During the Star Wars Celebration event last month, not everything revolved around the Jedi. During the Lucasfilm Showcase segment that occurred during the panel, producer Kathleen Kennedy teased some of the studio’s other upcoming works, which included the Willow series that will premiere on Disney+.
The series’ original creator Jon Kadan and director Ron Howard took the stage to talk about the upcoming series and also to showcase the first trailer for fans. Willow has actor Warwick Davis (Harry Potter films, Star Wars films) returning to the series as the titular sorcerer. The new series will be a direct sequel to the 1988 adventure film that was also a beloved cult classic. In the story, a princess will set off on a quest to rescue her twin brother, and she is helped by Willow himself and other warrior friends.
Kasdan recalled on stage, "The first time I met Ron, I went up to him, and I said, 'I'm a huge Willow fan, and I'm determined to convince Kathy to make a sequel series to Willow, and he said, 'Great, but what are you doing in my hotel room?'"
The new series is set to take place a whopping 200 years after the events of the original movie. The series will also see Joanne Whalley returning to reprise her role as Sorsha. You can check out the trailer for the new Disney+ series below.
What the Willow Trailer Reveals
Here is the official synopsis of the 2022 Disney+ TV series Willow as stated on the Disney+ website:
An epic period fantasy series with a modern sensibility set in an enchanted land of breathtaking beauty, “Willow” features a diverse international cast with Jonathan Kasdan, Ron Howard, Wendy Mericle, Kathleen Kennedy, and Michelle Rejwan serving as executive producers. The story began with an aspiring magician from a Nelwyn village and an infant girl destined to unite the realms, who together helped destroy an evil queen and banish the forces of darkness. Now, in a magical world where brownies, sorcerers, trolls, and other mystical creatures flourish, the adventure continues, as an unlikely group of heroes set off on a dangerous quest to places far beyond their home, where they must face their inner demons and come together to save their world.
The trailer starts with some sort of stage setting with a voiceover telling us, “there is a story of a child destined to be an empress and the unlikely hero who would protect her.” As fans of the original Ron Howard’s 1988 movie know is the voice of the farmer Willow, played by Warwick Davis. He spent the original film doing his best to protect the baby empress from Queen Bavmorda, played by Jean Marsh, the evil sorceress. The original movie was a huge event for that generation of youngsters. The cast also included legendary actor Val Kilmer playing the mercenary Madmartigan, who helped out Willow on his quest. That said, we won’t be seeing Kilmer in this series due to his medical condition.
However, it was confirmed by producer Jonathan Kasden that his character will have a "huge part" in the show. Kasden said at the Star Wars Celebration event:
"He's a huge part of this story and this series. Val has been in communication with Joann [Whalley] and I and Madmartigan is a character in the story and what we didn't get to shoot with him on Season 1, we've made him a major figure in the story."
It’s evident from the trailer that it sets the stage for the heroic Willow’s return. However, this time, the action in the TV series will be led by a princess, Kit, played by Ruby Cruz, who is assembling a group on a mission to save her twin brother. Along with Davis, we will be seeing actors like Amer Chadha-Patel, Tony Revolori, Erin Kellyman, and Ellie Bamber join the cast. A new and vital addition to this series is Talisa Garcia. Garcia is the first-ever trans actor to be cast by Lucasfilm for one of their productions.
Who’s Running the Show?
The 1988 Willow film was a Howard-directed film and a joint production venture between MGM, Lucasfilm, and Imagine Entertainment. The original movie was made on a budget of $35 million and grossed roughly $137 million globally. Moreover, the original film was also nominated for the Oscars in two categories, visual effects, and sound editing. The 2022 Disney+ TV series also comes from Lucasfilm. Willow will represent the first non-Star Wars venture from this entertainment studio ever since it was acquired by Disney. Kasdan and Wendy Maricle will be serving as the showrunners. Additionally, they, along with Howard, Kennedy, and Michelle Rejwan, will be serving as executive producers.
The trailer for Willow was one of the many reveals that occurred during the Star Wars Celebration event. Other major reveals included a full-length trailer for the upcoming Ahsoka and Andor series, the third season of The Mandalorian, and news about the recently released Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Willow will premiere on Disney+ on November 30, 2022.