Hunt for the Wilderpeople - Characters & Cast

To avoid being sent to juvenile detention and to find a place where he truly belongs and is loved.

Ricky begins as a guarded, troublemaking foster child who hides behind a tough, hip-hop-inspired persona. Through his time with Bella and his survival journey with Hec, he transforms into a confident, loving, and capable young man who finally knows what it means to be part of a family.

Initially, to be left alone in his grief; eventually, to protect Ricky from a system that doesn't understand him.

Introduced as a gruff, illiterate ex-convict who wants nothing to do with Ricky, Hec is shattered by the loss of his wife. In the bush, his frosty exterior melts, and he evolves into a protective, affectionate father figure who learns to communicate his feelings.

To capture Ricky and enforce the rules of Child Welfare, viewing herself as a heroic law enforcer.

Paula is a static character who remains rigidly committed to her bureaucratic worldview from start to finish, serving as the relentless, comical force driving the manhunt.

To provide a warm, nurturing home for a child who has never experienced one.

Though her time in the film is brief, Bella's arc is complete in her profound impact on the protagonists. She sets the standard for love and acceptance that guides Ricky and Hec for the rest of their lives.