The first trailer for Willow reveals an epic, magical, and adventurous continuation of the original film. Ron Howard directed the 1988 film, which starred Val Kilmer, Warwick Davis, Joanne Whalley, and Jean Marsh, and was written by George Lucas and Bob Dolman. The magical adventure tracked the exploits of Willow, a young farmer and aspiring magician who is tasked with protecting a gifted baby girl from the clutches of an evil queen. The film was a moderate success at the time, but has gained notoriety over the years as a beloved cult classic.
The Willow series was announced in 2021, featuring the return of Davis' character as the lead with a new supporting cast that includes Dempsey Bryk, Amar Chadha-Patel, Ellie Bamber, Tony Revolori, Ruby Cruz, and Erin Kellyman. The story involves a young princess enlisting the help of Willow, now a great sorcerer, along with a group of warriors from around the realm, to help rescue her twin brother. The series was developed by Wendy Mericle and Jonathan Kasdan, with original director Ron Howard acting as an executive producer.
The first trailer for the Willow series has been released and features an epic adventure that appears much larger in scope than the original film. A surprise casting is also revealed in the trailer, showing that Joanne Whalley is returning to the series, after appearing in the original film. Hints of James Horner's original score can also be heard throughout, showing that the series isn't veering too far from its roots. Check out the trailer below:
The series will continue the adventure of Willow and feature more of the brownies, sorcerers, trolls, and other mystical creatures that were all featured in the original film. One noticeable absence from the series is Val Kilmer, who played Madmartigan, the swashbuckling hero of the film. However, with Kilmer's health in decline in recent years, it would not be possible to be involved in the series as he was initially at this point. Willow will be 8-episodes in length for the first season, which has not been revealed as a mini-series or continuing series as of yet. The show is set to debut on Disney+ on November 30th, 2022, helping to fill out a robust calendar of original shows launching this year on the streamer.
While Willow wasn't a box-office smash, quelling any chance of a feature film sequel after its debut, getting a full series on Disney+ is proof that the durability of a franchise doesn't rest solely on box office performance. Many films, such as the original Willow, find an audience over time, which can easily rationalize a continuation of some sort. Streaming services have been a beacon of light for projects like Willow, as the need for content (and to compete) make it easier to revive a cult franchise and take it in a new direction and give it the long-awaited sequel (or continuation) it never got.
Source: Lucasfilm
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