Willow is a cult classic fantasy film from 1988 that was intended to be the start of another major franchise for George Lucas. Though the film didn't do as well as hoped, it still has its fans and they are excited to learn that a sequel series is coming to Disney+ in the near future.
Warwick Davis, who played Willow Ufgood and was the star of the movie, is confirmed to return. But who else from the original film should make a comeback? What else from the world of Willow do fans need to see in the new series?
Chronicles Of The Shadow War
Willow was actually a box office success. It grossed over $137 million against a budget of $35 million. That wasn't astronomical Star Wars numbers though, and the film series didn't continue.
George Lucas did authorize a series of novels that continued the story, with a teenage Elora Danon at the center. The books feature some echoes of what would eventually appear in The Last Jedi. Willow has gone into self-imposed exile after an unknown cataclysm and it's up to young Elora to set things right. Some of this would be good to see in the series.
... But Not All Of It
That Cataclysm from the trilogy of sequel novels creates a fascinating new set of circumstances for the cast of Willow to explore. But not all of them survive. In fact, most of the cast from the movie is killed at the very beginning of the first book, Shadow Moon (written by legendary X-Men scribe Chris Claremont).
Among the casualties are major characters Madmartigan and Sorsha (more on them later). It's likely fans wouldn't appreciate the opportunity to see those characters again.
Cut Scenes
Like any movie, Willow features a number of deleted scenes. Sometimes there isn't any reason why these scenes were cut, but in some cases, like with Willow, it had a lot to do with the story.
Numerous scenes were filmed for the movie but didn't make it in. These include Willow battling a boy who transforms into a shark in a lake while retrieving Fin Raziel, and an extended duel at the climax between the sorceress and Queen Bavmorda. Some of these concepts, like the boy-shark, are potential fodder for the new series.
More In-Jokes
George Lucas often included little tributes to people in his films, as in the names of the aliens in Star Wars (in the Prequel Trilogy, in particular). Lucas must have been feeling a little grumpy in Willow because many of the evil characters in the movie are named after some of the most prominent film critics of the time.
General Kael, the brutal enforcer of the film, is named after iconic film critic Pauline Kael (as mentioned in I'm Thinking Of Ending Things). The two-headed creature Eborsisk is a portmanteau of Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel (who generally defended Lucas' films).
Less Brownies
Every fantasy film has comic relief of some kind. The Brownies took things to the next level, even if they were the smallest characters in stature.
But, the tiny sprite-like creatures (based on the legend of a household spirit from Scottish folklore) generally don't work in the movie. All credit to Kevin Pollak and Rick Overton, but The Brownies are one thing the new series would probably benefit from avoiding. Some fans may disagree, but it will all come down to the tone of the new show.
Legacy Of Evil
At the end of the movie, the forces of darkness are roundly defeated. General Kael is killed by Madmartigan and Queen Bavmorda is banished from the world forever. But was it forever though?
If the new series follows the books, the Cataclysm will likely form the crux of the plot. If not, it would be interesting to see what came of the evil forces of Nockmaar. Without their leaders, did someone new arise? Could Bavmorda come back in some new, more terrifying form?
Madmartigan
The sequel books killed Madmartigan right at the beginning (and off-page), which is pretty harsh. No doubt, fans of the movie and Val Kilmer would like to see him again, in some form.
It's been over 30 years and Val Kilmer has had some health issues, but it would be great to see the character again. It's still unclear if he's returning for Top Gun: Maverick (though he begged producers to let him), but another chapter in the life of the roguish hero would be great to see.
Sorsha
Another major character fans would certainly love to see in the new series is Sorsha. Like Madmartigan, she was killed off in the book, but also like him, the series would be better for having her around. Joanne Whalley continues to act and played Sister Maggie in season three of Daredevil.
Whalley and Kilmer married and had children after meeting on the set of Willow, though unfortunately, they later divorced. Willow is a fairytale though, so perhaps Martigan and Sorsha are still together.
Willow's Magic Skills
Willow Ufgood was a novice at magic in the original film, but in the end, he received a special book of spells for his efforts to save Elora. When fans see Willow again in the upcoming series, it would be great to see him on par with some of the great wizards of fantasy, like Gandalf or Merlin.
More magic and more opportunity for Warwick Davis to shine is a must. A powerful Willow would make for a great mentor to Elora, who almost certainly will feature in the new series.
Adult Elora Danon
The sequel books vaulted a teenage Elora Danon into the spotlight. The streaming series will likely feature an adult version of the character, who played such a vital role in the original film.
Elora's story in the movie may have seemed to be at an end with the downfall of Queen Bavmorda, but like any great fantasy, it's never really over. There are many ways for her story to continue (including as an apprentice of Willow) that would be ideal for the series to explore.