Lucasfilm is widely known for Star Wars, and understandably so – since, after all, not only is the Star Wars franchise the most popular Lucasfilm product, but also most of Lucasfilm’s projects are related to the universe.
But the studio does more beyond just Star Wars, and some of their upcoming projects continue that theme. There’s obviously the fifth Indiana Jones film (currently slated to release in 2022), as well as the film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone (which reportedly has The Mandalorian‘s Rick Famuyiwa as director).
Another project for Lucasfilm was just announced, and it’s a pretty cool one: a Willow TV series for Disney+!
Variety reported the news on Tuesday, with official confirmation from Disney+, that a Willow sequel series will go into production next year and will be set years after the original film. The director of that film, Ron Howard, will return as executive producer, while the star of the film, Warwick Davis, will reprise the role of Willow Ufgood! Jon M. Chu, who directed the critically-acclaimed Crazy Rich Asians, is executive producing and developing the plot, while Jonathan Kasdan and Wendy Mericle are the showrunners. Star Wars fans will recognize Kasdan as the son of the legendary Larry Kasdan and as the writer of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Additionally, Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy and Michelle Rejwan will serve as executive producers on the film, while Willow’s original writer, Bob Dolman, is a consulting producer on the project.
Assuming that it goes into production before the Indiana Jones film, this will mark the first non-Star Wars project for Lucasfilm since Disney acquired the company, and it’s pretty cool that it’s continuing on the Willow legacy. The original film, released in 1988, was created by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard, and though it’s not widely known, it is appreciated by many who know of it. I’m excited that they’ll be re-visiting it for this series. And, of course, it’s great to get more Warwick Davis! He played the starring and titular role in Willow, but is perhaps more well-known (at least amongst this site’s readers!) for his work in Star Wars, starting with playing Wicket in Return of the Jedi. He returned to the role for the Ewok films, and then also has appeared in The Phantom Menace, The Force Awakens, Rogue One, The Last Jedi, Solo, and The Rise of Skywalker (in which he once again reprised the role of Wicket), as well as voicing Rukh in Rebels. He also is a very popular host at Star Wars Celebration.
I know this news isn’t directly related to Star Wars, but it’s a new Lucasfilm project that carries on the legacy of George Lucas and involves a number of people who have been involved in Star Wars over the years, including Kathy Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Ron Howard, Warwick Davis, and Jon Kasdan. I think it’s pretty cool that they’re moving forward with this project!
“Growing up in the’80s, ‘Willow’ has had a profound effect on me,” Jon M. Chu said in a statement published by Variety. “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.”
Star Wars Thoughts 