Summary
Watching Netflix’sThe Decameronmakes me bitter again about what Disney+ did to theWillowseries. Lucasfilm’s 1988 filmWillownever became a popular culture phenomenon the wayStar WarsorRaiders of the Lost Arkdid, with both projects going on to launch highly successful and beloved franchises. Nevertheless,Willowgained an enthusiastic fanbase over the years, eventually leading toDisney’sWillowsequel series, with season 1’s episodes releasing on Disney+ in late 2022 and early 2023.
Warwick Davis reprised his role as the titular Willow, and Joanne Whalley returned to play her role as Sorsha from the original film. They were joined by an impressive cast of newcomers, including Amar Chadha-Patel as the roguish Thraxus Boorman, Erin Kellyman as the courageous knight-in-training, Jade, and Tony Revolori as the bookish Prince Graydon. Despite receiving an 84% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, Disney+ canceled the series, and then did something even worse.
Willow: Hannah Waddingham Cameoed As Hubert For An Incredibly Sweet Reason
Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham has a cameo as Hubert in episode 3 of the Disney+ series Willow, and her casting has a unique and sweet backstory.
The Decameron Stars Amar Chadha-Patel From Willow, Which Was Canceled & Removed From Disney+
Amar Chadha-Patel And The Rest Of Willow’s Cast & Crew Deserved Better
As someone who greatly enjoyed Chadha-Patel’s hilarious and endearing performance as Boorman inWillow, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing him as Tindaro’s doctor,Dioneo, inThe Decameron. The comedy he brought toThe Decameronreminded me once again of his tremendous skills as an actor, andhow frustrating it is that Chadha-Patel’s portrayal of Boorman can no longer be continuedand cannot even be seen anymore. Disney+ not only canceledWillowafter season 1, but removed the series entirely from their streaming platform.
TheWillow serieswas one of many Disney+ originals to be removed alongsideThe World According to Jeff Goldblum,The Mysterious Benedict Society,Stargirl, and many others. This was done as a cost-effective measure that gave Disney a tax break and saved them money on paying residuals and licensing fees, but is an insult to everyone involved inWillowand the other content removed, along with everyone who watched and still wants to watch these stories.Willowis now unavailable to stream anywhere and is not available as physical media either.
Willow Deserved A Second Season
Season 1 Was Great, And Many Promising Storylines Needed To Be Continued
This section contains spoilers from Willow season 1.Before it was removed from Disney+,Willownever should have been canceled in the first place. Chadha-Patel, Davis, and the rest of the cast quickly developed excellent chemistry, with their eclectic group of characters trading witty banter, going on daring adventures, and having their fair share of genuinely heartfelt moments. The series forged its own distinct identity and tone while naturally extending and building off the fantasy and core themes of the original film. Chadha-Patel’s Boorman was a great example of this, as he was connected to Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) and fulfilled his archetype, but still made Boorman truly unique.
Why Val Kilmer Isn’t In The Willow TV Show
Val Kilmer is not in the Willow TV show that serves as a sequel to the 1988 movie, and here is why he did not return as Madmartigan in the series.
In addition to these strengths,Willowprovided positive LGBTQIA+ representationwith the romance between Jade and Ruby Cruz’s character, Princess Kit Tanthalos, the daughter of Queen Sorsha and Madmartigan. I was overjoyed to see a love story between two young women at the forefront of a mainstream, family-friendly fantasy series, furthering the romantic spirit of the original film. With both Jade and Kit survivingWillowseason 1, the series did not follow the problematic"bury your gays"trope, and I looked forward to their relationship and its much-needed representation continuing in season 2.
Killing EveandOrange is the New Blackare among the many popular stories that ended up following the “bury your gays” trope.
WhileWillowbecame a worthy sequel, many of its story threads were left unresolved. The finale’s post-credits scene featuring three volumes on a bookshelf teased a three-season plan, with showrunner Jon Kasdan later discussing details pertaining to this. At the end ofWillowseason 1, the threat of the villainous Wyrm still loomed as the heroes began their long journey home after defeating the Crone, Graydon was revealed to have survived despite his sacrifice, and woke up in a vision where Elora Danan (Ellie Bamber) commanded an army of monsters serving the Wyrm.
Due to Disney+’s cancelation, none of these intriguing cliffhangers can now be resolved, unless the series is somehow revived one day. Graydon falling under the control of the Wyrm and his vision of Elora embracing evil instead of good was especially tantalizing to me given the two characters' history and their season 1 arcs. I also wanted the Wyrm to be fleshed out more in season 2, as it worked as an overarching villain while the heroes took on its minions in season 1, and season 2 could have delved further into its true nature.
Willow’s Cancelation & Removal Is Part Of A Larger Problem
Too Much Content Is Being Erased
As disappointed as I was byWillow’s cancelation, I was happy that I could still re-watch season 1, until Disney+ took away this option as well. They are not the only streamer to remove content and never release it as physical media, with Paramount+ and Max being among the others to do so. Just because Disney+ is not the only one to do this does not make it acceptable, though, asit is now a widespread problem that so many stories are being made inaccessible.
If these streaming services are going to continue doing this, they need to at least make the content available to purchase as physical media. I would absolutely buy aWillowseason 1 DVD, which would ideally include the hilariousWillow: Behind the Magicfeature that was released on Disney+ and that was also later removed. Too many people poured too much time and effort intoWillowand other stories to have them become inaccessible for the sake of tax breaks.
Willow
Cast
Based on the 1988 film of the same name,Willowfollows a Nelwyn magician and an infant girl who are destined to unite their realms. Set over twenty years after the film’s events; Willow sees a ragtag crew of heroes led by the titular Willow Ufgood as they journey to stop the Gales, an evil group set on conquering the world.
