On Thursday, Lucasfilm released the first trailer for Willow, the upcoming Disney+ original series which serves as a sequel to the classic 1988 fantasy film.
As we saw in first look at the show, Warwick Davis is back in his role as Willow Ufgood for the new adventure, as is Joanne Whalley as Sorsha, but much of the conversation surrounding the trailer drop centred on a certain Val Kilmer, and whether we might see him making his own return as the mercenary Madmartigan.
Well, it seems we have our answer, as executive producer Jonathan Kasdan (Solo: A Star Wars Story) has confirmed to Yahoo that “Madmartigan lives on” and Kilmer will indeed be part of the series “in a big way” – although perhaps not physically in the first season, at least.
“Val’s a huge part of this, and the first conversation I had, when Warwick and I got the greenlight to do this, was with Val,” said Kasdan. “We wanted his character to be a part of the story. We wanted him to be in the show. Because we were shooting during [the COVID-19 lockdowns], he wasn’t able to come to Wales and shoot with us. But he is in the show in a big way. And we’re pretty excited about it… Madmartigan lives on.”
“Val’s spirit is very much with the series,” added Davis. “[He and I] have been in touch since we made the movie, and we’re good friends and he’s a terrific guy. I still attribute me getting through the film to Val. He kept my spirits up when conditions were really treacherous and difficult. I was cold, wet, tired. He kept me laughing, kept the whole thing fun. Madmartigan lives on.”
SEE ALSO: Lucasfilm’s Willow sequel series gets a new trailer and poster
Kilmer has battled throat cancer in recent years which sadly resulted in him losing his voice. Nevertheless, the actor has continued working and can currently be seen making a cameo as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick.
An epic period fantasy series with a modern sensibility set in an enchanted land of breathtaking beauty, “Willow” began with an aspiring magician from a Nelwyn village and an infant girl destined to unite the realms, who together helped destroy an evil queen and banish the forces of darkness. Now, in a magical world where brownies, sorcerers, trolls, and other mystical creatures flourish, the adventure continues, as an unlikely group of heroes set off on a dangerous quest to places far beyond their home, where they must face their inner demons and come together to save their world.
Willow features the returning Warwick Davis and Joanne Whalley, along with Erin Kellyman, Ellie Bamber, Tony Revolori, Amer Chadha-Patel, Dempsey Bryk, Talisa Garcia, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers and Ralph Ineson.
Willow will premiere on Disney+ on November 30th.
Originally published June 1, 2022. Updated September 24, 2022.
