Source: The Mary Sue | Posted By: Dan Geer

Say what you want about the ewoks, these furry little guys are among my very first memories of seeing a Star Wars film, and those memories are ones I’m quite fond of. I was three years old when I first saw Return of the Jedi in 1983, and even though I don’t remember my first viewing that well, the star ewok character “Wicket” has always stuck with me. I even had a stuffed “Wicket” to snuggle every night before bed back then (awwwww…).

It has been confirmed for a while now that Warwick Davis, the actor who played Wicket, will indeed return for Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, but we haven’t been told yet who his character will be. Since Return of the Jedi, he has already returned to the franchise for The Phantom Menace back in 1999, playing two different characters (Anakin’s little Rodian friend “Wald,” and a spectator at the Pod Race). So it wasn’t necessarily a given that he was returning as Wicket, or even a new ewok character.

Well, new evidence has come forth that suggests that Davis will indeed be returning as “Wicket.” While not confirmed, and should be taken with a grain of salt, this rumor is simply too good to ignore, so read on for more!

According to The Mary Sue, there was a “press book” handed out during a Japanese press tour for The Force Awakens that listed Warwick Davis’ character for Episode VII as “Wicket.” The article points out that this would make perfect sense, given that we see a melted Darth Vader mask in the latest trailer for The Force Awakens, harkening back to when Vader was burned to ashes on the forest moon of Endor – home of the ewoks.

However, it is also pointed out that it is entirely possible that the listing was an error or assumption on the part of whoever compiled the press book. Even so, it is completely logical that Davis would indeed show up as Wicket again, given that The Force Awakens is the next film in the saga chronologically after Return of the Jedi, so I would consider this rumor a good possibility at this point.

And why not? Sure, the ewoks have been surrounded in fan controversy for over 30 years now (it’s time to get over it, people), but maybe this time we might finally see them actually gnawing on a human thigh or something, reminding the audience that they did try to eat Luke, Han and Chewie in Return of Jedi, and that they really can be vicious, when crossed. But even if J.J. Abrams doesn’t show their vicious side, this is still a good way of acknowledging the canon of the events that happened in Return of the Jedi.

And come on people. Warwick Davis is a fan favorite, and it’s frickin’ Wicket. This is a great rumor!