Star Wars: 10 Actors' Roles That Ruin Their Classic Character

Playing an Ewok in Return of the Jedi was Warwick Davis’ big break. The furry little critters that went all Viet Kong on the Empire hammered home the message that no matter how large the challenge you face may be, if you hit it with a big stick it’ll go away. 

Davis played Wicket, a crucial role in that he does a funny dance to amuse Princess Leia before stealing her food and luring her back to his treehouse. This arboreal village is the backdrop a hilarious misunderstanding through which the heroes almost mercilessly burned alive and, in retaliation, terrify the primitive tribal race into total religious obedience by levitating a golden robot.

After witnessing the Ewoks’ penchant for violence and fascination with gilded objects, director Mark Jones presumably sensed a great evil within Davis and promptly cast him as the lead in horror-comedy Leprechaun. Notable for featuring the first big screen appearance of Jennifer Aniston (which was retrospectively used to improve lacklustre DVD sales) and its obvious contempt for Irish folklore it's perhaps not all that surprising that Leprechaun wasn't critically acclaimed. Don’t fret though, numerous sequels followed including the timeless classic, Leprechaun In The Hood. Seriously.

Now, post-Leprechaun, as the Ewoks dance around the smouldering corpses of their enemies, you will expect to hear them join Davis singing: “Try as they will, and try as they might, who steals me gold won't live through the night.”