-20