Disney+ and Lucasfilm are once again bringing us an anticipated original series, this time based in the beloved classic 1988 fantasy movie Willow. Warwick Davies has been confirmed to reprise his role as the titular character.
The original film, directed by Ron Howard, saw Davis star as a farmer who is sent in a quest with a crew to protect a baby from an evil queen who threatens to destroy her. The new series will see George Lucas venture into a non-Star Wars media since 2015 and will take place years after the events of the first film (otherwise that would have had to have been impressive use of de-aging CGI).
According to Deadline, Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals), Cailee Spaeny (The Craft: Legacy) and Erin Kellyman (Solo) are in negotiations for the three female leads. According to circulated casting information for the series, it is similar in plot to the original film, except this time revolving 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, playing an unassuming kitchen maid. Alongside her is Kit (Spaeny), a princess whose twin brother was abducted (the previously mentioned kidnapped prince). Kellyman plays Jade, a servant who is Kit’s best friend, moral compass and mighty warrior. Except for an additional unnamed character, a thief and liar who joins the quest in exchange for getting out of prison, no new information has been revealed about the series.
John M Chu, who will direct the pilot episode, will also serve as executive producer alongside Jonathan Kasdan (who wrote the pilot), Wendy Mericle, Ron Howard and Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy and Michelle Rejwan. Dolman is a consulting producer. Roopesh Parekh and Hannah Friedman are co-executive producers; Julia Cooperman is a producer.
The series is slated to film in Wales, where much of the original film was shot.
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