Ron Howard and SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY screenwriter Jon Kasdan are working on a sequel series to Howard's hit (scary as hell) fantasy flick WILLOW with Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis. And today we have an update on the series from Howard himself.
Howard says:
We are developing Willow for Disney Plus. And I don’t know about directing or not, but Jon Kasdan is writing, he’s very passionate about it, great job. We don’t have a green light yet, but if it goes, I’ll certainly want to roll up my sleeves and be a part of that, because that would be great, to revisit that world.
He adds:
…in this world of these event series, they really do look to the showrunners and the key creatives to tell them their vision. It’s one of the reasons why TV has gotten so good, is that they really are looking at the showrunners as authors of something that they’re deeply passionate about. And Jon is deeply passionate about Willow, which tickles me to no end.
Finally, he says:
Warwick Davis is going to be in it and so yes, I think it’s safe to say it’s decades later.
So Warwick's personally enthusiastic about the idea?
Oh, I am. I'd love to do this. When I did the movie I was 17, and it was a steep learning curve to play the character. Ron Howard was an integral part of my being able to do it. Now I feel, as an actor, I've learned a lot over the years. And to play the character older would be fascinating. I mean he's older, he's wiser — has he learned to become a sorcerer? Has he mastered the craft? What's been going on in the world of Willow? So yes, if we do get to do this, there'll be a wonderful story to tell, I'm sure. And I'll greatly relish the opportunity.
Howard said last year: "There are some really serious discussions going on with Jon Kasdan, who was one of the writers of Solo, who kept hounding me about Willow the whole time we were shooting and also hounding Kathy Kennedy. We’re in discussions about developing a Willow television show for the Disney+. And I think it’d be a great way to go. In fact, George always talked about the possibility of a Willow series, and it’d be great and more intimate, and built around that character and some of the others. And Jon Kasdan has, I think, an inspired take on it and it could be really, really cool."
Howard also confirmed Warkick Davis would return, saying, "Warwick will be in it. Warwick is so cool and so good and he’s such a good actor that I really hope we get the chance to see the mature Willow in action."
Howard directed the WILLOW from a screenplay by Bob Dolman based on a story by George Lucas. It starred Warwick Davis as Willow, Val Kilmer as Madmartigan, Kate and Ruth Greenfield / Rebecca Bearman as Elora Danan, Joanne Whalley as Sorsha, and Jean Marsh as Queen Bavmorda.