Willow star Erin Kellyman shares the similarities and differences between her Falcon And The Winter Soldier character, Karli, and her Willow character, Jade. Willow picks up two decades after the defeat of Bavmorda, with Elora Danan hidden away and her identity kept secret even from herself. Jade, a knight-in-training and the best friend of Madmartigan and Sorsha's daughter Kit, is one of the new heroes joining Willow on the quest. Kellyman has played important roles in previous MCU and Star Wars projects with complex and layered characters.
Kellyman's The Falcon And The Winter Soldier character was enthralling because, while her actions were drastic, her intentions were understandable. During Screen Rant's exclusive interview, Kellyman breaks down the key similarities and differences between Karli and Jade. Perhaps what is most interesting about these characters is that Karli was one of the key antagonists in The Falcon And The Winter Soldier while Jade is a protagonist in Willow.
"They do have a similar vibe in feeling like [they’re] protecting the people. I think Karli [Morgenthau]'s on a much bigger scale. She feels a very strong responsibility to be the voice for millions and millions of people, whereas Jade really only cares about one person. She kind of dedicates her whole life to protecting Kit and honoring Sorsha, and then wanting to go on to protect the realm for the queen."
Can The Willow Universe Expand In Scale Like The MCU?
Karli and Jade are vastly different characters, but their protective nature is a compelling throughline. Interestingly, Kellyman's Star Wars character, Enfys Nest, shares a similar need to protect those under her care. Jade's desire to protect one person, her best friend Kit, growing into a need to protect the realm and honor her queen, sets up a compelling character arc. It could also potentially mirror the growth of the Willow franchise.
Willow has complex characters and rich lore with questions surrounding Elora Danan, prophecies, and mysterious magic that set the stage for the series to expand on the world of the original film. Jon Kasdan has been thinking about these questions since he first saw the movie at eight years old, and part of what is so exciting about Willow is how it will expand the world and explore the ramifications of the original movie. By picking up twenty years later and following a mix of new characters with legacy characters like Willow and Sorsha, the franchise can branch out into a large-scale fantasy epic.
The MCU began with Iron Man before building to a multiphase saga, and Star Wars began with A New Hope before evolving into a sci-fi epic spanning decades. Willow could potentially follow this path, and Elora Danan could be at the center of this expansion through the questions surrounding her future, power, and prophecy. Kellyman's character, Jade, is intriguing because she isn't tied directly to the movie like Elora, Willow, Kit, or Airk. She is a part of this world, but a new character with endless potential.