Curious about the new Willow? The 1988 movie may have received a mixed reception from critics, but it left a strong enough impression on fans that Lucasfilm decided to revive it last year. The new series Willow is a sequel to the original film.
You can find out everything you need to know about the show and its evolution here, and then get ready to watch.
For when you’re ready to check it out, Willow is currently streaming on Disney+.
The Long Road to the Willow Series
The story of the original Willow movie was conceived by George Lucas, with directing going to Ron Howard. Prior to Willow, Howard’s most notable directing work was the 1985 sci-fi flick Cocoon.
The movie also featured the talent of acclaimed composer James Horner. LucasFilm’s Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) created the movie’s special effects.
In the original movie, the evil sorceress Bavmorda rules over the Nockmaar kingdom, with her daughter Sorsha and General Kael serving underneath her.
However, her rule is soon threatened by a prophecy: an infant will be her undoing. When said infant arrives in the village of Nelwyn, it’s up to Willow to protect the child and deliver it to safety. Along the way, he encounters others that help him, including the warrior Madmartigan (Val Kilmer).
Upon release, the movie did okay during its theatrical run but fell short of expectations. However, continued airing on television along with video rentals led to the movie’s continued popularity. This even resulted in a licensed NES game from Capcom (simply called Willow), that plays in the style of Zelda.
At the time, it seemed like that would be the end of Willow, but for years, rumors of another entry in the franchise were rumored.
The Cast of Willow
It’s safe to say people were excited to hear that Warwick Davis would return to reprise the role of Willow Ufgood. Ellie Bamber, known for her work in British television (Les Misérables, The Trial of Christine Keeler, The Serpent) now plays an older Elora Danan, who was previously portrayed in the film by multiple infants. Rounding out the cast is Ruby Cruz (Mare of Easttown), Tony Revolori (Spider-Man: No Way Home), Erin Kellyman (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Dempsey Bryk (The Fight Machine), and Amar Chadha-Patel (The Wheel of Time).
Set almost two decades after the event of the original film, this time around Williow is leading his band of heroes on a rescue mission
Reception to season one of the new series has been mixed, but our writer praised the series for delivering true escapism and appreciating the source material while creating a friendlier fantasy realm for all ages.
Where to Watch Willow
If you want to stream Willow, or if you want to re-watch the original series, both are available on Disney+. Each episode clocks in at about 50 minutes, and all eight episodes of the first season are out now. So far there’s no word on whether or not the show will get renewed for a second season.
At the lowest tier, you can watch it streaming with ads. Or you can subscribe to Disney+ Premium for an ad-free experience.
Alternatively, you can bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+ via the Disney Bundle Duo Basic or Trio Basic plan to save some money. The highest tier, the Disney Trio Premium bundle gives you access to all three services, with only ESPN+ having ads.
