Lucasfilm focuses a ton on generating new content related to Star Wars these days but this November, the company expands its reach by stepping back into its past. The new teaser for the upcoming Willow Disney+ series reveals that the show picks right up where the original 1988 fantasy movie from producer George Lucas and director Ron Howard left off.
The series brings back Warwick Davis as the titular character for a new and mysterious quest alongside a diverse cast of new characters. The brief teaser reveals a lot about the series, including strong connections to the movie. The teaser also raises many questions about what happened in the years since the movie, especially to major characters like Elora Danan and Madmartigan.
A New Quest
The new teaser offers little detail on the series' story, but it's clear that Willow must go on another quest. This quest takes him to new parts of the world and introduces him to many new characters, as well as some iconic ones from the original movie.
Warwick Davis reprises the Nelwyn wizard Willow Ufgood in the series, and he's joined by newcomers Graydon (Tony Revolori), Boorman (Amar Chadha-Patel), Dove (Ellie Bamber), Kit (Ruby Cruz), and Jade (Erin Kellyman). Elora Danan appears to be in the teaser, though no actress has been announced in the role.
Strange Ruins
Willow's quest takes the party to the ruins of a large, strange city. Two statues stand guard at the gates, bordering a possible desert. The city sprawls in the distance, an advanced civilization beyond anything seen in the movie.
Few clues in the movie point to what this city might be, but a novel series from George Lucas and Chris Claremont, among the best X-Men comic book writers ever, may. The Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy took place fifteen years after the movie, and also after a mysterious event destroyed most of the world, including Tir Asleen. If the books remain canon, this city could be Tir Asleen or another ruined city.
Willow Leveled Up
Willow begins to learn magic in the original movie, and the teaser makes clear he's leveled up since then. Willow walks with a wooden staff with a glowing green gem embedded in the top, which he appears to use in a duel with an unknown enemy.
The movie borrowed a fair amount from fantasy and myth and so it wouldn't be surprising to discover Willow has become a powerful wizard since his youth, learning from the spellbook Raziel gave him to become one of the most powerful wizards in fiction, like Gandalf.
Sorsha Returns
The new teaser reveals Willow Ufgood isn't the only main character from the original movie returning for the series. Joanne Whalley reprises her role as Sorsha in the teaser and appears to be the queen of the restored Tir Asleen.
Sorsha started off as a ruthless warrior hunting Willow in the movie but later turned against her mother, Bavmorda. She changes her ways after falling in love with Madmarigan, the warrior who helped Willow and Elora Danan on their journey.
Sorsha Takes Up The Sword Again
Sorsha proved her skill with a sword in the original Willow, among the best fantasy movies ever, and the trailer hints she takes the blade up again. A brief shot from the trailer shows her drawing a sword in what might be her chambers in her castle.
Sorsha's skill elevated her in the ranks of Bavmorda's army in the movie and made her among the best warriors in her world. She likely joins the fight since what little information there is about the series suggests it becomes very personal for her.
The Warrior Princess
Deadline reports that Ruby Cruz's character, Kit, corresponds to a princess from casting information about the series. The princess instigates the quest to find her brother, who has been kidnapped. Some informed reasoning suggests if Sorsha is the queen, then Kit is her daughter.
Kit appears throughout the teaser, armed with a sword and leading the fight against unknown villains in skull-face masks. If the report is correct, the teaser raises a major question about Kit's identity. Sorsha and Madmartigan adopted Elora Danan, meaning she could be Kit.
Where Is Elora Danan?
One clue indicates Kit isn't Elora Danan and that's the fact Elora had very distinctive curly red hair. Elora's absence from the teaser raises major questions about where she is in the story and why she wouldn't be involved in the quest to find her family.
The movie came out over thirty years ago and the same amount of time appears to have passed in the story. That makes Elora at least thirty during the series, older than Kit certainly, inviting many questions about her role in the story.
Is Elora The Villain?
A mysterious and mystical threat confronts Willow and the party in the teaser. The teaser reveals a dramatic showdown in a foggy orange locale where Willow confronts someone holding a wand similar to Raziel's. Given Elora's deliberate absence, the question becomes if she is the villain.
Elora played a heroic role in Queen Bavmorda's downfall in the original movie. The series may depart significantly from fan expectations and reveal Elora grew up to be a powerful sorceress like Bavmorda, one of the most powerful movie witches, and perhaps a villain as well.
Madmartigan Doesn't Return
The teaser ends without any indication of another major character from the movie. Madmartigan, played by Val Kilmer, makes no appearance. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Kilmer's health prevented him from taking part in the shoot.
Executive producer and writer Jonathan Kasdan stated that Madmartigan's 'spirit lives on' in the upcoming series and that he remains a large presence. His absence also could factor in the series' story, with a possible second season opening the door to his return.