Disney+ Willow series: Warwick Davis returns, Jon M. Chu to direct

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

It has been thirty-two years since the release of the dark fantasy film WILLOW (watch it HERE), which was directed by Ron Howard and written by Bob Dolman (working from a story by George Lucas), and for a lot of those years the movie hasn't been shown much respect. JoBlo's own Alex Maidy even had to stand up for it with an Unpopular Opinion article a few years ago. It took me a long time to find out that WILLOW was something of a black sheep, though. I was four years old when the movie was released, and it was a massive event for me. I have vivid memories of leafing through my WILLOW sticker book and watching the movie again and again. So I'm happy to hear that the story of Willow Ufgood is going to continue with a television series.

There have been rumblings of a series off and on for around fifteen years now, but now it's official: the Disney+ streaming service has ordered a series that will see Warwick Davis reprising the role of Willow, and is going to be directed by Jon M. Chu.

Chu's previous credits include G.I. JOE: RETALIATION, JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS, NOW YOU SEE ME 2, and CRAZY RICH ASIANS.

The original film had the following synopsis: 

Journey to the far corners of your imagination, where dreams and reality live side by side. Enter the world of WILLOW, the biggest and most spectacular epic adventure to ever explode across the screen. From master storytellers George Lucas and Ron Howard comes this rare odyssey of unlikely heroes, wicked villains, and innocent souls caught in a mysterious realm of battle, magic, and camaraderie.

It all begins with Willow Ufood (Warwick Davis), who leaves his village to carry a special baby to safety. Aided by a swashbuckling warrior (Val Kilmer), Willow's quest is plagued by danger as the Powers of Darkness scheme to destroy the child – a child destined to bring everlasting peace and freedom to the land.

The series is expected to begin filming in Wales (where much of the film was shot) sometime next year. It will 

take place years after the events of the original film. It introduces all-new characters to the enchanted realm of fairy queens and two-headed Eborsisk monsters, and welcomes back its hero, Willow Ufgood. 

Jonathan Kasdan has written the pilot episode and will serve as showrunner alongside Wendy Mericle. Kasdan and Mericle will also be executive producing the show with Chu, Howard, Kathleen Kennedy, and Michelle Rejwan. Dolman is on board as consulting producer, with Julia Cooperman producing and Roopesh Parekh and Hannah Friedman serving as co-executive producers.

Chu had this to say about the project: 

Growing up in the '80s, Willow has had a profound effect on me. 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."

I'm really looking forward to catching up with Willow after all these years. 

This series isn't the first return to the world of the '88 film; George Lucas also collaborated with author Chris Claremont on a trilogy of books called the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, which centered on a teenage Elora Danan, that "special baby" Willow saved.