With many fans waiting for the look-coming Willow sequel series on Disney+ it looks like before it gets going, there’s a bit of an overhaul going on behind the scenes first.
As we reported a while back, Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M Chu was set to direct the pilot episode of the series (here) based on the 1980s Lucasfilm movie, with star Warwick Davies starring once more.
However, Chu has recently shared on Facebook (below) that due to lockdowns and a new baby, he’s had to step away from the series.
However, it seems Lucasfilm has been fast to act with his replacement already in place.
Jonathan Entwistle, the director behind I Am Not Okay With This and The End of the F***ing World, will step in to direct the first episode of the series.
“With its epic world of swords, sorcery and adventure, Willow captivated and influenced so many,” Entwistle has said.
“I’m excited to be going on this journey and working with Jon and Wendy [producers Jonathan Kasdan and Wendy Mericle] to create something that is both deeply rooted in that original film and also a fresh, funny and charming addition to the beloved story. To be able to play within the world so painstakingly crafted by Ron back in ‘88 is a dream come true for me.”
On top of this, it looks like Spider-man star Spider-Man star Tony Revolori is in negotiations to star as a character named Boorman, “a thief and liar who joins the quest in exchange for getting out of prison”.
Revolori plays Flash Thompson in the MCU Spider-man movies opposite Tom Holland’s Peter Parker and he will join Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals), Cailee Spaeny (The Craft: Legacy) and Erin Kellyman (Solo) who will be the three female leads.
The series will also have original Willow director Ron Howard in a producer role. It’s also Lucasfilm’s first non-Star Wars project since 2015.
“According to circulated casting information for the series, it revolves around a group on a mission to save a kidnapped prince. The members of the team include Dove (Bamber), whose backstory resembles that of Willow from the movie. Dove is an unassuming kitchen maid who proves she is the “chosen one” as she embarks on the journey. She is joined by Kit (Spaeny), the princess whose twin brother was abducted. She is destined to be a leader and ultimately the queen. Kellyman plays Jade, a servant who is Kit’s best friend and moral compass. She is on her way to becoming the best young warrior in the kingdom. Also part of the group is a guy who echoes Val Kilmer’s character in the movie. A thief and liar, he joins the quest in exchange for getting out of prison.”
The series, like the original movie, is set to film in Wales.
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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