We’ve been reporting for a while that we’d been hearing a Willow sequel series was set for Disney+ and now it’s been confirmed along with a director in place.
According to the official Lucasfilm website, In The Heights and Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M Chu will direct the series’ pilot episode which was written by Solo’s Jonathan Kasdan.
Star Warwick David and Ron Howard will both executive produce the series.
“Growing up in the’80s, Willow has had a profound effect on me,” Chu said.
“The story of the bravest heroes in the least likely places allowed me, an Asian-American kid growing up in a Chinese restaurant looking to go to Hollywood, to believe in the power of our own will, determination and of course, inner magic. So the fact that I get to work with my heroes from Kathleen Kennedy to Ron Howard is bigger than a dream come-true. It’s a bucket-list moment for me. Jon Kasdan and Wendy Mericle have added such groundbreaking new characters and delightful surprises to this timeless story that I can’t wait for the world to come along on this epic journey with us.”
Ron Howard was director of the original 1980s classic and writer Bob Dolmanwill serve as consulting producer on the new series, so the people beond the original are ging to be pretty close at hand during this.
Howard said: “It’s creatively exciting to not only revisit the world and characters first conceived by George Lucas, Bob Dolman and myself but to see it take flight in such fresh, fun and cinematic ways through the imagination of Jon Kasdan and Team Willow.”
He added: “This isn’t a nostalgic throw-back, it’s a creative lean-forward and it’s a blast to be a part of it all.”
The series will, just like in the real world, take place many years after the original movie and, while featuring new characters, will see Warwick Davis return as Willow Ufgood.
“Many have told me they grew up with Willow and that the film has influenced how they view heroism in our own world,” Davis said.
“If Willow Ufgood can represent the heroic potential in all of us, then he is a character I am extremely honored to reprise.”
Now word on when the series will hit screens but it’s time to dig out that old copy of Willow and get reacquainted.
Thoughts? You have them and I want to hear them.
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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