1988 fantasy adventure film Willow had its reputation tainted a little recently, when Disney made the decision to delete the sequel series from Disney+. While the show was not given the best reception, fans were even less impressed when the show vanished without trace, making it unavailable to watch anywhere, in any form. However, they may be appeased by the news that the original movie is about to get a huge 4K Blu-ray upgrade.
Willow is a fantasy adventure that was written by Star Wars creator George Lucas, directed by Ron Howard, and starred Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer as the titular would-be sorcerer and a disgraced knight who assists him on a quest, respectively. The film is regarded as a cult classic, and has continued to grow its fanbase over the last three decades, particularly among fans of Kilmer.
While the revival of the franchise arrived in the form of a TV series released on Disney+ in 2022, it was seen as a huge misfire, partly for its bizarre mix of combining the old fantasy world with some overly modern dialogue, punchy closing pop songs, and a focus on delivering real-world social commentary over a story that fully immersed itself in the world of the movie. Now, Disney may actually be making up for all the disappointments the series brought with their new update on the original film.
Willow Fans Are Finally Being Given Some Good News
MGM/UA Distribution Co.
The new 4K Blu-ray edition of Willow is the first time the film has been available in the format on double-disc. While the release date of December 10 has been announced, there has been no word on what extras fans can expect other than it will be available in a steelbook format. As per Disney’s press release:
“Fans will enjoy the iconic fantasy epic, Willow, from legendary filmmakers, George Lucas and Ron Howard, when it arrives on December 10th in a breathtaking collectible 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook. The film will also be available to buy on digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home. Nominated for two Oscars, the 1988 timeless classic follows a young farmer, Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis), who is chosen to undertake a perilous journey to protect a special baby from an evil queen.”
Related Willow Creator Jonathan Kasdan Is ‘Kinda Into’ the Series’ Removal from Disney+
Willow is one of the many titles being removed from Disney+ and Hulu this Friday.
Willow is a movie that was made at a time when imagination was the name of the game, and its dark fairy tale quality, incredible visual effects for the time, and strong performances from the cast, have ensured that it has not been lost to the past. With the new Blu-ray release, Willow is coming home to take away some of the disappointment about the show’s demise, although it is also going to take away a large chunk of cash from the pockets of those who purchase it. Currently up for pre-order at $65, there are some who are still not quite ready to forgive Disney’s treatment of Willow just yet.
Release Date May 20, 1988
Runtime 126
Studio Fox Searchlight Pictures
Tagline Adventure doesn’t come any bigger than this.
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