Over three decades ago, Ron Howard teamed up with George Lucas on the fantasy film called Willow. In 1987, Lucas produced Willow, and Howard directed the movie, which featured Warwick Davis as a would-be magician, Willow Ufgood. While the movie only had a modest box office run, Willow has gone on to become a cult film. Now it may finally get a sequel.
Via Variety, Howard was a guest on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, and he said that a Willow sequel series was in “serious discussions” with Disney+ to make it happen. Additionally, Howard indicated that he and Solo screenwriter, Jonathan Kasdan, are working together on the project. He also said that Davis would reprise his role as Willow.
“Warwick is so cool and so good and he’s such a good actor that I really hope we get the chance to see the mature Willow in action,” noted Howard.
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Although Willow never got a cinematic sequel, Lucas and former X-Men writer Chris Claremont did create a trilogy of novels set in that world. In 1995, Shadow Moon kicked off the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy. In that story, the focus shifted from Willow to Elora Danan, the young girl whom Willow had protected when she was an infant.
Presumably any Willow sequel series won’t be bound by any of the events of the Shadow War books. Disney and Lucasfilm essentially tossed out the Star Wars Expanded Universe when making the new trilogy. The sequel to Willow would probably meet the same fate, if the Disney+ series goes forward.
Would you be excited to see the world of Willow again on Disney+? And should Val Kilmer return as Madmartigan? Let us know in the comment section below!
