#Middlebury
Q: When does the TV series based on the movie “Willow” premiere? How many years ago was the film, and was it based on a book? – A.K.
A: The story of “Willow,” which was previously a film that starred Val Kilmer, Warwick Davis and Joanne Whalley, will soon be continued in a series on Disney+. Davis and Whalley will reprise their roles of the sorcerer and warrior queen, respectively, but reportedly not Kilmer, who has voice issues after battling throat cancer. He also wasn’t able to travel to Wales to shoot due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. Perhaps if the series moves on to a second season, they’ll find a way to include Kilmer.
Ron Howard, the film’s director back in 1988, will serve as a producer on the series. He told “Entertainment Weekly,” “This isn’t a nostalgic throwback. It’s a creative lean forward,” introducing all-new characters and taking place years after the original.
“Willow” didn’t begin as a novel, but according to Ranker.com, it’s considered a “watered-down version of ‘The Lord of the Rings.'” It’s about a “heroic dwarf who just wants to be a sorcerer, tasked with protecting a baby” from an evil queen.
Kilmer does appear briefly in the new “Top Gun” sequel, reprising his iconic character of “Iceman,” and plans to play Mark Twain in a feature film, but that will likely depend on how his voice recovers, if at all.
“Willow” the series begins streaming on Nov. 30 on Disney+.
Ray Liotta in “Goodfellas” (Warner Bros.)
Q: I was so sad to hear about the passing of actor Ray Liotta. I’m pretty certain I saw him on a daytime soap opera before he starred in classic movies like “Goodfellas.” Which soap character did he play? – R.B.
A: Like many stars, Ray Liotta got his first big break on a daytime soap. In his case, it was playing nice guy Joey Perrini on “Another World” from 1978 to 1981. According to Harding Lemay, former head writer of “AW,” Liotta stood out among his peers, eliciting a strong response from the audience. Sadly, he passed away in his sleep May 26 at age 67.
Q: Whatever happened to actor Tim Robbins? He was so good in “Bull Durham” and “Shawshank Redemption,” but I haven’t watched him in anything since. – G.E.
A: Tim Robbins was one of the biggest movie stars of the ’90s. Along with the two notable films you mentioned, he starred in critically acclaimed, indie-type movies like “The Player” and “The Hudsucker Proxy.” In the early 2000s, he won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for “Mystic River,” but for the past decade he’s been working steadily under the radar.
Robbins and co-star Leslie Mann (“This Is 40”) recently departed the upcoming Amazon series “The Power” before it ever really got off the ground. Described as a global sci-fi thriller, it suffered many delays due to the pandemic, and reportedly, Robbins’ role was bumped down to a recurring one before his exit. He’s quickly bounced back with another series, “Wool,” created by Graham Yost (“Justified”) for Apple TV+.
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© 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.
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