The Ewoks’ Return to ‘Star Wars’ Is ‘Inevitable’ According to ‘Willow’ Showrunner Jonathan Kasdan

The Ewoks They first appeared in “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi”, the third part of the original trilogy created by George Lucas. Designed to especially appeal to children, these furry beings from the forest moon of Endor They achieved great popularity in the 1980s, starring in two television movies and an animated series.. However, despite being very popular with children of the time, the Ewoks generated division among older fans of the saga and, over time, were relegated to the past by Lucasfilm, which considers its spin-offs outside the galactic canon. .

Of course, as we well know, everything adds up. In addition to continuing to ride an enduring wave of ’80s nostalgia, we now live in an era of expansion and fertility for “Star Wars,” as Lucasfilm seeks new ways to explore familiar and unseen corners of its far-flung galaxy. , far away. In this context, would a return of the Ewoks be possible? Jonathan Kasdan, son of legendary ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones’ screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, thinks he is “unavoidable” in an interview with eCartelera for the sequel series premiere of ‘Willow,’ another Lucasfilm property that has Warwick Davis and the ’80s in common with the Ewoks, and which he oversees.

“I’m sure there is a way to bring the Ewoks back”says the screenwriter. “Indeed, I’m sure someone somewhere is working on it right now. The wonderful thing about this era of “Star Wars” is that there is an appetite and there is also the energy to tell all kinds of stories, so for every type of “Star Wars” fan, there is someone trying to bring it to life. And I think so [el regreso de] the Ewoks is inevitable and I hope Warwick returns and reprises his other more famous character.”.

After appearing in Episode VI, the Ewoks have starred in two telefilms, “The Adventure of the Ewoks” (1984) and “Battle of the Ewok Planet” (1985), as well as the aforementioned animated series (all available on Disney+, in case you fancy a nostalgic session). Davis, protagonist of ‘Willow’, played Wicket, the most important Ewok of the saga. After several decades of being ostracized, these adorable (or slightly terrifying, depending on how you look at them) creatures made a brief appearance in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” the sequel trilogy finale. His cameo was a cute but insubstantial nod to fans. Will Lucasfilm dare to give them a new title focused on them and maybe clean up their image with it?

If there was an auspicious moment for it, this is it, well exemplified by the return of ‘Willow’. “These stories were at their peak between 1981 and 1989, but all struggled to break through at the box office as other films did at the time”reflects the Kasdan. “Many great films, such as ‘Lady Hawk’ or ‘Inside the Labyrinth’ have not found their audience in theaters, as the studios expected. They share a curious story, because they are all very important in the memory of those who have seen them like children, but they are intact. this is the time to go back and see them again to keep telling those stories, because there’s a lot of love and care for them and the kids who are making movies now are the ones who grew up with them.”.

the modern touch

While ‘Willow’ is part of this wave of nostalgic throwbacks and belated sequels that Disney is capitalizing on so much (‘Return of the Witches 2’, ‘Indiana Jones 5’, ‘Star Wars’ itself), we also find that spirit in it’s renewing and contemporary that cannot be missing in any current work of the studio. So, the series combines the return of old acquaintances with the introduction of a new generation, a group of teenagers take center stage to modernize the 80s classic.

Indeed, Kasdan has experience writing about teenagers in television, since he took his first steps as a screenwriter on teenager series like ‘Dawson’s Grows’ or ‘Freaks and Geeks’. When asked if that experience helped him write the new youthful characters for ‘Willow,’ Kasdan replied. “Totally”.

“One of the things that struck me about ‘Willow’ when I saw it in 1988, that set it apart from other fantasy films, even then, is that Val Kilmer brought a very original sound and rhythm that could only be for are existed in the late 80s. His hair, his voice, his comedic instincts were so specific to that moment that, as the story progressed, we had to contrast Warwick’s timelessness with the same contemporary edge.”Keep it up. “That’s how I brought this group of characters together, each bringing an element of that unique something. And of course, My experience writing young characters is something I’ve leaned on, but only because I still feel like a teenager. I never really grew up. It’s natural for me to write young protagonists and heroines looking for answers to life, because I feel identified with them”.

‘Willow’ opens November 30th on Disney+. Also available in their catalog is the original film, directed by Ron Howard.