In 1988, Ron Howard directed “Willow”, a classic heroic fantasy film. But did you know that before the series was released on Disney+, Ron Howard’s film had already had sequels?
Willow : one of Ron Howard’s classics
In 1988, long before the release of the trilogy The Lord of the Rings, the great classic of heroic fantasy in cinema was Willow. Directed by Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Da Vinci Code, Solo: A Star Wars Story) and produced by LucasFilm, Willow tells the adventures of Willow Ufgood, a member of the Nelwyns people. This peaceful and small species (a bit like the Hobbits), sees its daily life turned upside down when an evil queen takes control of the kingdom. Worn by Warwick Davis and by Val Kilmer, Willow is still considered today as worship.
Twice Oscar nominee), the film had grossed more than $57 million in revenue at the box office. Currently, the universe of Willow is once again in the spotlight. In effect, a series created by Jonathan Kasdan and Wendy Mericle arrives on November 30 next on Disney+. The action takes place years after the events of the film. The show is already talking about him since he brings back the actor Warwick Davis in the skin of the little hero.
Sequels in novels
Long before the production of this Disney+ series, the universe of Willow had been developed through a trilogy of novels. Indeed, from 1995 to 1999, George Lucas and Chris Claremont are writing a literary trilogy called The Umber Chronicles. These novels, titled Willow, shadow moon (1995), willow, twilight shadow (1996) and Willow, shadow star (1999), are set a year after Willow rescues Elora Danan from the clutches of Queen Bavmorda.
Since his return, the Nelwyn has been torn between his life as a farmer and his desire to develop his magical powers. A night, he finds Madmartigan and Sorsha in a dream, died following a mysterious cataclysm. The two warriors then give him a new name: Thorn Drumheller. The latter must become the new champion of Elora to protect her world against an era of doom.
A new quest then begins for Thorn Drumheller and his companions through the Land of Shadow so that the prophecy finally comes true. The rest of the story takes place thirteen years later, when Thorn Drumheller crosses paths with Elora Danan again.
Thus, George Lucas, the big boss of LucasFilm, decided to tell the continuation of the adventures of Willow in paper format. Producer and screenwriter of Ron Howard’s filmthe father of Star Wars turns to Chris Claremont for a helping hand. This one is a successful author, and has mainly worked in the world of comics. It is to him in particular that we owe most of the influential stories of the X-Men during the 1980s-1990s as The Black Phoenix Saga, Days of Future Past or New Mutants.
The sequel to the adventures of Nelwyn arrives on Disney+ on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 through the first season of Willow, which will last 8 episodes.
