New 'Rise of Skywalker' clip teases the return of an unexpected character
A surprise, to be sure. But is it a welcome one?
As the final film in the saga, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is introducing a handful of new characters — Zorri Bliss, Jannah, the Sith Troopers, among others — but it’s also bringing back a few surprising characters. We already know that Emperor Palpatine will make his long-awaited return and there’s a chance the Force ghosts of Luke and Anakin Skywalker might also appear. However, a new clip from Episode IX teases the return of a surprising character, one that hasn’t been seen in decades.movies
Ewoks, last seen in Return of the Jedi, might make a triumphant return to the Star Wars franchise. The furry hunter-gatherers, native to the forest planet of Endor, allied themselves with the Rebel Alliance and fought with them against the Empire. A new behind-the-scenes clip from The Rise of Skywalker sees actor Warwick Davis wearing his old Ewok costume, seemingly confirming the return of Wicket.
The featurette isn’t long and combines footage from the original Star Wars trilogy and the new sequels. So, it’s easy to confuse Warwick Davis’ quick appearance in the clip as being from Return of the Jedi. However, Reddit user HanSolosSizzledHeart offers a clear screenshot of the actor in the clip and it definitely looks like it’s new footage from the set of The Rise of Skywalker. Davis was only a child when he last played Wicket, and he’s clearly an adult in the clip. You can check out the featurette below:
The idea that Wicket was returning to the franchise came seemingly out of nowhere, and they haven’t been linked to The Rise of Skywalker at all in any previous promotional materials. Disney and Lucasfilm are known to keep things under wraps, like Baby Yoda’s debut in Disney+’s The Mandalorian and the return of Yoda in The Last Jedi.
The Ewoks played a pivotal role in the Battle of Endor, helping destroy the Imperial shield generators. So, it’s not a stretch to imagine why director J.J. Abrams might’ve wanted them back for Episode IX. We already know Rey, Finn, and Poe will be scouring the galaxy to recruit new members into the Resistance. Therefore, it’s possible that they’ll be dropping by Endor in hopes that the Ewoks will join their fight against the First Order and Palpatine.
Since Episode IX is the culmination of the Star Wars saga, it makes a lot of sense to bring back familiar characters to fight in the final battle. After all, the Ewoks fought alongside the Rebel Alliance before and there’s no reason for them not to stand with the Resistance once more.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters December 20.
