Wicket W. Warrick, sometimes referred to as Wicket Wystri Warrick, was a male Ewok fulfilling the roles of scout and warrior on the "forest moon" of Endor. This moon, characterized by its temperate climate and untamed wilderness, orbits the massive gas giant also named Endor. A crucial and intimate bond existed between Wicket and the Rebel Alliance; his contributions were pivotal to their triumph over the Galactic Empire, which had besieged his home during the Battle of Endor. By the year 35 ABY, Wicket had become a father, welcoming a son named Pommet, and together they witnessed the Endor uprising.
Residing in Bright Tree Village on the forested moon of Endor, Wicket Wystri Warrick was an Ewok. Even as a wokling, Wicket honed his survival abilities, at one point even tracking a troll through a severe snowstorm. During his youth, the Galactic Empire, under the rule of Emperor Sheev Palpatine, arrived on Endor to erect a shield generator for the protection of the second Death Star. Despite the significant disparities in combat approaches, languages, technology, and firepower (not to mention physical attributes) between the Ewoks and the Humans, the Imperial forces stationed on Endor were ultimately defeated. This outcome was largely attributable to Wicket's deep understanding of the local terrain and forests, which proved invaluable in devising a successful strategy.
As construction of the new Death Star progressed, the Empire's presence on Endor remained substantial. Simultaneously, the Rebel Alliance dispatched a strike team to the forest moon with the mission of disabling the shield protecting the massive battle station. One fateful day, Wicket stumbled upon the wreckage of a pair of Imperial speeder bikes. He cautiously approached the sole survivor, a human female, poking her with his spear until she regained consciousness. This woman was none other than Leia Organa, Princess of Alderaan and a key figure in the Rebel Alliance.
Wicket's apprehension persisted until Leia offered him some food to eat. He enjoyed the food immensely, but his fear of Organa resurfaced when she began removing her helmet. He started examining the helmet but stopped and readied his spear upon hearing approaching Imperials. When the Imperial scout troopers opened fire, Wicket and Organa sought cover behind a log until another blast struck. At that moment, Wicket rolled out of sight. As a scout trooper approached Organa, weapon raised, Wicket realized she was not an ally of the Empire. He then attacked the trooper's legs, allowing Organa to strike the trooper, seize her blaster, and eliminate the other Imperial before he could escape. As they departed, Wicket urged Organa to follow him to his home village.
En route to the village, Wicket and Leia encountered two stormtroopers attempting to apprehend two other Ewoks. Wicket swiftly climbed a nearby tree and fashioned a trap using a vine to create a lasso. He then lowered the lasso, ensnaring the stormtroopers. Wicket leaped from the tree, holding the other end of the vine to suspend the stormtroopers; however, his weight was insufficient to lift them. Organa intervened, grabbing onto Wicket, causing the stormtroopers to be lifted and knocked unconscious by a tree branch. Wicket, Organa, and the two rescued Ewoks continued their journey to Bright Tree Village. Upon their arrival, Wicket presented Organa with a dress as a token of gratitude for her assistance in saving his fellow villagers.
Meanwhile, other Ewoks had captured and brought in the rest of the Rebels: Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO. The Ewoks revered C-3PO as a god, and the Ewok shaman Logray demanded that the other Rebels be sacrificed in the droid's honor. These plans were disrupted when Skywalker used the Force to lift C-3PO into the air, convincing the Ewoks that it was a display of the droid's "magic." This spectacle frightened the Ewoks, including Wicket, causing them to flee momentarily, but they soon returned and, under Logray's direction, freed the Rebels. Once liberated, R2-D2 used one of his built-in devices to deliver a mild electrical shock to Teebo as retribution.
That evening, the Rebel leaders met with the Ewok elders, hoping to persuade them to join their cause. C-3PO vividly recounted the Rebels' story. At the conclusion of the meeting, Chief Chirpa declared that the Rebels would be integrated into their tribe. Wicket embraced Captain Solo as the Ewoks welcomed their new allies.
Wicket, alongside another Ewok named Paploo, accompanied Solo, Organa, Chewbacca, and the droids to rendezvous with the Rebel commandos. They arrived at a ridge overlooking the Imperial landing platform, where Wicket and Paploo guided them to a "secret" entrance on the opposite side. While Paploo created a diversion to distract the scout troopers and allow the Rebels to infiltrate the shield generator bunker, Wicket remained behind with the droids. He stayed there until they noticed more Imperials arriving. Realizing the Rebels were in danger, Wicket ran to seek assistance. After the Rebels were forced out of the bunker at gunpoint, Wicket returned, leading a large Ewok army. The Battle of Endor had commenced.
The Ewoks launched their attack using a diverse array of weapons and traps. Wicket joined a hunting party equipped with bolas, but his initial attempt backfired, knocking him to the ground, resulting only in a bruised ego. As the battle intensified, the Rebels fought to regain entry into the bunker. Ultimately, they succeeded in destroying the shield generator, enabling the fleet above the planet to destroy the Death Star, along with Emperor Palpatine. As the victors celebrated on Endor, Solo and Organa shared a tender moment, which Wicket eagerly interrupted to join in the celebration.
During a village-wide celebration of their victory, Wicket danced and socialized with R2-D2. When the Alliance detected remaining Imperial holdouts on the far side of the moon, Wicket and at least five other Ewoks joined the strike team dispatched to the location. The Ewoks' fascination with the technology and controls inside the shuttle irritated pilot Shara Bey during the flight. The strike team swiftly took the base, uncovering numerous Imperial communications and plans in the aftermath of the Emperor's demise. Before Organa departed Endor, Wicket gifted her an acorn for a serpent's puzzle plant. At Skywalker's suggestion, the sapling became integrated into her meditation practices.
In time, Wicket fathered a son, whom he named Pommet Warrick. In the year 35 ABY, Wicket and Pommet witnessed the destruction of a First Order Star Destroyer by a heavy freighter utilizing the "Holdo maneuver." This event served as an inspiration to the inhabitants of the galaxy, who, emboldened by the Resistance's victory against the resurrected Darth Sidious' forces, began to rebel.
Warwick Davis played Wicket in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi (1983). The actor, then 11 years old, secured his role after his grandmother heard a radio advertisement seeking short actors. Initially, Lucasfilm indicated they had enough actors, but when Warwick's height of 2 feet, 11 inches was mentioned, they reconsidered him for a younger Ewok role. Davis met with Pat Carr at Elstree Studios and was measured for a costume without needing to audition. Davis started working on the film in January 1982. Originally just one of many Ewoks, Davis's performance, including his interaction with R2-D2 and his ability to stick his tongue through his Ewok mask, caught the attention of George Lucas. Another aspect of his performance, inquisitively tilting his head, was inspired by Davis's pet dog.
Davis was later flown to America for on-location filming. When Kenny Baker fell ill with food poisoning on the day he was scheduled to film the scene where his character (originally named "Wicket") first meets Princess Leia, Davis was called in as a replacement. Davis's Ewok then became "Wicket," while Baker's became "Paploo." Evidence of this switch can still be found in the comic book adaptation of Return of the Jedi, where the Ewok who steals the speeder bike is still referred to as Wicket. According to Davis, Wicket's voice in the film was provided by an unnamed Native American woman. However, Ben Burtt stated that her name was Adeal Crooms, and that despite not being an actress, she possessed a natural performing talent. Because George Lucas's daughter Amanda was a big fan of Wicket, Davis performed as the character at her birthday party, delivering presents and even allowing the children to force-feed him cake.
During the filming of Return of the Jedi, first assistant director David Tomblin created a short film on 16 mm film starring Davis called Return of the Ewok. The film tells an alternate story of Warwick Davis landing the role of an Ewok and trying to find his way to Endor, stopping by Jabba's Palace and Yoda's hut. Davis is in his Wicket costume for much of the film. A brief clip showing Boba Fett pursuing Davis/Wicket on the second Death Star can be seen in the blooper reel Easter egg on the 2004 bonus DVD for the original trilogy.
Davis returned to the role for the television movies Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985), and later for Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker (2019). For the latter film, a new Wicket costume had to be created because the original costume and design had been lost. Costume designers used Davis's personal photos for reference in recreating the costume.
Wicket was also a main character in the animated television series Ewoks from 1985–1986, a related 14-issue comic book series from Marvel's Star Comics imprint, and several children's books. The animated series and comics introduced Wicket's family and friends, including his love interest Princess Kneesaa, daughter of Chief Chirpa. The Essential Guide to Characters established Wicket's middle name as Wystri.
On the April 27, 2008, episode of Comedy Central's Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert (a self-proclaimed geek) "ate" Wicket (a large teddy bear with an apple stuffed in its mouth), breaking a promise not to eat Ewok.
On June 7, 2013, it was announced that, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi's release, Bean Bunny was chosen to represent Wicket Warrick for the Star Wars/The Muppets crossover line.
In the animated microseries Star Wars Forces of Destiny, Dee Bradley Baker provides the voice of Wicket.