Disney Orders Full Season of ‘Willow’ - Production to Begin in 2021
THE TELEVISION FOLLOW-UP TO THE BELOVED 1988 FILM WILL BE COMING TO DISNEY+
Fans of “Willow” have spent three decades clamoring for a sequel, with various rumours and discussions over the years providing false hope before fizzling out. As it turns out, those who love Ron Howard and George Lucas’ 1988 box office smash no longer need to lay siege to Nockmaar Castle; The Walt Disney Company announced in a press release Tuesday that they have ordered a complete season of a sequel series to “Willow”, to air on Disney+.
The series will begin production in 2021, beginning with its pilot, which will be directed by Jon M. Chu, best known for 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asians”. The pilot was written by Jonathan Kasdan, who shares showrunner duties with Wendy Mericle. In addition, Chu, Kasdan, and Mericle will all serve as executive producers on the series. Ron Howard returns in the role of executive producer, alongside Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. This marks Lucasfilm’s first project outside of Star Wars since 2015.
Set years after the original film, the “Willow” follow-up series expands on the movie’s lore, adding new characters and storylines into the enchanted realm. Of course, it would be impossible to have a “Willow” series without its titular hero. As such, Disney included in its press release the news that Warwick Davis will indeed be returning to the role of Willow Ufgood. In order to give fans the most authentic, immersive continuation possible, the production also plans to do much of its filming in Wales, which was one of the primary shooting locations for the original film.
Disney’s press release must also come as a great relief to eager fans of “Willow”; the idea of a television series follow-up to the film has been floating around all the way back to as early as 2005, and it has already been a year and a half since Ron Howard’s original announcement that this series was being developed. Needless to say, this has been a long-anticipated project with several false starts. This time, no spells have been cast, and no tricks have been played: “Willow” will be back on our screens once and for all.
Additionally credited as executive producers on the upcoming “Willow” series are Michelle Rejwan and Imagine Television; Roopesh Parekh and Hannah Friedman serve as co-executive producers, while Bob Dolman joins as a consulting producer and Julia Cooperman as producer. No potential airdates for the series were mentioned in Disney’s press release.