"Willow and the Princess" series trailer (Disney Plus)
Warrick Davis stands six feet tall, but what he has done in his career, a million players taller than him have not done together.
In a forty-year career, he was a partner in two of the most successful film series in history, "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter", as well as the "Narnia" and "Leprechaun" film series.
In addition, Davis also starred in other films.
Chief among them - "Willow and the Princess", which was released in 1988, reached the 12th place in the box-office chart of that year, and gained over time a semi-cult status.
It was clear that at some point there would be a sequel, and it is indeed happening now.
As the spirit of the times, the pledge is not a motion picture.
This is a series whose first season will be released on Disney Plus on Wednesday, November 30.
As you remember, the original movie takes place in a kingdom where there is a war between good and evil.
The evil queen hears that according to the prophecy, a new born baby will become a princess and cause her miscarriage, and tries to get her claws on her.
Well-wishers of the baby place her on a makeshift raft and, like Moses, send her down the river until she reaches a village of lowly people.
This is where Willow comes into the picture, a short farmer who takes care of her.
"Willow and the Princess" is an integral part of many people's childhoods.
Warrick Davis at the premiere of "Willow" (Photo: GettyImages, Jeff Spicer)
Willow also returns to the series, again played by Davis, and again into a war between good and evil.
You can't say more than that, because the plot twists start already in the first episode.
It is only said that in the spirit of the times, the series has much more gender and ethnic diversity as well as LGBT characters, and also that everything happens with greater and more dramatic intensities than in the film. Above all, the series has the influence of "Game of Thrones" and "House of the Dragon", and sometimes it resembles them more than the cinematic classic that inspired it.
Another difference - Willow is older this time, because so is Davis alive.
He was only 18 years old when the original film was released, and today he is already 52. "I am older, but also wiser," says the British actor in a Zoom call with several journalists from around Europe, including myself.
"I'm not trying to fight old age, and I'm not trying to look boyish. I've gained a lot of experience, and I'm trying to use it to add volume and weight to the character. In the original movie, Willow was optimistic. In the series, challenging things happen to him that he's never experienced, and they put that optimism to the test." .
You must be tired of hearing people say they grew up on "Willow and the Princess".
"It's true, many people told me that. The film is an inseparable part of many people's childhoods, and therefore the series had to remain faithful to its charm and humor. At the same time, we also had to bring a new audience to it, who are not familiar with the film. I think we did good luck with that,
More in Walla!
"Mila Shela" is a story about a woman who is the pride of the Jewish people, and a man who is a shame for the Jewish people
To the full article
Inspiring.
Warrick Davis in "Willow" (Photo: Disney Plus)
It is too short to detail the full work of Davis, whose growth was stunted in childhood due to a genetic defect.
On his official Twitter page he defines himself as an "actor, TV presenter, producer, director, spouse and father, and also happens to be short".
In addition to this, the star also heads Little People UK, an organization that supports people in a similar situation to his.
In the past, Davis has said that he hesitates to define what he has as a "disability", but at least in conversation with me, he uses that term.
"I am a person with a disability, and I speak for all people with disabilities when I say that this world does not make life easy for us," the actor declares.
"Every day, we come across something that doesn't work for us. I don't see these things as an obstacle. I see these things as a challenge, and a challenge is something that can be overcome with willpower, determination and thought."
What do you think is the most challenging thing in your life?
"The biggest challenges are physical. The world is a big place for me, and the older I get, the harder it is for me. I've always had to stand on a stool to reach things, and today it's harder for me than before. All my life I've faced challenges, and I love challenges ".
When you broke out with Willow and the Princess, there was no social media.
Today, almost every star is active in the networks, and so are you.
What are your feelings about this?
"The problem with social media is that people judge you there even if you didn't ask - and it's hard. It's hard for me, and it's certainly hard for young people who are just starting their way in the world."
In "Willow and the Princess" you were a child prodigy, here you worked with many actors and actresses in their early twenties, that is, two generations below you.
What is your impression of the younger generation?
"What I love about this generation is that they value the very fact that they are alive, value the fact that they are healthy, and value that they have a future. Youth is something that must be cherished, because it is something you lose and never get back. In the series, Willow knows that his youth is gone And they will not return, and this is what shapes his personality and approach to life."
From this week on Disney Plus.
From "Willow" (Photo: Disney Plus)
The story of "Willow and the Princess" was conceived by George Lucas back in 1972.
Five years later he directed "Star Wars" and in 1983 he met Davis for the first time on the set of the third episode of the series, "Return of the Jedi", in which the actor appeared in a small role at the age of 13. This connection continued in "Willow and the Princess", which was directed by Ron Howard, who signed on as a producer on the television version.
The one who developed the new series is John Kasdan, whose father Lawrence participated in writing several films in the "Star Wars" series.
Father and son collaborated together a few years ago on Solo: A Star Wars Story, which Howard directed.
"My father did not write the first 'Star Wars'. He joined the series in the second film, 'The Empire Strikes Back,' but he had enough self-confidence in his writing to fit into the glorious legacy. From my father, I learned how important it is to believe in yourself," Kasdan says.
"Almost everyone who writes on television these days is based on stories and characters invented by others, so I'm no exception. When I approached the project, I knew it was a big challenge, because 'Willow' is a beloved brand that I didn't invent, but I also knew that if I was as confident as my father - I can meet this challenge."
"Jewish identity shaped my personality and the series."
Creator John Kasdan at the premiere of "Willow" (Photo: GettyImages, Jeff Spicer)
Both your parents are Jewish.
How much does this identity affect you when you write a series like "Willow", which deals, among other things, with the other, minorities and persecution?
"That's a good question. I grew up in a liberal Jewish home and that's what shaped my personality, and the importance I attach to the value of accepting the other. It's something I inherited from my parents and they in turn inherited from their parents."
"My parents were always proud of their identity and their heritage, but on the other hand they always asked questions about their faith, and the characters in 'Willow' are also constantly trying to understand what they believe and what they don't. The practice of faith comes from the home where I grew up, so your question is spot on."
Your father was part of the generation that reinvented Hollywood, but you're not trying to do that anymore - you're just moving it to TV.
"Films carry a burden today - they have to bomb on the first weekend. 'Willow' is a beloved film, but not on the level of 'Star Wars' or 'Indiana Jones,' and it was clear that it would be difficult for it to fill theaters in the first days of its screening, so obviously Also that television is the right place for him. I think it's a natural transition, because even the original film has a comic rhythm that corresponds with television - and Bob Dolman, who wrote the script for the film, came from television."
culture
TV
TV from abroad
Tags
Disney Plus
George Lucas
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/SWA3YXJH7NEJTH7RDLHM44VVRE.jpg)
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/DQGB2T2A6BCRPADKKCEC7T3Q3E.jpg)
