Only a few months after the Season 1 finale launched on Disney+, Willow seemingly received the worst sort of information {that a} streaming sequence with the potential for a long term can get: cancellation after only one spherical of episodes. Whereas the early experiences steered that Willow grew to become the third present cancelled by Disney+ within the span of a month, some new feedback from showrunner Jon Kadsan counsel that followers didn’t get the entire story. Because it seems, he had his eye on the leisure business information as properly, and he takes challenge with the experiences that the fantasy sequence was “cancelled.”
Willow introduced Warwick Davis again to the function of Willow Ufgood that he debuted all the way in which again in 1988 within the movie of the identical title, in addition to loads of newcomers. The present ended on a tease of not only one however two extra seasons regardless of not having a assured renewal, with Jon Kasdan explaining why when talking to CinemaBlend again in January.
Now, within the wake of the experiences of cancellation, the showrunner has taken to Twitter to level out that the reality is much more difficult. Writing that he appreciates that “punchy headlines drive clicks,” he feels “pretty assured that, if requested, neither I, nor the oldsters at Lucasfilm, would or have really characterised it” as Willow being cancelled after one season. He continued:
The reality is much less splashy, however right here it’s: A choice was made final week to launch our primary solid for different sequence alternatives which will come up for them within the coming 12 months. With all of the television and films in manufacturing around the globe, it feels unfair to restrict an actor’s availability with no clear sense of once you’re going to want them once more. It’s additional trivialized by the easy actuality that the scripts we’ve been engaged on require simply as many actors (from our first season) with whom no such contractual maintain exists. Nothing prevented Annabelle Davis, for instance, from taking one other present, however you higher imagine Mims seems in each single VOLUME II chapter.
Apparently, the “cancellation” solely goes so far as the principle solid members not being contractually obligated to move on non-Willow tasks over the subsequent 12 months. Forged choices expiring have spelled hassle for reveals previously, with clocks ticking to determine the longer term. For instance, Manifest appeared doomed regardless of rescue efforts on account of solid choices expiring again in 2021 after its NBC cancellation, and Magnum P.I. was near the wire of solid choices expiring final summer season after the CBS cancellation.
In fact, each of these reveals have been in the end saved by different platforms and are simply two examples, so I’m going to embrace Jon Kasdan’s optimism concerning the teased Quantity II coming to Disney+ with returning solid members… ultimately. The showrunner went on to make the purpose that there’s a development in manufacturing on streaming reveals, and this can be a matter of Willow not reentering manufacturing over the course of the subsequent 12 months quite than not reentering manufacturing ever. He continued:
Because of forces a lot bigger and extra intricate than I’d ever fake to totally perceive, manufacturing of streaming reveals is slowing down throughout your entire business, and Willow received’t resume filming within the subsequent 12 months. However right here’s what’s equally true: with the enthusiastic and unwavering help of Lucasfilm and Disney, we’ve developed and written what we hope is a brain-meltingly enjoyable, richer, darker and higher VOLUME II, which builds on the characters and story of our first eight chapters (The Wyrm survives!).
Maybe it’s no surprise that even the showrunner was confused concerning the present’s future earlier this 12 months! His optimism a couple of “brain-meltingly enjoyable” Quantity II means that the subsequent batch of episodes (if and when it ever comes) may very well be much more thrilling than the primary. His point out of manufacturing of streaming reveals “slowing down throughout your entire business” additionally makes me surprise if among the many lately cancelled streaming reveals aren’t fairly as lifeless as they appear. Disney+ did simply axe Huge Shot and The Mighty Geese: Sport Changers, in spite of everything! Take a look at Kasdan’s full assertion:
For now, Willow followers can simply take coronary heart that Jon Kasdan expects the fantasy sequence to get a second season with the help of Lucasfilm and Disney, even when it received’t occur in 2023. For now, you possibly can at all times revisit the eight episodes of Season 1 and the 1988 movie streaming with a Disney+ subscription. You too can discover some upcoming viewing choices with our 2023 TV premiere schedule.
