The new “Willow” Disney+ series is inspired by Val Kilmer’s Madmartigan

Of all the life-changing cinema that premiered in the 1980s, Jonathan Kasdan chose Willow as the first “marking the time” movie in its existence. “It was psychologically important to me in my development,” Kasdan explains. diverse. “You’d be shocked at how many people say, ‘Oh, I saw that movie, shit scared me when I was a kid.'” ”

Directed by Ron Howard (34) and executive produced by George Lucas, the 1988 fantasy film is about a lousy wizard named Willow (played by 17-year-old Warwick Davis) who is tasked with protecting a magical child in every way. of treachery. Its combination of revolutionary visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic – including the transformation of an army of men into roaring pigs – along with powerful performances from Jean Marsh, Val Kilmer and Davis all delivered with a touch of magic is what helped keep on “Willow” in the hearts of the VHS generation.

This made such a lasting impression on Kasdan, in fact, that he kept bringing it up on the set of “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”

“He was always talking about Death Dogs and Bavmorda and Raziel,” recalls Howard, who directed the “Star Wars” prequel from a screenplay by Kasdan and his father, Lawrence Kasdan. “I was trying to focus on the galaxy far, far away.”

Between his direct connection with Howard and Davis (who plays a small role in “Solo”), and his unabashed enthusiasm for all things “Willow,” Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was convinced Kasdan was the obvious candidate to sponsor the new “Willow.” Series and their fantasy world for Disney +.

The big question was: how?

After multiple rewatches of the original, the answer is evident in the character of Madmartigan, the sword-wielding lover played by Kilmer.

“Val is such a definite and crucial part of its charm because it was such an outlandish thing for a fantasy movie,” Kasdan explains. “You look at Tom Cruise in ‘Legend’ doing Puck in ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Or Rutger Hauer in ‘Ladyhawke’ and it’s all English-y leaning ideas about fantasy. Then comes Val who’s a surfer boy from California, He literally stumbles into the movie with such physical strength and humor that it couldn’t have been there any moment before the moment it happens.”

Kasdan used Madmartigan as the tone arranger for the series, leaning towards The Young, the Restless, the Drama—allAnd the Qualities familiar to him from his years writing episodes of “Dawson’s Creek.” He also brought a youthful feel to the new “Willow,” with Gen Z slang songs and rock covers playing the credits. But while Kilmer can’t be at the center of the series for health reasons — Kasdan described his involvement as “limited” — the star’s absence is part of the story.

More importantly, Kasdan honored Kilmer’s young spirit by casting a new ensemble cast, starting with newcomer Robbie Cruz, who plays Mad Martigan’s daughter Kate Tanthalos.

“Ruby has emerged to me as an antidote to many of the challenges of this,” says Kasdan. “When she came to read, it reminded me of Val’s spirit. Not that she was imitating the thing at all, but she was a contemporary actress in fiction, and that was great for us.”

Kasdan kept fumbling over the script with each new cast member until Erin Keleman, who had already worked with Kasdan on “Solo.”

“I had no idea how funny it was [Kellyman] It was,” Kasdan says. “As the season progresses, she has more and more opportunities to do what she does naturally, which is very dry, deadpan comedy.”

Cruz and Keleman join Tony Revolori, Ellie Bamber, Amar Chadha Patel and original cast members Gwan Whalley and Davis two decades after the conclusion of the first film. Keeping things as close as possible to the original, the new company filmed at the same locations as the first ‘Willow’ throughout Wales.

Kasdan spent 11 months abroad trying to bring The Wizarding World to life, which was exacerbated by pre-production coronavirus complications. When things went wrong, Kasdan found himself seeking advice from a different Hollywood kingdom: the “Game of Thrones” show. runnersAnd the David Benioff and Dan Weiss, who shot extensively in the UK. The Willow duo helped put together a cast and paired up with horse master Camila Nabrus, whose father had worked on the original film.

While Kasdan knows Willow will flirt with the “Thrones” and “Lord of the Rings” crowd, he’s well aware of the differences. Where “episodes” often require a build-up of elven knowledge, and “thrones” involve preparatory violence, Lucasfilm has one lower bar to go in and enjoy.

“These were for everyone,” he says. “If you have even just a casual affection for the genre, you can go on a journey with the characters. I hope [that] Display distinguishes a little. It’s only intended to be fun—eight hours of entertainment.”

While Kilmer was inspired by the humor and swagger, Kasdan maintains that Willow’s heart and soul is still with Davis. The series follows the story of the struggling magician, “but his real charm and magic is his heart and devotion to those around him, his family and friends,” says Kasdan.

20 years later, a lot has changed for Davis. Now the actor has grown up children, who joined him in the production of “Willow”. His daughter Annabelle Davis plays Mims, son of Willow, while his son Harrison Davis served as a body double in a future episode. But Wizard Willow is still struggling.

“Back in the movie, I always said Willow [that] “The magic hurts,” Howard says. “There were times when he would cast a spell and use the wand and it would actually feel like he had burned his hand or injured his arm or something. So it wasn’t something Willow could do and execute casually. He had that ability, but there was a price to pay. with it.”

This pain will be explored as the therapist and Chosen Child (currently a young adult) reunite to continue their story in the Disney+ series. That’s all longtime fan Kasdan wants – to continue Willow’s story.

“There was no mechanism driving this to happen,” says Kasdan, referring to the slew of old IPs being rebooted or revived in Hollywood. “The only thing that made this happen was that we loved him. That Ron loved her and that Warwick felt that she was.” [right]. It was born out of a desire to keep telling the story.”