In a recent interview with SFX (via GamesRadar), Jonathan Kasdan revealed why he felt a sequel series to the 1988 film Willow had to be made. Kasdan would be one to know seeing as how his father Lawrence Kasdan famously co-wrote Empire Strikes Back and in turn grew up knowing George Lucas (who came up with the story for the original 1988 film that was directed by Ron Howard).
Unlike many "legacy characters" who find themselves returning to a belated sequel film or soft reboot, Kasdan seems confident that a show was a good idea to explain many of the unanswered questions from the original film. Namely questions surrounding the young eight-month-old baby Elora at the end of the original film. See his full comments below:
"There are a million unanswered questions from the movie, but for me there’s only one, and it’s the reason we did this show at all: what happened to that baby? I think, more than anything George Lucas has done, Willow was the one that said 'sequel' to me."
With Star Wars, if you look at A New Hope, the Death Star is blown up, they’ve won the battle and there’s no final shot of Darth Vader rubbing his fingertips together, saying, 'I’ll get even!' – that story was over. But Willow ended with the most powerful person in the world as an eight-month-old infant, so it felt like there was story left to tell."
Not only is Warwick Davis returning as the titular dwarf sorcerer Willow Ufgood, but his real-life daughter Annabelle Davis will appear as Willow's daughter Mims. Between that and Kasdan serving as a legacy connection to Lucas, the possibilities of the show succeeding are good. Because at least this show looks to add to the mythology as opposed to burning its fumes off nostalgia. I'd call that progress.
Willow will premiere on Disney+ on November 30th. Stay tuned!
fuck off, no one gives a shit about this forgotten 80's flop. val kilmer and the soundtrack were the only memorable thing.