Actually, Willow might not have been cancelled on Disney Plus
What’s going on with Willow?
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Update:It turns outWillowmight not have been canned after a single season after all.
According to John Kasdan, theDisney Plusshow’s head writer,Willowis merely on hiatus. Even more surprisingly, Kasdan revealed that the fantasy series is likely coming back for a second season – Kasdan explaining as much in a lengthy statement on Twitter.
“I feel fairly confident that, if asked, neither I, nor the good folks at Lucasfilm, would or have actually characterized it [the show’s cancellation] that way,” Kasdan wrote. “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. With all the TV and movies in production around the world, it feels unfair to limit an actor’s availability without a clear sense of when you’re going to need them again.”
Kasdan goes on to write that he’s actually completed the scripts for a second season – Volume II, as he puts it – even thoughWillow’s next installment won’t begin filming in the next 12 months. “We’ve developed and written what we hope is a brain-meltingly fun, richer, darker, and better Volume II,” Kasdan added.
You can read the statement in full in the tweet below:
pic.twitter.com/Di0vEGLyTDMarch 17, 2023
Original story follows.
Willow, the best fantasy TV show on Disney Plus, has been cancelled after one season.
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As first reported byDeadline, the series' spellbinding run on Disney Plus has been unceremoniously cut short, leaving fans devastated that the cult-classic franchise won’t continue past its eight-episode run.
Lucasfilm and Disney haven’t explained whyWillowhas been dumped after a single season. However, with Disney tightening the production purse strings and Lucasfilm re-evaluating its movie and TV show output – the Disney subsidiary has already shelved a number of plannedStar Warsfilms – it appears thatWillowis simply a casualty of the studios' plans to rein in spending and streamline their content map.
These streaming services have created a self-fulfilling prophecy - they keep cancelling shows, so we’re too afraid to watch things in case they get cancelled, and then they cancel them MORE because we’re not watching them. #willow https://t.co/2YMRIgW1flMarch 15, 2023
TheWillowTV series was a small-screen follow-up to the 1988 fantasy film of the same name, which has over the years become a cult classic movie. The sequel show, which saw Warwick Davis return as the titular Nelwyn sorcerer, picked up 20 years after the original flick’s story, and saw six unlikely heroes set out to seek Willow’s help in saving the world once more.
Willowwas an underrated hit following its Disney Plus debut, the series garnering an 83% certified fresh rating on review aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes. Despite proving popular with fans and critics alike, however, it hasn’t done enough to earn a second season on Disney’s primary streamer. Still, if nothing else, it’ll continue to be one of thebest Disney Plus showsaround, in our opinion.
If you’re interested in reading about its development, check out ourexclusive chat withWillow’s cast about how “everything aligned perfectly"to make the TV series.
A fantastical show that deserved another run-out
Willowwasn’t as successful as other Lucasfilm-led TV projects, such asThe MandalorianorAndor. Its positioning as a TV sequel to a somewhat niche fantasy film didn’t appear to help it win over casual viewers; and, with the show releasing in November 2022, it likely struggled to compete with some of thebest Netflix showsthat launched around the same time, such as megahit seriesWednesdayandThe Crownseason 5, and1899.
Even so, it deserved better than to be cancelled after one season.Willowfound a delightful balance between honoring the original film and breathing new life into its franchise. The series' pleasing approach to LGBT-plus and sapphic representation, expansion of a fantastically-developed universe, and family-friendly focus (albeit one with some thematically dark elements) positioned it as a wholly inclusive TV show, too. In short, there was plenty to admire aboutWillowon Disney Plus.
As other TV shows on Disney Plus – as well as those unlucky projects that have been cancelled onNetflix,Prime Video, and other streaming platforms – have found out, though, such positives don’t guarantee a TV series' renewal. Just look atNetflix’s popular1899TV series, which was canned after a single season, or the recentcancellation ofThree Pineson Prime Video, also after one season.
Disney Plus doesn’t have many traditional fantasy shows in its back catalog. Sure, TV series housed within some of its biggest franchises, includingStar WarsandMarvel, dabble in the fantasy genre. Other third-party licensed series, such asBuffy the Vampire Slayer, can be considered fantasy shows in certain lights, too.
It’s a shame, then, that one of Disney’s most singular fantasy series has been scrapped so soon after its debut. TheWillowfranchise deserves better than being cast aside in this manner, particularly as – outside ofStar WarsandIndiana Jones–Willowis Lucasfilm’s most well-known entertainment property. Here’s hoping it’s not another 35 years beforeWillowreturns to the big or small screen.
For more Disney Plus-based coverage, read about thebest Disney Plus moviesaround. Alternatively, find out about all of thenew Disney Plus moviesyou can stream right now.
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