Willow (TV series)

***Willow*** is an American high fantasy adventure television series based on and serving as a sequel to the 1988 film of the same name. Produced by Lucasfilm and MGM Television, the series was mostly filmed in Wales in April 2021, and premiered on the streaming service Disney+ on November 30, 2022.

In March 2023, the series was canceled after only one season, though Jonathan Kasdan stated that the series was on hiatus. Kasdan noted that Season 2 had already been written and expressed his hopes that it would be made. Reporters noted that the cancellation occurred as media companies, including Disney+, were seeking to reduce costs for streaming content in order to increase profitability.

The series was removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023, amidst a Disney+ and Hulu content-removal purge, as part of a broader cost-cutting initiative under Disney CEO Bob Iger.

## Premise

It has been more than 20 years since Queen Bavmorda was defeated. An unlikely group of six heroes sets off on a dangerous quest to places far beyond their home where they must face their inner demons and come together to save their world from the Gales.

## Cast and characters

### Main

* Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood, a Nelwyn sorcerer; who leads a party to rescue the twin brother of Kit Tanthalos.
* Ellie Bamber as Elora Danan, the future empress of Tir Asleen, disguised as a kitchen maid named "Dove"; who is in love; with Airk and joins the quest to save him from the Gales. She was previously portrayed; by Kate Greenfield, Ruth Greenfield, Rebecca Bearman, Kristen Lang, Isla Brentwood, Laura Hopkirk and Gina Nelson as an infant in the film. Alayna Jacobs portrays a 5-year-old Elora. Bamber also portrays the Wyrm in "Children of the Wyrm".
* Ruby Cruz asKit Tanthalos, the princess of Tir Asleen; who sets in motion a quest to rescue her twin brother, Airk.
* Erin Kellyman as Jade, a knight-in-training. She is the long-lost daughter of Kael and Kit's love interest; who joins in the quest to save Prince Airk. The relationship between Kit and Jade makes the series "the first true franchise on Disney Plus to really center a queer story", according to Polygon.
* Tony Revolori as Graydon, the prince of Galladoorn and member of the quest. Benjamin Revolori, Tony Revolori's younger brother, portrays a younger Graydon.
* Amar Chadha-Patel as Thraxus Boorman, an imprisoned, self-proclaimed treasure hunter and swordsman; who claims to have a history; with Madmartigan. He is offered freedom from the dungeon; by Sorsha if he joins her daughter's quest.
* Dempsey Bryk as Airk, Kit's twin brother; who is kidnapped; by the Gales

### Guest

* Joanne Whalley as Queen Sorsha, an accomplished warrior, the ruler of Tir Asleen, the wife of Madmartigan and the daughter of Bavmorda. Sorsha has; since become the mother of Kit and Airk, and the guardian of Elora.
* Ralph Ineson as Ballantine, Jade's adoptive father and the loyal servant of Sorsha.
* Sifiso Mazibuko as Merrick, a soldier working under Ballantine.
* Kenny Knight as Keene, a soldier working under Ballantine.
* Derek Horsham as Hastur, the king of Galladoorn and Graydon's father.
* Talisa Garcia as Arianna, the queen of Galladoorn and Graydon's mother.
* Eileen Davies as Prunella, a senior servant of Sorsha; who "Dove" answers to.
* Simon Armstrong as Jorgen Kase, a warrior and trainer of Airk.
* Joonas Suotamo as the Scourge, a hulking monstrosity; who wears a cage over his head and a member of the Gales.
* Daniel Naprous as the Doom, a hooded, robed and the masked member of the Gales.
* Vitas Le Bas as the Lich, a member of the Gales; who infects Ballantine.
* Claudia Hughes as the Dag, a shape-shifting member of the Gales.
* Simeon Dyer as Karthy, a Nelwyn; who is Willow's apprentice.
* Graham Hughes as Silas, a gruff Nelwyn warrior and a friend of Willow.
* Annabelle Davis as Mims, Willow's daughter. She was previously portrayed; by Dawn Downing in the film.
* Sarah Bennett as Libby, Silas' wife.
* Hannah Waddingham and Caoimhe Farren as Hubert and Anne, two forest women awaiting the arrival of Elora Danan. Executive producer and writer, Wendy Mericle, has said that the intent, at least for her, was for Hubert and Anne to be a married lesbian couple.
* Jane Carr as the voice of the Crone, the leader of the Gales. Chus Lucas and Annabel Canavan serve as the stunt doubles of the Crone.
	+ Rosabell Laurenti Sellers portrays the Crone's form of Lili, a mysterious woman whom Airk meets in the Immemorial City. Like the Crone, Lucas and Canavan serve as the stunt doubles of the Crone.
* Jean Marsh as Queen Bavmorda, the deceased mother of Queen Sorsha and the grandmother of Kit and Airk, who was defeated by Willow. Archive footage of Marsh from the film was used for flashbacks in this show where Marsh also recorded additional dialogue for "The Whispers of Nockmaar".
* Mario Revolori as Dermot, the older brother of Graydon and the son of King Hastur and Queen Ariana who died falling from a tree when Graydon was infected by an unknown illness.
* Sallyanne Law as Mother, the deceased mother of Elora Danan, who was killed on Bavmorda’s orders. Archive footage was used for flashbacks in this show where Law also recorded additional dialogue for "The Whispers of Nockmaar".
* Mark Slaughter and Sam Witwer as Lord Kael, Queen Bavmorda's enforcer and right-hand man, who would later be revealed to be the first Bone Reaver and the father of Jade and Scorpia. Slaughter provides the physical stunt performance for Lord Kael mixed with archive footage while Witwer provides the uncredited voice of Lord Kael. He was previously portrayed by Pat Roach in the film.
* Kevin Pollak as Rool, a brownie and former travel companion of Willow and Madmartigan. While Rool remained in his home, Franjean was mentioned to have headed south.
* Amelia Vitale as Ganush, a Brownie who is the daughter of Rool through Franjean's ex-wife.
* Adwoa Aboah as Scorpia, the leader of the Bone Reavers, Lord Kael's daughter, Boorman's former lover, and Jade's long-lost older sister
* Charlie Rawes as Lori Toth, a Bone Reaver who is insecure about his first name.
* Christian Slater as Allagash, a prisoner in Skellin who was a companion of Madmartigan and Boorman.
* Tom Wilton as Sarris, a polite-speaking troll and chief administrator of the Dread Mines of Skellin whose tribe is in league with the Crone.
* Dee Tails as Falken, a gruff-speaking troll and Sarris' brother.
* Danny Woodburn as the voice of Wiggleheim, a late Nelwyn sorcerer whose voice was heard in his tomb giving riddles to access his treasure.
* Julian Glover as Zeb, an old fisherman and former paladin of Cashmere who lives by the Shattered Sea.

Val Kilmer appears as Madmartigan via archive footage from the *Willow* film. His son, Jack, provided Madmartigan's voice in "Prisoners of Skellin" and "Children of the Wyrm".

## References

1. ↑ James Newton Howard to Compose Music for Disney+ Series 'Willow' (September 8, 2021).
2. ↑ Nisbet, Megan (December 26, 2022). The TV shows of 2022 that showcased just how magnificent Wales is (en).
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Andreeva, Nellie (March 15, 2023). 'Willow' Canceled After One Season On Disney+ (en-US).
4. ↑ Zilko, Christian (March 18, 2023). 'Willow' Showrunner Clarifies That the Disney+ Series Isn't Actually Cancelled. *IndieWire*.
5. ↑ Weatherbed, Jess (2023-05-19). Over 50 shows are being pulled from Disney Plus and Hulu (en-US).

## External links

* *Willow* at Disney Wiki
* *Willow (TV series)* at the Internet Movie Database