A director has been named for Willow, an upcoming fantasy series from Disney+ based on the 80s movie of the same name. About a decade before returning to the Star Wars universe to direct the prequels, George Lucas produced the dark adventure tale directed by Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Solo: A Star Wars Story). The epic drama is now considered a cult classic in the vein of The Princess Bride and The NeverEnding Story.
Lucas came up with the idea for the story in 1972 and approached Howard to direct. In the 1988 movie, Warwick Davis (Harry Potter, Leprechaun) plays Willow Ufgood, a farmer and sorcerer’s apprentice who gets mixed up with an evil witch-queen by happenstance. When a prophecy foretells that Queen Bavmorda of Nockmaar will one day lose her throne to a child born with a particular birthmark, the sorceress cracks down on human births in order to prevent the vision from coming true. The chosen baby is smuggled out of mom jail by a midwife, and Willow’s children later find the child in the woods and bring her home. Willow encounters a host of fantastical obstacles and allies on his journey return the predestined princess Elora to a human family.
THR reports that Disney+ has hired Jonathan Entwistle to direct the pilot for an upcoming series based on the movie. Entwistle will also serve as an executive producer on the series alongside Howard, with the movie’s screenwriter Bob Dolman as consulting producer. Entwistle replaces Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu—Chu exited the project earlier this month due to scheduling conflicts and a baby on the way. Entwistle has previously directed the Netflix shows The End of the F***ing World and I Am Not Okay With This, both coming-of-age stories based on graphic novels by Charles Forsman that examine the adolescent mind with equal parts humor and compassion. Here’s Entwistle’s statement:
With its epic world of swords, sorcery and adventure, Willow captivated and influenced so many. I’m excited to be going on this journey and working with Jon and Wendy to create something that is both deeply rooted in that original film and also a fresh, funny and charming addition to the beloved story. To be able to play within the world so painstakingly crafted by Ron back in ’88 is a dream come true for me.
Discussions about a TV adaptation began in 2005 with both Lucas and Davis on board. Davis will reprise his role in the joint Lucasfilm and Disney+ project. The show takes place after Willow’s journey in the movie. Tony Revolori (Spider Man: Homecoming), Ellie Bamber, Erin Kellyman, and Cailee Spaeny have also been cast. Jonathan Kasdan and Wendy Mericle, also executive producers, will be the pilot’s showrunners. Filming will begin in Wales sometime in spring, and the show is set to premiere in 2022.
As Entwistle himself observed, Howard “painstakingly crafted” a magical realm in the dark fantasy epic that was heavy on special effects and fairytale creatures. In order to hold that world together, the movie had to take itself seriously. Entwistle’s best-known projects, by contrast, are steeped in self-awareness and irony. That irony later gives way to a deeper vulnerability in his characters, but the tone of shows like TEOTFW and I Am Not Okay With This is certainly different from Willow‘s sincerity. Entwistle was ultimately interpreting material originally written by Forsman, so the series’ irreverent style may not carry over to Willow, but the choice to hire him may hint at an interesting new take on the story.
Source: THR
Originally from https://screenrant.com/willow-show-disney-plus-jonathan-entwistle-director/