Over 30 years since the release of the original Lucasfilm classic, Willow arrives in 2022 as a new episodic series on Disney+. The onetime farmer Willow Ufgood has become a noted sorcerer and encounters a group of young heroes on a dangerous quest. Full of wonders and adventure, the series joins original cast and crew with new contributors to expand the beloved fantasy world.
Willow stars Warwick Davis in the title role, as well as Ellie Bamber, Ruby Cruz, Erin Kellyman, Tony Revolori, Amar Chadha-Patel, Dempsey Bryk, and Joanne Whalley. Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Jonathan Kasdan, Tommy Harper, Wendy Mericle, Roopesh Parekh, Ron Howard, and Samie Kim Falvey serve as executive producers. Writers are John Bickerstaff, Hannah Friedman, and Jonathan Kasdan. The producers are Stephen Woolfenden, Julia Cooperman, Hameed Shaukat, and Max Taylor.
Starring: Warwick Davis, Erin Kellyman, Ellie Bamber, Tony Revolori, Ruby Cruz, Amer Chadha-Patel, Dempsey Bryk, Joanne Whalley
Composers: James Newton Howard, Xander Rodzinski
Executive producers: Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Jonathan Kasdan, Kathleen Kennedy, Wendy Mericle, Roopesh Parekh, Michelle Rejwan
Producer: Julia Cooperman
Director: Stephen Wolfenden
While Lucasfilm are known globally for their Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, the galaxy far, far away and the man in the hat are far from the only jewels in their crown. Willow is also very much a part of the Lucasfilm firmament, and the arrival on Disney Plus of a sequel series to the much-loved 1988 fantasy adventure directed by Ron Howard (who returns here as an Executive Producer alongside his production partner Brian Grazer, the man who not only developed the series but co-wrote the superb Solo: A Star Wars Story and the forthcoming Indiana Jones sequel Jonathan Kasdan, and of course Lucasfilm president and co-founder of Amblin Kathleen Kennedy*) not only grabs the attention of the viewing public, but also followers of Lucasfilm. Coming hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed Star Wars: Andor and in the aftermath of debut seasons of Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power and Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon, can Willow carve its own niche and not only secure an audience keen to return each week but also find its own identity away from the GFFA, the Shire and Westeros?
The answer is yes. Unlike its stablemate Andor, it would be a stretch to anticipate Willow being in the running for Outstanding Drama Series at next years Primetime Emmy Awards, but despite that the show has plenty of charm and energy that carries the first two episodes (‘The Gates‘ and ‘The High Aldwin‘) from the home of Queen Sorsha (Joanne Whalley, returning from the ’88 original) as her daughter Kit (Ruby Cruz) leaves home to find her kidnapped twin brother Prince Airk (Dempsey Bryk), despite being promised to Prince Graydon (Tony Revolori) who opts to join her on their quest alongside Boorman (Amar Chadha-Patel) and Kit’s close friend Jade (Erin Kelleyman). The young cast bounce off each other in what is a very traditional fantasy tale, laced with some impressive ILM VFX visuals and an engaging score from Hunger Games and King Kong composer James Newton Howard.
Of course, the show is called Willow, and the leading man of the ’88 original returns as Warwick Davis brings former farmer Willow Ufgood out from his Nelwyn home and into the story. Much has happened in the last 30 years, with Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) absent and flashbacks of times past involving Willow, Sorsha and the legendary Elora Danan, utilising some impressive de-ageing techniques and some even more impressive double-denim. It’s a charming reintroduction, and while Davis is laden with as much exposition as Michael York was in the Austin Powers films, he does get chance to deliver some genuinely funny moments as he trains up young Dove (Ellie Bamber) in the art of sourcery, all the while remembering the harsh words of Sorsha who years before told him he simply wasn’t that good of a wizard.
With the first two episodes directed by Stephen Wolfenden, there’s certainly enough here to bring viewers back, some out of curiosity, some loyalty to the brand and others finding the world of Willow for the first time and quickly investing in the characters. For Star Wars fans there’s plenty of connective tissue (Lucasfilm, ILM, Jon Kasdan, Warwick, Erin, Ron Howard, Skywalker Sound) and enough charm and intrigue to see us through to early January ’23 when we return to the clones of The Bad Batch for their second season, but for now let’s focus on the Mother World and the adventures of Willow.
*And Honorary Fantha Tracker
- Hardcover Book
- Horton, Cole (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 160 Pages - 03/21/2023 (Publication Date) - Insight Editions (Publisher)
