Tag: Jonathan Kasdan

Posted on in Television News

‘Willow’: Lucasfilm Hires ‘Power Rangers’ Director Jonathan Entwistle To Helm Disney+ Series

Lucasfilm has finally found their replacement for Jon M. Chu on their sequel series Willow on Disney+. This news from The Hollywood Reporter comes after the Crazy Rich Asians director announced his exit from the project citing an upcoming baby as the reasoning behind leaving directing duties on the fantasy show’s pilot.

The studio has now reportedly hired Jonathan Entwistle for the pilot but it’s unknown who else will be directing episodes.

Jonathan is likely best known for the series End of The F***ing World, and he was recently hired to tackle the latest feature film reboot of the Power Rangers as Hasbro has big plans for the franchise after acquiring the property. 

The cast includes Warwick Davis reprising the role of Willow Ufgood, Erin Kellyman (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Green Knight) is said to be up for the role of Jade, Cailee Spaeny (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Bad Times At The El Royale) playing Kit, English actress Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals) as Dove, and Tony Revolori in talks for a role.

According to Lucasfilm, production on Willow is set to begin this March in Wales.

WILLOW – Enter the world of Willow. Journey to the far corners of your imagination, to a land of myth and magic, where dream and reality live side by side … to a place that never existed, a time that never was. It is a world where a young man named Willow lives out an adventure that explodes beyond the boundaries of his own hopes and fears.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Posted on in Television News

‘Willow’: ‘Spider-Man 3’ Actor Tony Revolori In Talks To Join Lucasfilm’s Fantasy Series

Deadline is reporting that Spider-Man franchise actor Tony Revolori is now in talks with Lucasfilm to take an unknown role in their Disney+ series Willow. A direct sequel to the 1988 film directed by Ron Howard, who will executive produce the series and will see the return of Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood.

Tony is currently working Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 and will be seen next in Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch.

Others starring in the series include Erin Kellyman (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Green Knight) is said to be up for the role of Jade, Cailee Spaeny (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Bad Times At The El Royale) playing Kit and English actress Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals) as Dove.

According to circulated casting information for the series, it revolves around a group on a mission to save a kidnapped prince. The members of the team include Dove (Bamber), whose backstory resembles that of Willow from the movie. Dove is an unassuming kitchen maid who proves that she is the “chosen one” as she embarks on the journey. She is joined by Kit (Spaeny), the princess whose twin brother was abducted. She is destined to be a leader and ultimately the queen. Kellyman plays Jade, a servant who is Kit’s best friend and moral compass. She is on her way to becoming the best young warrior in the kingdom. Also part of the group is a guy who echoes Val Kilmer’s character in the movie. A thief and liar, he joins the quest in exchange for getting out of prison.

Filming was supposed to begin this March in Wales before they lost director Jon M. Chu.

WILLOW – Enter the world of “Willow.” Journey to the far corners of your imagination, to a land of myth and magic, where dream and reality live side by side … to a place that never existed, a time that never was. It is a world where a young man named Willow lives out an adventure that explodes beyond the boundaries of his own hopes and fears.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

‘Indiana Jones 5’: Director James Mangold Teasing A 1960’s Setting?

We keep forgetting that Indiana Jones 5 is still indeed a movie that Lucasfilm is making and keep promising is a continuation with Harrison Ford (almost 80 years old) in the role of Indy, rather than rebooting with a younger actor.

Details about the film are scarce but when the film take place might be something the film’s director has now hinted to on Twitter. A recent tweet from director and writer James Mangold could be confirming that the film is taking place in the 1960’s revealing “all” his movies are taking place in that decade. This would make sense given that Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull was set in 1957.

MANGOLD: “Im mentally living in 60’s NYC right now cause that’s where all the movies I’m working on take place.”

The director is also working on a movie about musician Bob Dylan titled Going Electric starring Timothee Chalamet for Searchlight Pictures and a NYPD thriller The Force starring Matt Damon for 20th Century Studios.

Lucasfilm revealed last month that they hope to get filming underway in late spring and are keeping the July 2022 release date.

Lucasfilm is currently in pre-production on the next installment of the Indiana Jones franchise. At the helm is James Mangold, director of the Academy Award-winning Ford v Ferrari, and Indy himself, Harrison Ford, will be back to continue his iconic character’s journey. Indy will begin shooting late spring of 2021 and will arrive July 2022.

James Mangold took over the writing of Indiana Jones 5’s script after David Koepp and Jonathan Kasdan tried their hand at reworking it. The script’s troubled development led to director Steven Spielberg exiting the hiring of James. It certainly sounds like Lucasfilm is trying to make sure the script is solid before moving forward since it’s production has had multiple delays as Steven first announced it would begin shooting back in April 2019 but didn’t due to development hiccups, we’re now coming up to three years later and it might finally get made.

I’m curious if they’ll continue to have the Soviet Union as the antagonists.

SOURCE: JAMES MANGOLD

Posted on in Television News

‘Star Wars’ Actress Erin Kellyman and Others In Negotiations For Lead Roles In Lucasfilm’s ‘Willow’ Series

Deadline reports that Lucasfilm’s Disney+ series Willow, a sequel based on the original 1988 film, is in negotiations with a trio of actresses to take lead roles in the fantasy series from Solo: A Star Wars Story screenwriter Jonathan Kasdan and co-showrunner Wendy Mericle with star Warwick Davis expected to reprise the role of Willow.

Erin Kellyman (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Green Knight) is said to be up for the role of Jade, Cailee Spaeny (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Bad Times At The El Royale) playing Kit and English actress Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals) as Dove.

They also included some character information which you can see below which sounds like the show will be mostly female driven.

According to circulated casting information for the series, it revolves around a group on a mission to save a kidnapped prince. The members of the team include Dove (Bamber), whose backstory resembles that of Willow from the movie. Dove is an unassuming kitchen maid who proves that she is the “chosen one” as she embarks on the journey. She is joined by Kit (Spaeny), the princess whose twin brother was abducted. She is destined to be a leader and ultimately the queen. Kellyman plays Jade, a servant who is Kit’s best friend and moral compass. She is on her way to becoming the best young warrior in the kingdom. Also part of the group is a guy who echoes Val Kilmer’s character in the movie. A thief and liar, he joins the quest in exchange for getting out of prison.

Erin did her scenes in Solo: A Star Wars Story alongside Willow lead Warwick Davis.

Disney officially announced the series was moving forward last month in a press release.

Filming will be taking place in Wales with Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) set to direct the pilot.

WILLOW – Enter the world of “Willow.” Journey to the far corners of your imagination, to a land of myth and magic, where dream and reality live side by side … to a place that never existed, a time that never was. It is a world where a young man named Willow lives out an adventure that explodes beyond the boundaries of his own hopes and fears.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

Will The Long Delayed ‘Indiana Jones 5’ Finally Begin Filming In August?

Development on a fifth and possibly final Indiana Jones film starring Harrison Ford has been in the works for five years at Lucasfilm. The project has been delayed for ages now after a string of release dates went from July 19th, 2019 to July 10th, 2020 to July 9th, 2021 to the most recent date being July 29th, 2022.

You might remember that Steven Spielberg exited the film and Lucasfilm eventually hired Logan director James Mangold. It’s expected that Mangold is working on the script after screenwriters David Koepp (Jurassic Park) and Jonathan Kasdan (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Willow series) have moved on.

It’s possible that they might finally inching closer towards filming. A new production grid for the untitled Indiana Jones 5 is making the rounds online and one of the places it landed yesterday was Daniel Richtman’s Patreon page.

However, we have to note there were at least two other production grids that suggested that filming would begin in 2019 and 2020 that never actually happened due to script issues. I wouldn’t be terribly quick to say this is lock without confirmation from the studio and casting begins but could give some insight when Lucasfilm hopes to get filming started next year.

They’ll also have to contend with lingering COVID-19 that won’t be entirely gone in the summer of 2021 (even with a vaccine in circulation) and potentially risking the heath of the nearly 80 year old Harrison Ford. Disney and Lucasfilm taking another mulligan until 2022 wouldn’t be the most shocking development.

Back in February, Ford himself told CBS Sunday Morning that they would begin shooting this year and those plans didn’t come together.

FORD: “Trying not to look silly, running around in tight pants and high boots… I’ll give you a more appropriate answer considering that I’m gonna start doing Indiana Jones in about two months. I’m always delighted to come back to these characters. When we have the opportunity to make another, it’s because people have enjoyed them, I feel obliged to make sure that our efforts are as ambitious as they were when we started.“

Last we heard from Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy, Indiana Jones 5 is indeed a continuation.

KENNEDY: “Oh, Harrison Ford will be involved, yeah. It’s not a reboot, it’s a continuation…He can’t wait he absolutely is.”

In the past, Harrison Ford has debunked the talk of Chris Pratt (mixing him up with Chris Pine) taking over the role in a reboot stating to the Today Show the character is expected to die with him.

FORD: “Nobody is going to be Indiana Jones, don’t you get it? I’m Indiana Jones. When I’m gone, he’s gone. It’s easy. This is a hell of a way to tell Chris Pine this. I’m sorry, man.”

Back in 2016, screenwriter David Koepp revealed to Collider that franchise creator George Lucas wouldn’t be part of the story/script process.

It’s unclear if we’ll be seeing supporting characters like Wan Li aka Short Round or Henry Jones III aka Mutt appear in the final installment. I’d personally like to see them attempt to develop a new protege character and place Indy in the Henry Jones Sr. role as seen in The Last Crusade.

SOURCE: DANIEL RICHTMAN/PRODUCTION WEEKLY

Posted on in Television News

Lucasfilm’s ‘Willow’ Series Officially Moving Forward At Disney+ With Jon M. Chu Directing The Pilot – Production Will Return To Wales

A series sequel based on the 1988 Ron Howard and George Lucas fantasy film Willow has been in the works for a while now from Solo: A Star Wars Story screenwriter Jonathan Kasdan. Disney has announced they’ve finally greenlit the sequel series for Disney+.

They also confirmed that production will be returning to Wales where the original film was shot.

Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu will handle the the first episode and he commented on the news via Twitter. Ron Howard will return to executive produce the series with Jonathan Kasdan and Wendy Mercile set as the showrunners.

Here is the official press release from Disney.

The magical world of George Lucas’ “Willow,” the epic fantasy adventure set in an age of swords, sorcery, myths and monsters, will be returning in a Disney+ series slated to begin production next year.

Jon M. Chu (“In The Heights,” “Crazy Rich Asians”) is set to direct the pilot, and will serve as executive producer along with showrunners Jonathan Kasdan (“Solo”) and Wendy Mericle (“Arrow”). Jonathan Kasdan wrote the pilot.

The series, which is Lucasfilm’s first venture into non-Star Wars storytelling since 2015, takes place years after the events of the original “Willow” film. It introduces all-new characters to the enchanted realm of fairy queens and two-headed Eborsisk monsters, and welcomes back its namesake hero, Willow Ufgood, performed once again by the unmatchable Warwick Davis.

Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Jon M. Chu, Jonathan Kasdan, Wendy Mericle, Ron Howard and Imagine Television will serve as executive producers, with Roopesh Parekh and Hannah Friedman as co-executive producers. Additionally, Bob Dolman will serve as consulting producer with Julia Cooperman as producer.

The production plans to return to the dramatic and enchanted landscapes of Wales, where much of the original film was shot.

You might remember that Chu was lobbying a while back to direct a Rose Tico series starring Kelly Marie Tran.

The Willow series is said to be a direct sequel to the original film and is expected to focus specifically on Warwick Davis’ titular character Willow Ufgood. It remains to be seen if they’ll attempt to resurrect any of the other characters from the original film.

WILLOW – Enter the world of “Willow.” Journey to the far corners of your imagination, to a land of myth and magic, where dream and reality live side by side … to a place that never existed, a time that never was. It is a world where a young man named Willow lives out an adventure that explodes beyond the boundaries of his own hopes and fears.

SOURCE: DISNEY

Posted on in Film News

‘Indiana Jones 5’ Screenwriter David Koepp Alludes To Steven Spielberg Exiting Due To Script Issues

There seems to have been some major script issues on Indiana Jones 5 that has been key to the film’s hiccups and delays. Den of Geek was able to speak with screenwriter David Koepp, who revealed he was brought back to work on the sequel after Lucasfilm hired Solo: A Star Wars Story screenwriter Jonathan Kasdan to tackle some rewrites before focusing on his Willow sequel series.

Adding that the third go-around seemed to have led Steven Spielberg to exit the film with James Mangold being hired in February to replace him and then Koepp mentioning he stepped aside too.

KOEPP: “I tried a couple different versions with Steven and they all had some good stuff about them and they all had some stuff that didn’t work, which happens. But it was just very hard to have everybody come together and have all the elements — Steven, Harrison (Ford), the script and Disney — come together at once. And it didn’t.”

“When James Mangold came in and Steven stepped out, that was a pretty logical breaking point,” Koepp says. “It’s a gracious time to step out the door because I think the last thing a new director wants is the old director’s writer. I mean, that’s a drag. The last thing you need is some guy sitting around with his arms folded saying, ‘Well, the way Steven would have done it is…’ I had one nice friendly conversation with him and then I’m sure he wanted to be able to move on anyway. Everybody was pretty polite, I thought.”

The outlet speculates that the reason we haven’t heard about a new screenwriter is likely because new director James Mangold (Logan, Ford v Ferrari) is most likely tackling it himself, although, this is not confirmed. I wish James all the luck to get the project across the finishing line.

Back in February, Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy confirmed to the BBC that Indiana Jones 5 was still having script issues and reaffirmed it would be a continuation after there had been persistent rumors of a franchise reboot.

KENNEDY: “We’re working away getting the script where we want it to be and then we’ll be ready to go…Oh, Harrison Ford will be involved, yeah. It’s not a reboot, it’s a continuation…He can’t wait he absolutely is.”

The film’s current release date of July 22nd, 2022 would suggest that Lucasfilm is aiming to begin shooting sometime in 2021.

SOURCE: DEN OF GEEK