Willow Ufgood’s adventures will not continue on Disney Plus, as the streaming service has canceled Willow’s prequel series.
The eight-episode season, set decades after the original 1988 film starring Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer and Joanne Whaley, debuted in late December and concluded in mid-January.
The series brought Davis, 53, back as Willow Ufgood, who leads a new group of misfits on a perilous journey.
The series also made headlines last April when Talisa Garcia was cast, making her the first trans actress to be cast in a LucasFilm production.
The news comes just days after Disney CEO Bob Iger said they were carefully re-evaluating LucasFilm’s slate of movies, including the future of the Star Wars franchise.
Cancelled: Willow Ufgood’s adventures will not continue on Disney Plus, with the streaming service canceling Willow’s prequel series
Davis Returns: The series brought back 53-year-old Davis as Willow Ufgood, who leads a new group of misfits on a perilous journey.
Star Wars creator George Lucas first conceived the idea for Willow in 1972, and Bob Dolman eventually wrote the screenplay based on Lucas’s story, with Lucas enlisting Ron Howard to direct after his 1985 smash hit, Cocoon.
The story follows a farmer and aspiring sorcerer named Willow Ufgood (Davis), who is tasked with joining a team to help protect a baby from the evil queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh).
The cast also included Val Kilmer as Madmartigan, a downtrodden warrior who helps Willow on her quest, Joanne Whaley as Sorsha, the queen’s daughter, Billy Barty as High Aldwin, and Kevin Pollack as Rool in one of his first film roles.
While the film received mediocre reviews upon its release, it earned $137.6 million worldwide and was nominated for two Academy Awards for visual effects and sound effects.
The film would spawn board games, video games, and novels, and a sequel to the film had been talked about for years before Disney Plus greenlit the sequel to the TV series in 2020.
The Willow TV series continues decades later, with Willow Ufgood now as a true Newlyn sorcerer.
He embarks on a dangerous adventure with five new heroes as they attempt to rescue Princess Kit’s twin brother Tanthalos (Ruby Cruz).
Joining Willow on this journey are Elora Danan (Ellie Bamber), Jade (Erin Kellyman), Prince Graydon (Tony Revolori), and Thraxus Boorman (Amar Chadha-Patel).
Sorcerer: The story follows a farmer and aspiring sorcerer named Willow Ufgood (Davis), who is tasked with joining a team to help protect a baby from the evil queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh).
New Heroes – Embark on a perilous adventure with five new heroes as they attempt to rescue Princess Kit’s twin brother Tanthalos (Ruby Cruz).
Joanne Whaley also returns as Sorsha, now the queen of Tir Asleen, wife of Madmartigan, and mother of Kit and her twin brother Airk (Dempsey Bryk).
The show also featured an unexpected twist with Madmartigan, showing footage from the original film, with Jack Kilmer, the son of Val Kilmer and Joanne Whaley, providing the voice.
Showrunner Jonathan Kasdan revealed to decision maker which recorded Val Kilmer, who lost most of the use of his vocal chords to throat cancer, with Jack Kilmer entering the recording using his father’s voice as a guide.
“We recorded with Val and used her performance as a guide. Then they gave Jack Val’s performance to listen to and then copy what her dad had done in terms of, you know, the performance elements of the Val thing,” Kasdan said.
“Then to have him standing there on set, doubling up for his father as he had done for the documentary they did, it was surreal and very emotional because, you know, Val is such an intrinsic part of the family,” Kasdan said.
“It’s such a critical element of Willow. She’s still with us as a supporter and an advocate and an adviser in terms of how to keep this character alive,” Kasdan said, adding, “And I think [he] I would very much like to return to the screen if the opportunity allows.’
The series was produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Jonathan Kasdan, Tommy Harper, Wendy Mericle, Roopesh Parekh, Ron Howard, and Samie Kim Falvey.
After the eight-episode series ended, Disney Plus released the behind-the-scenes documentary Willow: Behind the Magic in January.
Archive Footage: The show also featured an unexpected twist with Madmartigan, showing archive footage from the original film, with Jack Kilmer, the son of Val Kilmer and Joanne Whaley, providing the voice.
Producer: The series was produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Jonathan Kasdan, Tommy Harper, Wendy Mericle, Roopesh Parekh, Ron Howard (right), and Samie Kim Falvey.
Documentary: After the eight-episode series ended, Disney Plus released the behind-the-scenes documentary Willow: Behind the Magic in January.