Willow (2022) - Season 1 (Disney+) (1 Viewer)

[joshEH]

Ron Howard: "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 are 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, which he just felt, innately, would be great, more intimate, 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. So fingers crossed."

Josh Horowitz: "And a continuation, not a reboot?"

Ron Howard: "No, a continuation, continuation and Warwick would be in it."

https://twitter.com/joshuahorowitz/status/1123402649536270338

If Val Kilmer is in this, I will buy Disney+ three times.

Willow's an ideal property for something like this. Just enough quality worldbuilding and nostalgia to build around, but flawed enough to be worth taking a shot at with better execution today.

You know, Kasdan is probably as good a choice as any, but if this thing goes forward, I hope they involve Bob Dolman somehow. The little bit of SCTV he managed to infect the original film with went a long way to give personality to a movie that otherwise might not have held together. Few things make me shudder more than the idea of the Willow universe deprived of its quirks.

 

[joshEH]

Pre-production has begun!

https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/316450/pre-production-begins-on-disney-willow-series/

Surreal that this seems to be more of a "go"-project than INDIANA JONES 5. I mean, at least it has a pilot script. "Don't count your chickens," and all that, but opening up a writers' room likely indicates an institutional intent to move forward.

 

[Sam Favate]

Glad to see this happening. Is Ron Howard involved?

 

[joshEH]

^ Yep, see first post.

 

[TonyD]

Well I thought the movie was terrible back then when we went to see it. watxhed it on D+ and still feel the same but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like the series, it has to be better.

 

[joshEH]

Ron Howard clarifies that the show is not yet greenlit, though Jon Kasdan was given the go-ahead to write the series pilot and start pre-production. Howard says that in the event of a greenlight, he will "roll up his sleeves" and participate, which sounds like he'd want more involvement than a nominal role, but it's unclear if he'd be directing.

I know any new fantasy show striving for the highest chance at success ought not make comparisons to Game of Thrones so easy to draw, but the idea of Madmartigan as a Robert Baratheon-type washout is pretty much exactly the circumstance that I want to see Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley back in this universe.

 

[joshEH]

Hearing from my buddy at Lucasfilm that Disney is now wanting all the scripts for a theoretical first season right upfront before they decide whether or not to pull the trigger. Ordering a show straight to series (as opposed to the traditional pilot-approach) has become more and more common over the years, but if Disney is going to buy in for an entire season, it makes sense that they want to be able to see what they are buying. Having the season pre-written probably makes them feel more confident about the accuracy of the budgeting, as well.

It's certainly fair to say that the prospects of a Willow follow-up have never been better, and if this falls apart, never will be again. Disney commissioning all this development work may be peanuts compared to the cost of going to production, but it's not nothing, either. Writers and concept artists and location scouts and other pre-production folk presumably do not work for free, and this has been going on for over six months now, so Disney is serious enough about exploring this.

 

[joshEH]

It's happening. Full series-order:

‘Willow’ Sequel Series Officially a Go at Disney Plus, Jon M. Chu to Direct

The "Willow" sequel series is officially happening at Disney Plus, with Warwick Davis reprising the main role and Jon M. Chu directing.

variety.com

 

[Bryan^H]

Bet you $1,000 Willow's wife doesn't appear in this series!!!!

 

[joshEH]

Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals), Cailee Spaeny (The Craft: Legacy), and Erin Kellyman (Solo: A Star Wars Story) are in negotiations to play three of the new leads:

‘Willow’: Erin Kellyman, Cailee Spaeny & Ellie Bamber Poised To Star In Disney+ Series

Ellie Bamber, Cailee Spaeny and Erin Kellyman are in negotiations for the three female leads in Disney+ & Lucasfilm's 'Willow' TV series.

deadline.com

Also, either those character-names are placeholders, or Lucasfilm is abandoning the most obvious candidate for a "new" female main character: Elora Danan.

 

[joshEH]

Jon M. Chu has stepped down from directing the show's first episode. Seems the shooting schedule had to be pushed back due to the UK-lockdowns, rendering him unavailable.

...Oh, Ron...??

 

[Sam Favate]

I saw Chu's statement, and it's really unfortunate, since he sounds like he was really a fan of the original film. But I guess Lucasfilm is no stranger to getting new directors.

BTW, I expect the UK lockdown to affect a great many projects, including Lucasfilm's Obi-Wan series, which was due to film in London.

 

[joshEH]

James Newton Howard to fill the late James Horner's shoes as series composer:

James Newton Howard To Compose “Willow” Disney+ Series | What's On Disney Plus

New details on the upcoming "Willow" Disney+ series have recently come to light as, according to Score: The Podcast, James Newton Howard is going to be composing the score for the new series. James Newton Howard has worked with Disney on many projects, including some classic animated films such...

whatsondisneyplus.com

 

[usrunnr]

I love the film, and I love the score by James Horner. I hope the
television series is just as outstanding as the film was for me.
For me. I know not everyone loved this film.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

I saw Chu's statement, and it's really unfortunate, since he sounds like he was really a fan of the original film. But I guess Lucasfilm is no stranger to getting new directors.

Yeah, I'm harder than most on Kennedy and Co., but this one was definitely out of their hands.

 

[joshEH]

What an amazing twist it would be if "Willow: The Series" was actually a behind-the-scenes documentary-style comedy about Warwick Davis trying to make Willow: The Series.

 

[TravisR]

What an amazing twist it would be if "Willow: The Series" was actually a behind-the-scenes documentary-style comedy about Warwick Davis trying to make Willow: The Series.

Would that make it Extras: Willow- The Series?

 

[Sam Favate]

That might be the best thing from Disney+ today.

 

[SamT]

First, since when Lucasfilm has a youtube channel? Had no idea! Second, why everyone is the average size? Third, everyone is so good looking!

 

[SamT]

Willow is not in the same universe as Star Wars, right? Casting that Solo actress brought up this question to my mind.