Willow [DVD] [1988]

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Kasdan went on to explain how the team found ways to factor Kilmer's character into the story. "We had a lot of ideas about ways to pay it off and ways to leave it open", Kasdan said. "One thing that happened, because Val himself wasn't able to come out to Wales and work with us, was that we added this texture of a friend of Madmartigan's who could give us some clues about his whereabouts and deepen the mystery around what happened to him in a way that actually extended the story we were already telling. It was very satisfying and it provided an opportunity for us to add a whole new element that we didn't expect to the show". Oh well. Maybe it’s best we leave these old stories alone and write new ones instead. Just a thought.

In his post, he explained that they decided to release the main cast to pursue other opportunities, and said Willow wouldn't resume filming in the next 12 months. However, he went on to explain that, "with the enthusiastic and unwavering support of Lucasfilm and Disney, we've developed and written what we hope is a brain-meltingly fun, richer, darker and better VOLUME II, which builds on the characters and story of our first eight chapters (The Wyrm survives!)." Jonathan Kasdan, the creator and showrunner of the Willow series on Disney Plus says that Deadline’s report was mistaken and that while the show is not in production currently, and won’t be for some time, it has not been cancelled. Disney and Lucasfilm have released the actors from their obligation to the show for the time being, which allows them to seek out other roles during the interim, but Kasdan claims they have every intention of producing the next season. That being said, series creator Jonathan Kasdan did release a lengthy statement after news of the Willow series' cancellation broke made it sound like he's somewhat hopeful that the show does still have a future. Some have argued that Kasdan is saving face here, casting the current circumstances around the show in as positive a light as possible. It’s a cancellation in all but name. I think that may be true, but I also think it’s an important distinction. Disney could easily just cancel the show. This happens all the time. Keeping the door open to a potential second and third season has to be purposeful and until we hear otherwise, I think fans of the show should hold out a small sliver of hope. So as I’ve thought about this more, I think the question really is this: What exactly are we supposed to believe? What’s really going on here?It is a wonderful fantasy of heroes, villains, good vs. evil, magic, courage, and bravery. It is timeless and worth every penny. Willow fits in well with the other Lucasfilm franchises, and it is a shame that it didn't do better in theaters, as we probably would have had a few more Lucasfilm action films to fill the gap in the 90's before the first Star Wars prequel was released.Having Willow on DVD is great, I just wish it were a little more fleshed out with the addition of deleted scenes. So, perhaps we will see the Willow gang return for another adventure later down the line... after all, it took 35 years for this sequel series to arrive as is!

What a delightful, fantastical, journey through the earlier days of the munchkins. Not since the Wizard of Oz have I seen than many people of shortened stature grace a movie set and what a shame that is. So much talent, courage, and determination in people who must navigate life in a world designed for giants.

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The show has not been cancelled, Kasdan notes. “The truth is less splashy, but here it is: A decision was made last week to release our main cast for other series opportunities that may arise for them in the coming year.” He also notes that Mims will appear in every single episode of Season 2, which is a curious spoiler. That does not sound like a slam-dunk to me. At all. He says that he feels “fairly confident that, if asked, neither I, nor the folks at Lucasfilm, would or have actually characterized” the news as cancellation. But then what is it? I’m still not sure. Limbo, I guess? The Immemorial City? The tone. A bizarre mix of very modern sounding dialogue with a cast that was primarily late teen / early 20s’ and—for all its diversity—extremely uniform. Did we need five characters in this age demographic when the original film was about a young father and a roguish swordfighter trying to protect a baby with the help of a pair of brownies? Despite the excellent score of the film, the DD 5.1 mix isn't too aggressive. Most of the sound is limited to the front of the soundstage with only vary rare moments when it will spread to the rear surrounds. However, your sub will get some good action in this mix.