The news that Disney+ has finally greenlit a sequel series to beloved cult fantasy film Willow has invigorated the internet, but what's lesser known is that George Lucas' own sequel has already existed for over twenty years, co-created with comics legend Chris Claremont in a trilogy of novels called The Chronicles of the Shadow War. Though George Lucas is often involved with writing the scripting and story of his films, his library of literary works is mostly made up of small contributions to non-fiction books about his legacy and the rare snippet for a Star Wars novel. For his vision of Willow's future, however, Lucas invited Claremont to what turned into an eight hour meeting where George laid out the groundwork for everything that happened after the fall of the evil Queen Bavmorda.
In Claremont's own words, George drew a heavy line between the story the movie told and the story he wanted to tell next. While the film followed aspiring Nelwyn sorcerer Willow Ufgood, the books are instead focused on Elora Danan's journey through a troubled childhood and towards her final destiny. They are also stunningly dark and dense, with only the opening chapter of Shadow Moon (the first part of the trilogy) focused on the characters of the film. Tragedy quickly strikes as a literal cataclysm tears apart sacred places of power across the world. Madmartigan, Sorsha and countless other lives are lost when the kingdom of Tir Asleen is razed by this mysterious apocalypse.
As the saga builds, readers first follow the movements of the Nelwyn sorcerer Thorn Drumheller, who is Willow himself, granted a new name by the prologue's prophetic dream, and his appearance changed by long, hard years on the road. He tracks Princess Elora Danan to the faraway kingdom of Angwyn. Here, the baby he once rescued has grown into a brat fed on the riches of privilege. Gradually, it is revealed that Elora's fate is intertwined with that of her own demonic twin, and if she can't defeat the darkest parts of herself, then all of creation is at risk. Thorn must protect and guide Elora Danan as he did when she was a baby, but this time there are things Elora has to figure out for herself.
In this version of Willow's future, even the comic relief brownies Franjean and Rool seem brisk, hurried,and often dour. Though they are the only other characters from the film to remain regular throughout the trilogy, their presence seldom brings any catharsis or pleasure. The entire saga is bleak, barely emotional enough to stir a reader into fear for the characters' plights, and fans of the film still pepper new reviews of the first novel onto Goodreads. They're sometimes confused, sometimes openly upset at Lucas' ideas and Claremont's thick prose and the overall reception to the trilogy can be called mixed at best.
The film may be a childhood favorite, but the books were clearly intended for an adult audience given their grim tone. And while the new Disney+ series is coming at a time where the original fans are themselves adults, there's an obvious question about whether the future George Lucas had in mind for Willow and Elora in 1995 is the right one for audiences now. Chris Claremont was also clear that the future of any potential Willow franchise could still be altered, and that their final canonical fate was never up to him. As part of the deal George Lucas made with Disney, any possible answer to Willow's future became theirs to address.
With the reported involvement of much of the original crew -- from Ron Howard to Warwick Davis and the introduction of vocal fan Jon M. Chu as director and producer -- it's likely that George's obscure sequel trilogy will remain obscure. But at the very least, George's premise of a world reliant on a princess and the fate she's carried with her since birth has the potential to be compelling and powerful for audiences today. That much could provide a grounded place where Willow and Elora Danan's new journey can begin.
The Disney+ Willow sequel series sees the return of Ron Howard and Kathleen Kennedy as executive producers, Warwick Davis as Willow, and has yet to receive a premiere date.