Ron Howard is looking forward to directing an episode of Willow if the series is picked up for a second season. Howard directed the original 1988 film and serves as an executive producer for the Disney+ series. The series serves as a sequel to the original film, with Warwick Davis reprising the role of the titular sorcerer. Set 20 years after the original, Willow is now leading a rescue mission to stop an unknown evil.
In conversation with EW, Howard expressed his disappointment as time constraints kept him from directing any episodes during the series’ first season. While he would like to direct an episode if season two comes to fruition, he relayed a cautious warning:
Howard was involved as an executive producer, something he told the publication was a good fit for him:
“I wouldn’t want to make any promises as I’ve already got a few things that I’m dreaming of doing. But if we’re fortunate enough to be able to carry on with the show, I am going be as involved as I can be, as I was this season, because it means a lot to me.”
“I didn’t have to be the bearer of bad news at any point. But I offered up notes, criticisms and ideas. That’s the way I was utilized and activated. There were discussions about where the season would go and how the episodes would unfold, and I participated in that. But once the overarching shape of the first season and the launch into the adventure was defined, and once the key cast members were in place, it fell completely on Jon [Kasdan]’s shoulders.”
Jonathan Kasdan and Ron Howard’s Creative Partnership
20th Century Fox
Showrunner Jonathan Kasdan is the son of Star Wars screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, and the duo co-wrote Solo: A Star Wars Story, which Howard directed. Reviving Willow was something Howard wanted to do, but it wasn’t until his collaboration with Kasdan that a plan fell into place. According to Howard, there may be other joint efforts between the two in the future:
Howard is a seasoned vet in the film industry, beginning his illustrious career as a child actor on series like The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days. He exited Happy Days in 1980 to pursue his behind the camera ambitions. Howard has served as a producer, writer and/or director, on films including Night Shift, Splash, Cocoon, Backdraft, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, and The Beatles: Eight Days a Week, among others.
“He and I were just talking about other areas [we could collaborate]. He’s a different generation. He’s very smart, very funny. He’s a friend, and a great, young, creative mind. The truth is we were talking about what corners of the world should we be looking for stuff in addition to what we’ve done together already,” he told EW.
In 1988, he directed Willow, which starred Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Davis and Jean Marsh. The screenplay was written by Bob Dolman adapted from a story by George Lucas.
Kasdan is a screenwriter, director, producer and actor, best known for his work on Freaks and Geeks, Dawson’s Creek, and Dreamcatcher. The first season of Willow, starring Davis, Ellie Bamber, Ruby Cruz, Erin Kellyman, Tony Revolori, Amar Chadha-Patel and Dempsey Bryk, concluded on January 11th. It is available to stream on Disney+.
