“Willow” is a 1988 fantasy adventure film directed by Ron Howard and produced by Nigel Wooll, with George Lucas as the executive producer and writer of the story. The film features Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood, a small farmer and apprentice magician who embarks on a quest to protect a special baby from an evil queen. Alongside him is Madmartigan, a skilled swordsman played by Val Kilmer, and together they navigate a world filled with magic and monsters.
The movie was a significant project for its time, with groundbreaking visual effects, including a pioneering use of digital morphing technology by Industrial Light & Magic. Despite mixed reviews and a modest box office performance upon release, “Willow” has gained a cult following over the years.
Behind the scenes, “Willow” had the largest casting call for little people in movie history, with George Lucas writing the title role specifically for Warwick Davis. The film also featured creative nods to film critics, with characters named after them, such as the two-headed dragon “Eborsisk,” a reference to critics Siskel & Ebert, and the villain General Kael, inspired by critic Pauline Kael.
For more fascinating insights, there’s a documentary titled “Willow: The Making of an Adventure,” which includes interviews with the cast and crew and scenes from the actual filming.
