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In the latest Doctor Who season opener (pictured below, on the left), Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteen spilt a tear whilst processing the sudden death, at the hands of their robot overlords, of Sasha, a Belindachandra-1 resident he had grown quite close to in his six months on the planet.

It was far from the first time that this Doctor has been brought to a single, powerful tear (or more) — sometimes of the happy kind, but more often sad — in his 11 appearances thus far, dating back to December 2023’s “The Giggle” special (fronted by Gatwa’s predecessor, David Tennant). And while...

Doctor Who has paid tribute to classic series cast member Jean Marsh following her death at age 90. Marsh played The First Doctor's companion Sara Kingdom in the 1960s.

BBC News reported that Marsh's friend, the director Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg, confirmed that Marsh died "peacefully in bed looked after by one of her very loving carers" on Sunday (April 13). Doctor Who later published its own tribute to Marsh on X, saying it was "sad to report" news of the former companion's death.

We're sad to report the passing of Jean Marsh, who played multiple roles in Doctor Who over the years including companion Sara Kingdom, Joan of England and the sorceress Morgaine â¤ï¸â¤ï¸Read more here âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/31gID2TOCqpic.twitter.com/LEhWIpgCln— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) April 14, 2025 Jean Marsh Dies at Age 90

The actress first appeared in Doctor Who in a minor role in 1965's First Doctor serial "The Crusade,...

Emmy winning English actress Jean Marsh passed away yesterday as a result of complications from dementia. She was 90.

She terrorized many ’80s kids as the head-switching princess Mombi in Return to Oz and the evil queen Bavmorda in Willow.

Marsh’s other genre roles include with Alfred Hitchcock‘s Frenzy, haunted house classic The Changeling, Dark Places opposite Christopher Lee, and the Twilight Zone episode “The Lonely,” in which she played a lifelike robot.

She also co-created and starred in the acclaimed period drama “Upstairs, Downstairs,” for which she won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Other notable roles among Marsh’s 100+ credits include “Doctor Who,” Cleopatra, and The Eagle Has Landed.

Jean Marsh in ‘Willow’

Jean Marsh in ‘Frenzy’

The post ‘Return to Oz,’ ‘Willow’ Actress Jean Marsh Has Passed Away appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Jean Marsh, who played Bavmorda, the evil queen in 1988’s Willow, and the head-swapping Mombi in 1985’s Return to Oz, has passed away.

Through her work in both Willow and Return to Oz, Jean Marsh left a genuine mark on young viewers, playing a biting antagonist that embodies the evil spirit which presses down on our heroes. Yet, her brief appearance via archival footage for the short-lived Willow series was a most welcome tribute. She would even earn a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for Willow. And that she could stand out in Return to Oz – a movie crammed with nightmarish images – really says something.

Other notable big screen roles for Jean Marsh include 1980’s The Changeling, Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy (1972), horror film Dark Places (1973), and Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s epic Cleopatra (1963).

While most of us here may remember Jean Marsh for her work in film, she was predominantly featured on the small screen.

Jean Marsh, the Emmy-winning star of Upstairs, Downstairs, has passed away.

Per the New York Times, Marsh died at her London home on Sunday. According to her close friend, filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Marsh's death was attributed to complications from dementia. She was 90 years old.

Jean Lyndsay Torren Marsh was born on July 1, 1934. She attended theater school before making her on-screen debut at the age of 18 in the 1952 TV movie The Infinite Shoeblack. She's make her feature film debut the following year in 1953's The Limping Man. By 1959, she relocated to the United States, picking up a role in the first season of The Twilight Zone as a robot companion created for a prisoner (played by Jack Warden) on an asteroid.

In the early 1970s, Marsh helped launch the TV series Upstairs, Downstairs. The show lasted from 1971 to 1975 in England and from 1974 to 1977 in the United States. Marsh played the role of Rose,...

Jean Marsh, the actress who co-created and starred in Upstairs, Downstairs, has died. She was 90.

Marsh passed away Sunday at her home in London from complications of dementia, her close friend, filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg, told the New York Times.

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Marsh co-created Upstairs, Downstairs, and starred in the series as parlormaid Rose Buck. The ITV drama ran from 1971-1975, during which time Marsh was nominated for three primetime Emmys.

Jean Marsh, the creator and star of the beloved 1970s series “Upstairs, Downstairs,” died Sunday of dementia at her home in London. She was 90.

Marsh’s close friend Michael Lindsay-Hogg confirmed her death and its cause to the New York Times.

“Upstairs, Downstairs” aired from 1971 to 1975 in England and 1974 to 1977 in the United States. The show was about the Bellamy family and the staff that kept their elegant townhome running. Marsh starred as Rose, the head parlor maid.

In 2010 Marsh decided to return to the show by way of a reboot. “At first, I wasn’t sure if it was a retrograde thing to do,” she told the Telegraph at the time. “But then I thought: am I being pompous? It was a wonderful part. I think Rose got into me as much as I got into Rose.”

The reboot took place only six years after the show’s original...

Jean Marsh, the Emmy-winning actress and co-creator behind the acclaimed ’70s ITV period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, has died at the age of 90.

Her cause of death was a result of complications from dementia, her close friend Michael Lindsay-Hogg, told the New York Times, which first reported the news.

Before there was Downton Abbey, the seminal series — set at the turn of the 20th century across nearly three decades of Edwardian England — traced the lives of the fortunate Bellamy family and its servants, set against the backdrop of the era’s sociopolitical upheaval. Marsh starred as Mrs. Rose Buck, the household’s parlormaid, winning a Lead Actress Emmy for the role in 1975 (she was also nominated the year prior and year following). The British series ran from 1971 through 1975, encompassing 68 episodes. It was later revived in 2010 for two seasons for BBC One, tracing the family after the events of the mothership under...

Jean Marsh, best known for both starring and co-creating the British drama series Upstairs, Downstairs, died at the age of 90 on Sunday, April 13. Marsh died from complications of dementia, according to filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who was her close friend, via The New York Times. She was in her London home. Marsh was born on July 1, 1934, in the Stoke Newington district in London, England. She studied acting and mime as a child, with her first involvement in the entertainment business coming as a cabaret singer, model, and dancer. Her first time on a Broadway stage was in a production of Much Ado About Nothing in the 1950s, with British actor, director, and producer John Gielgud. Her first onscreen role came in the 1952 BBC TV movie The Infinite Shoeblack. Her other early roles included episodes of The Twilight Zone (as a female robot), Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, and I Spy.

Jean Marsh, the Emmy award-winning actor who co-created and acted in the ’70s British drama series “Upstairs, Downstairs,” died Sunday in her London home. She was 90.

Marsh’s death was confirmed by The New York Times, with the cause being complications of dementia, according to filmmaker and close friend Michael Lindsay-Hogg.

Marsh co-created “Upstairs, Downstairs” with actor Eileen Atkins. Marsh ended up playing Rose Buck, the house parlor maid, throughout 54 episodes of the show from 1971-1975. She also reprised her role in the 2010 continuation of the series.

For her on-screen work, Marsh won a Primetime Emmy in 1975 in the outstanding lead actress in a drama series category. The original run of the show took home seven Emmys and a Peabody Award. In total, Marsh was nominated for four Emmys throughout her career, including for her work in the “Upstairs, Downstairs” reprisal.

Over the years, Marsh starred in numerous films and shows,...

Jean Marsh, the sleek British actress who co-created Upstairs, Downstairs and won an Emmy for her performance as the prim and proper parlormaid Rose Buck on the acclaimed ITV drama, has died. She was 90.

Marsh died Sunday at her home in London from complications of dementia, filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg told The New York Times.

Doctor Who historians know Marsh for her portrayal of Sara Kingdom, who ably assists William Hartnell’s Doctor in his fight against the mutant Daleks, on the third season of the BBC sci-fi series in 1965-66.

A year earlier, she had played King Edward’s French princess sister, Joanna, on the show’s “The Crusade” serial, then returned as the ruthless enchantress Morgaine for 1989’s “Battlefield” storyline.

On American TV shows, the London native starred as an android brought to an asteroid to keep a prisoner (Jack Warden) company on 1959’s “The Lonely,” the seventh episode of CBS’ The Twilight Zone,...

Get ready for synth-fuelled action, old-school practical effects, and all-out extraterrestrial mayhem, because The Doom Busters is here to take you on a ride like no other. The brainchild of writer-director Jack McHenry (Here Comes Hell), and aided by composer Ben Pearson, this WWII sci-fi action comedy is what happens when Dad’s Army collides with Predator—a love letter to the high-concept blockbusters of the ‘70s and ‘80s, complete with buckets of blood, psychedelic visuals, and a battle to save the entire galaxy.

Set in 1940, as Britain braces for war, the film follows Arthur Roundtree, a Home Guard recruit desperate for action but stuck in a sleepy English village. His chance finally comes when an alien menace crash-lands nearby, turning a routine training exercise into a desperate fight for survival. Featuring a stellar cast including Tom Bailey, Margaret Clunie, Timothy Renouf, and Jessica Webber, The Doom Busters promises adrenaline-pumping...

The trailer for Doctor Who season 2 introduces a new companion for Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor. The long-running British sci-fi show follows a time-traveling alien known as The Doctor who has the ability to regenerate and thus has been played by many actors over the years. The character has been accompanied by a variety of companions as well, most recently Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). While the upcoming Doctor Who season is the 15th of the rebooted show and the 41st overall, it is being billed as season 2 as it is the second since Disney+ acquired international broadcasting rights.

Disney+ has debuted the official teaser trailer for Doctor Who season 2, which premieres in 2025. The 30-second video opens with an ominous monologue in voiceover teasing that "there are forces beyond this universe" and while "this is all a game to them... the games are deadly." In addition to showcasing The Doctor and Ruby Sunday,...

Warwick Davis has something to say to Disney as he was reminded of the way they scrubbed the legacy sequel series Willow from Disney+. The prolific actor, who became famous playing mulliple characters in franchises like Harry Potter and Star Wars, was known to many as Willow Ufgood, the character that appeared with Val Kilmer's Madmartigan in the classic '80s fantasy movie. The veteran actor is not Ok with the controversial decision to remove the series from Disney+, the streaming platform where most Disney-owned franchises make their return (most of them in TV format).

Davis posted a photo of himself as Willow on X/Twitter, and he called out Disney+ for making sure shareholders were happy, regardless of what subscribers felt. The caption on his post reads: “This image just came up as a photo memory. A BTS shot from the #Willow Series. It’s a travesty that...

Quick Links 'Return to Oz' Is a Bizarrely Delightful Dark Fantasy 'Return to Oz' Becomes an '80 Cult Classic Hollywood Can't Get Enough of the Timeless Tale

As moviegoers all across the world celebrate the highly-buzzed about premiere of the dazzling musical Wicked, many are still riding high on the excitement surrounding the star-studded adaptation. For those who want to keep the fun and magic going, there is no shortage of previous Hollywood adaptations to binge-watch and enjoy in either preparation or as a follow-up to the show-stopping picture.

In 1985, one of cinema's more misunderstood reimaginings of the classic L. Frank Baum novels hit the big screen, with Fairuza Balk tackling the iconic role of Dorothy Gale in Return to Oz. The dark fantasy focuses on the young insomniac Dorothy as she once again returns to the Land of Oz to try and save both her...

The Corridor Crew comes together to praise a now-infamous 1985 Wizard of Oz movie for its combination of stop-motion and VFX work to bring one of its new creatures to life. L. Frank Baum's fantasy novel was first brought to the screen in 1910, but it's the pivotal 1939 The Wizard of Oz which is most celebrated to this day. The Wizard of Oz stars Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, a young girl who is transported to the magical world and tasked alongside three fantastical friends and her dog, Toto, to vanquish the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) in order to return home.

Ever since its release, there have been multiple retellings and reimaginings of Oz across television and film. These include features made to continue the story, like 1972's Journey Back to Oz, to explorations of how the world became what it is, like 2013's Oz The Great and Powerful,...

Disney's Return to Oz has become an infamous production, but the story behind it is even wilder!

As noted, Disney had long held the rights to the Oz books but didn't do anything with them. As the property moved into the public domain, there were a few attempts at a sequel. That included 1979's Journey Back to Oz animated movie, which did have the clever casting of Judy Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli, as Dorothy. But it suffered from a bad production to be a flop.

The property maintained its popularity as the TV airing of the 1939 movie became an annual mainstay that always garnered high ratings. By 1980, with Disney Productions in a serious downturn after some expensive flops, someone decided giving the Oz books another try was worth it.

And so the road to Return to Oz began but no one dreamed of the nightmare it would become.

Why...

Wicked transports audiences to the world of The Wizard of Oz, with Universal’s adaptation of the Broadway smash starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo hitting theaters Nov. 22. It’s certainly had a smoother road than 1985’s Return to Oz.

After winning a sound Oscar for Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, editor and sound designer Walter Murch was approached by Disney to discuss projects to direct. Murch expressed interest in an Oz story, and the studio was intrigued, as it owned the rights to author L. Frank Baum’s later novels The Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz, on which Return to Oz would be based.

A darker and non-musical follow-up to MGM’s 1939 classic, Return to Oz stars young Fairuza Balk as Dorothy, who is called back to the titular land that has been destroyed by the diabolical Nome King (Nicol Williamson) and Mombi (Jean Marsh). Here,...

George Lucas and Ron Howard’s legendary fantasy epic Willow is ready to cast a spell and protect the child on 4K HD Blu-ray for the first time beginning on December 10. This glorious presentation of the beloved film arrives as a 4K Uhd Blu-ray SteelBook, making it a fine addition to any physical media collection. If you’ve moved on from collecting discs, Willow is coming to digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.

Here’s the official synopsis for Willow courtesy of today’s official press release:

From legendary filmmakers George Lucas and Ron Howard comes Willow, a timeless fantasy tale where heroes come in all sizes. When Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) finds an abandoned baby girl, he learns she is destined to end the reign of wicked Queen Bavmorda. Willow teams up with a rogue swordsman (Val Kilmer) to protect the child against the darkness.

Ron Howard's 1988 fantasy film "Willow" was a striking hit when it was first released, mixing Tolkien-like wizard magic with traditional "Star Wars"-like story beats. The title character (Warwick Davis) was an innocent Nelwyn sorcerer who finds an abandoned human infant in his remote village. This infant was born with a mystical birthmark, implying that she would bring about the downfall of the evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh). The birthmark also explains why hellhounds seem to be on its tail. Willow decides to leave home and return the baby to her parents. Along the way, he'll fall into the company of a wisecracking criminal named Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), and several other co-adventurers besides.

The film was a notable hit, making over $137 million on a $36 million budget, although it wasn't a runaway success. It did, however, face still competition that year from films like "Big," "Rain Man," "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?...

Quick Links The First Companion to Die Wasn't With the Doctor Long Adric was the First Long-Term Companion of the Doctor to Die Amy Pond and Rory Williams are the Only Companions to Die in Modern Doctor Who

Doctor Who has been on the air for over 60 years and in that time, the Doctor has traveled with countless companions. Of course, life aboard the Tardis might be full of wonder, but it is never easy and never safe. The Doctor and their friends often find themselves in deadly danger, putting their lives on the line for the greater good. Although the Doctor has become something of an expert in defying the odds and surviving the most dangerous scenarios, even they can't walk away unscathed every time. Death may be of little concern to the Doctor, who can die and then bounce back with a new face, but it poses a...

Fantasy movies often include heavy exposition and world-building, but that doesn't mean that the stories aren't character-driven or that the performances aren't important. The actors who bring to life the outlandish and otherworldly characters in fantasy projects have the difficult job of disappearing into their roles while being believably part of another universe. Since fantasy is a wide-reaching genre, the kinds of characters written into these projects might be terrifying wizards or relatively normal people with elements of wonder thrown into their characterization. However, a good actor will be able to embody whatever the role calls for.

There's an argument to be made that speculative fiction works better for TV, as there are plenty of amazing fantasy TV shows with satisfying endings and great performances. However, these actors prove that with the right story and characters, films can be the perfect place for a magical narrative. Even when the plot...

Warcraft is based on the video game series of the same name and follows a war between humans and orcs. Fantasy movies like Willow and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves are perfect for those who enjoyed Warcraft. High-grossing film series like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings also have similar themes to Warcraft.

As the title suggests, Warcraft depicts two opposing sides of an impending war set in a fantasy world, and if one enjoys the movie and seeks more, several other films have similar themes, genres, characters, and everything in between. The 2016 action fantasy film, directed by Duncan Jones and written by Jones and Charles Leavitt, is based on the popular video game series of the same name. Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft was launched in 1994, and since then, all the games in the series have taken place in and around the world of Azeroth, featuring humans and orcs.

Set to receive the honorary Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, George Lucas is no stranger to the Croisette. The legendary filmmaker — whose first feature, Thx-1138, screened at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight in 1971 — brought Willow to the festival in 1988.

Directed by Ron Howard and counting Lucas as a producer, Willow follows the eponymous farmer, played by then-17-year-old Warwick Davis, joining disgraced warrior Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) on a mission to save a baby prophesized to end the reign of an evil queen (Jean Marsh). The movie hit theaters May 20, 1988, and collected $57 million worldwide ($151 million today), which was less than Lucas’ previous hits like Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. THR’s review called Willow “relentlessly flat” but noted that Howard’s “ever gentle but robust directorial touch is always in evidence.”

Ahead of the movie’s theatrical release, during a Cannes press conference, Lucas criticized the U.

Quick Links Frank Baums Oz Novels Were Much Darker Than Most Believe Return to Oz Is Hugely Faithful in Tone to Baums Vision Return to Oz Is Much Better Than You Remember Return to Oz, the dark sequel to The Wizard of Oz, is actually closer in tone to L. Frank Baum's original novels. Director Walter Murch drew inspiration from Baum's darker sequel novels to create a faithful and creepy adaptation. Despite initial criticism and box office disappointment, Return to Oz now stands as a delightfully creepy and creative cult classic.

Everyones seen The Wizard of Oz, and if you say you havent, odds are youre lying. Its been rightfully hailed as a classic, marking a perfect transition point in Hollywoods switch from black-and-white to color. It perfectly captures the idealism and imagination of childhood and is frequently one of the first movies parents show to their children.

Stars: Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie, Matt Clark, Michael Sundin, Tim Rose, Mak Wilson, Stephen Norrington, Justin Case, John Alexander, Deep Roy, Emma Ridley | Written by Walter Murch, Gill Dennis, L. Frank Baum | Directed by Walter Murch

According to Roger Ebert, Walter Murch is “the most respected film editor and sound designer in the modern cinema.” Across a career spanning over 50-years, including multiple Academy Award wins from nine nominations, he has only two directorial credits to his name. The second is a fourth-season episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which was preceded over 25 years before by the only feature he directed; Return to Oz.

After her adventures in the Land of Oz, Dorothy Gale (Fairuza Balk) remains obsessed with the locale that she previously visited. Out of a fear that their niece is experiencing delusions, Dorothy’s aunt and uncle take her away to a sanitorium.

Millie Gibson is rumored to be leaving Doctor Who in Ncuti Gatwa's second season, but she wouldn't be the first companion to only last one year. It's unclear when Millie Gibson's departure will happen, whether in the season 14 finale or the opening episodes of the following season. Doctor Who fans will have to wait for season 14 to see if the rumors about Millie Gibson leaving are true and how Ruby Sunday will fit into the list of short-lived companions.

It's heavily rumored that Millie Gibson is leaving Doctor Who in Ncuti Gatwa's second season, but she's not the first of the Doctor's companions to only last one year. Reports in the UK tabloid press suggest that Millie Gibson has been "dropped" from the role, which feels needlessly harsh. This unfair wording ignores the most likely scenario; that Ruby Sunday was always planned as a one-season companion. After all, Millie Gibson...

Willow star Warwick Davis is still mourning the cancellation and removal of his 2022 fantasy/adventure series from the Disney+ platform.

In a recent post on X (fka Twitter), Davis wrote: “I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of #Willow, who are the reason the @DisneyPlus series was made. Please tell me @WaltDisneyCo, what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series any more? #embarrassing”

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Meegosh, an endearing character from the original Willow film, was sadly absent from the sequel series due to the death of actor David Steinberg. The decision to not recast Meegosh was made out of respect for Steinberg and his legacy, as Willow is a passion project for creator Jonathan Kasdan. The void left by Meegosh's absence was filled by a new character named Silas, who shares many similarities with Meegosh and serves as a close friend and loyal companion to Willow.

Meegosh from Willow was one of the underrated fantasy film's most endearing characters, but he was conspicuously absent from the TV series. Released in 1988, Willow follows the titular halfling (Warwick Davis) as he reluctantly embarks on an epic quest to protect a baby from the clutches of the evil queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh). With George Lucas and Ron Howard behind the project, Willow was stuffed with plenty of high-fantasy...

Fans of Willow have four brand-new collectibles to buy thanks to Funko Pop! and associate designer Kaysi Smith. For those unfamiliar with the film, it’s a 1988 fantasy movie that was directed by Ron Howard. The story for the film hailed from George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, though the script was written by Bob Dolman. A sequel series, created by Jonathan Kasdan, was released on Disney+ 34 years later, but not for long.

Smith said in an interview with Lucasfilm:

“As a fan of Willow, I was excited to be able to take part in turning these characters into Funko Pop!s. Willow was something I grew up with, and being able to tap into that nostalgia and look at the film with a critical lens was very cool. You get to find a lot of details in the film that you don’t normally look for. I...

It appears “Willow’s” magic has already run out again. The Disney+ fantasy series, a sequel to the 1988 Ron Howard film of the same name, will not return for a second season, IndieWire has confirmed.

The news comes two months after the show, which premiered on November 30, concluded its eight-episode run on Disney+ in January. Like the film, “Willow” was produced by Lucasfilm, which has been one of the main drivers of content for Disney’s core streaming service through shows based on the “Star Wars” franchise; others include “The Mandalorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” “Andor,” and the upcoming “Ahsoka,” “Skeleton Crew,” and “The Acolyte.”

Disney+ ended 2022 with 102.9 subscribers; another 61.3 million are in the ecosystem via Disney+ Hotstar.

The original ’80s film, which was directed by Ron Howard and executive produced by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, told the story of aspiring sorcerer Willow (Warwick Davis), as...

On 27th February 2023, Nucleus Films will release the shocking 1970s horror film Dark Places on Blu-ray.

There’S More Than Death Waiting For You In Dark Places

Legendary British stars Christopher Lee, Joan Collins and Herbert Lom get together in a grisly tale of hidden loot in a haunted house.

Dr Ian Mandeville and his sister Sarah mean to get their hands on the £200,000 stashed in the derelict Marr’s Grove – only to find that Edward Foster, a stranger to the district, has recently inherited the place. As Edward rapidly succumbs to the influence of the mansion’s long-dead owners, madness and bloody murder ensue…

Directed by Don Sharp, this long-awaited UK Blu-ray premiere has been remastered from original vault elements and is packed with bonus features.

Also starring Jane Birkin, Robert Hardy and Jean Marsh…

Dare you enter Marr’s Grove and encounter the evil lurking within?

Special Features:...

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Willow Season 1.The Disney+ series Willow has joined the ranks of fantasy shows that bring back old franchises. The show is a sequel to the 1988 film of the same name. Picking up the story a few decades later, the new show reintroduces several familiar faces, including this titular sorcerer, played by Warwick Davis, and the now queen Sorsha (Joanne Whalley). Yet one of the film's leads is notably missing. Val Kilmer's Madmartigan did not appear in Season 1, though his absence was well noted. Due to health risks, Val Kilmer didn't return for the series. But rather than recasting or explaining it away as an unremarkable death in the interim, the show used the missing character to its advantage. With the show centering on his children, Kit (Ruby Cruz) and Airk (Dempsey Bryk), Madmartigan comes up a lot. The show centers on Kit,...

Director John Sturges’ final feature is a handsome production that fumbles and stumbles in unexpected ways. Michael Caine and especially Donald Sutherland lead an impossible commando mission to kidnap Winston Churchill right from English soil. Tom Mankiewicz’s dialogue is witty but the tone is all over the place. We don’t know whether it’s the script, the direction or the editing that muffs so many potential bravura moments. On the other hand, every scene with Sutherland and Jenny Agutter is gold. [Imprint] gives us both a theatrical cut and a more satisfying extended cut.

The Eagle Has Landed

Region Free Blu-ray

Viavision [Imprint] 193

1976 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 135 + 151 min. / Street Date December 28, 2023 / Available from / au 69.95

Starring: Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland, Robert Duvall, Jenny Agutter, Donald Pleasence, Anthony Quayle, Jean Marsh, Sven-Bertil Taube, John Standing, Judy Geeson, Treat Williams, Larry Hagman, Joachim Hansen, David Gilliam, Siegfried Rauch, Wolf Kahler, Roy Marsden, Ferdy Mayne.

Warwick Davis, star of the original 1988 Willow film and the new Disney+ television series of the same name, recently compared the show's magic to that of the Harry Potter franchise. Set 20 years evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) was vanquished in the original movie, Willow Ufgood (Davis) returns to join a rag-tag team of young heroes to save Queen Sorsha's (Joanne Whalley) son Airk (Dempsey Bryk) from the Withered Crone and rid the realm of evil once-and-for-all. With the prophesied Elora Danan (Ellie Bamber) grown up, Willow must train her to become a great sorcerer that will defeat the rising darkness and wear the crown as the Empress of Tir Asleen.

In a recent interview with EW, Davis compared Willow's use of magic to the Harry Potter franchise. Covered in makeup and prosthetics, Davis previously portrayed a number of characters in the Harry Potter film series, primarily the Hogwarts Charms Master...

Spoilers for Willow season 1, episode 7, "Beyond the Shattered Sea" below!Willow series star Rosabell Laurenti Sellers discusses her series debut and character's twist in season 1, episode 7. The Disney+ sequel show sees Warwick Davis reprise his role as Willow Ufgood, a Nelwyn sorcerer who helped save the prophesied child, Elora Danan, from the evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh). Set 20 years after the events of the original film, Willow follows Queen Sorsha's (Joanne Whalley) daughter, Princess Kit (Ruby Cruz), who enlists the aid of the titular hero and a rag-tag crew to rescue her brother Prince Airk (Dempsey Bryk) from the clutches of the Withered Crone and bring peace back to the realm.

With Airk seemingly trapped for weeks in the desolate Immemorial City, the prince encounters Lili (Sellers), a princess from Cashmere. Lili challenges Airk's resolve and his devotion to Dove/Elora (Ellie Bamber), eventually revealing herself as an agent of the Withered Crone.

Photo: ‘Willow’ Everyone knows George Lucas because of ‘Star Wars.’ For good reason: when it debuted all the way back in 1977, the franchise changed special effects in films and the kinds of movies people go to see. However, it’s less known that five years before this, Lucas conceived of an idea for another movie, one involving magic and darker fantasy themes. That movie eventually got made 16 years later under the direction of Ron Howard. ‘Willow’ follows the efforts of one sorcerer (played to perfection by Warwick Davis) to protect an abandoned child in order to fight against the evil Queen Bavmorda (an incomparable Jean Marsh) and bring peace to the Kingdom of Tir Asleen. The story ended in a climactic battle that ended in Willow tricking the evil sorceress into banishing herself. The child, Elora Danan, fell into the hands of the Queen’s daughter Sorsha (played by Joanne Whalley...

The newest Disney+ series, Willow, is a sequel to a 1988 Lucasfilm movie of the same name. The movie may not be familiar to audiences, especially those who were not yet born when it came out. Or people may simply not remember the movie despite having watched it more than thirty years ago (completely understandable). It follows N, Willow Ufgood (Warwick David), as he attempts to protect Elora Danan, the baby prophesied to defeat the evil queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh). But the series takes place years later, following a new generation of characters on their own quest to save the world. With only two episodes released, now is the time to start the series. Willow (the series) is Disney's first attempt to join the fantasy tv craze of the last few years, and it differentiates itself from other shows in the overcrowded genre. While, for the most part, the show has...

Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) and Graham Hughes in Lucasfilm’s ‘Willow’ (Photo © 2022 Lucasfilm Ltd)

Willow – the 1988 fantasy-adventure film directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind) and written by Star Wars creator/auteur George Lucas – is the latest franchise to get a reboot.

Warwick Davis (who worked with Lucas in 1983’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi) and reprises his role as the titular character from the original film, Willow Ufgood, a Nelwyn farmer/sorcerer, never imagined he would be playing Willow again.

“For years it’s been talked about, not by anyone official but by the fans,” explained Davis. “They’ve constantly pestered me, saying, ‘When are we going to see a sequel to that movie?’ And it’s a question I could never answer.”

Until he met Jonathan Kasdan, on the set of 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story (which Howard directed and Davis cameoed). The younger...

Of all the life-changing cinema that premiered in the 1980s, Jonathan Kasdan singles out “Willow” as the first film to “mark time” in his existence. “It just had this psychological significance to me in my development,” Kasdan explains to Variety. “You’d be shocked at how many people say, ‘Oh, I saw that movie, it scared the shit out of me when I was a kid.’”

The 1988 fantasy, directed by Ron Howard (then 34) and executive produced by George Lucas, is centered around a lousy sorcerer named Willow (played by a 17-year-old Warwick Davis) who is tasked with protecting a magical baby from all manner of treachery. Its collection of revolutionary visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic — including the transformation of an army of men into squealing pigs — along with powerhouse performances from Jean Marsh, Val Kilmer and Davis all delivered with a touch of charm is what helped to keep...

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The screenwriter of the original Willow film is reflecting on the process of making the movie, along with opening up about ways in which working in the writers room of the new Disney+ television reboot didn’t feel as freeing.

Willow, the tale of a humble farmer enlisted to go on a quest to save the world, hit theaters in 1988 — but the idea for the fantasy film had been on George Lucas’ mind even before the 1977 release of Star Wars. Lucas, an executive producer on Willow and credited with writing the story, brought the project to filmmaker Ron Howard, whom Lucas had directed in 1973’s American Graffiti.

Howard, who had helmed such movies as Splash (1983) and Cocoon (1985), turned to Bob Dolman, his collaborator on a failed NBC pilot in the early 1980s, to write Willow’s script. Its story focuses on the titular farmer,...

Offbeat fantasy doesn’t get much better than Ron Howard’s Willow. The 1988 film may have played out like a by-the-numbers epic about plucky heroes overcoming despotic evils, but its reputation as an all-ages adventure outweighs its triteness.

Now, with a sequel series on Disney+ (premiering today), Willow Ufgood (again played by Warwick Davis) and the denizens of this quirky universe make their long-awaited return. Luckily, judging by the first three episodes, Disney may have a new family favorite on its hands.

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Ironically, Willow was a bit too big. Or at least too big to succeed as George Lucas had imagined it could. The brainchild of Lucas since before the first Star Wars, the 1988 film starred Warwick Davis as the eponymous Willow Ufgood, a farmer and would-be sorcerer’s apprentice from a race of dwarves called Nelwyn. The premise was classic fantasy: after discovering a baby Daikini (or regular-sized folk), Willow goes on a journey to protect the baby from an evil sorceress queen (the deliciously pantomime-esque Jean Marsh) – by way of mountains, monsters, and some riotous action sequences.

Back then, studio bosses baulked at the film’s 35m (£29m) price tag. The production spanned three continents, a huge cast of little people and featured more special effects work than Lucas’s FX house, Industrial Light & Magic, was prepared for. The finished film is a bloated two hours-plus, which feels too much...

Willow showrunner Jon Kasdan teases Val Kilmer's Madmartigan return plans. The long-awaited sequel series to 1988's Willow directed by Ron Howard and produced by George Lucas is inching closer to its premiere on Disney+. Starring Warwick Davis as the titular Willow Ufgood, the original Willow film follows the aspiring sorcerer's journey as he searches for baby Elora Danan, doomed by the evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda of Nockmaar (Jean Marsh). Alongside Davis stars Joanne Whalley as Bavmorda's daughter-turned-warrior Sorsha, and Val Kilmer as the handsome, sword-bearing anti-hero, Madmartigan. While both Davis and Whalley are confirmed to return in their respective roles for the new series, Kilmer is notably absent from revival plans.

Ahead of the series premiere, Willow's showrunner teases Val Kilmer's Madmartigan return to the series, per Syfy. Madmartigan will play a major role in the new series, though not physically, and will be a driving force behind the adventures that take place.

An older, wiser Willow meets a band of fresh faces — and promptly proposes they embark on a mighty quest — in our exclusive sneak peek from Disney+’s forthcoming follow-up to the Ron Howard-directed fantasy film.

Sign Up For Disney+ to watch Willow, Andor, Tales of the Jedi, Zootopia+, Disenchanted and more!

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Developed by Jonathan Kasdan and based on characters created by George Lucas,...

Willow showrunner Johnathan Kasdan recently discussed why the sequel television series had to be made. The upcoming Disney+ show will be a sequel to Ron Howard's 1988 cult fantasy film of the same name. Starring Warwick Davis as the titular character, a Nelwyn dwarf who aspired to be a powerful sorcerer, the diminutive sorcerer embarks on a journey to deliver the mysterious baby Elora Danan back to her people after she washes ashore near a Nelwyn village. However, the evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) believes the child to be the one destined to bring about her destruction and thus seeks to destroy her.

October 2020 saw the Willow television series announced with Davis returning to the starring role. Also returning after 34 years is Joanne Whalley as Sorsha as well as Kevin Pollack and Rick Overton as the brownies partners, Rool and Franjean. As a result of Covid-19 restrictions during shooting, Val Kilmer...

“Willow” fans have long questioned how the new Disney+ series will linkup with Val Kilmer’s beloved character Madmartigan. And that answered was revealed via Christian Slater. The new character was announced at the D23 Expo where the actor surprised fans on stage.

Announced by series star Warwick Davis, Slater’s character is somehow tied to Madmartigan as a “friend,” but more will be revealed later. “You have such a lot of energy, I can’t wait until you see him he’s great,” Davis said.

Slater seemed pretty impressed with the ability to go rogue on set. “This was a very fun character, we got to have some improve, ad-libs we came up with stuff on the spot which was fun,” Slater said.

A new trailer was also released showcasing more trolls, Brownies and more. Davis and Joanne Whalley reprise their roles as Willow Ufgood and Sorsha, respectively. Set...

Disney's D23 Expo has officially begun in Anaheim, California, and /Film's own Ethan Anderton is on the floor right now, bringing us pictures of concept art and costumes from the upcoming streaming series "Willow." Coming to Disney+ on November 30, the show stars Warwick Davis in a reprisal of his titular role from the 1988 film "Willow," which was produced by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard. 

The Disney+ series is a sequel, taking place 20 years after a young sorcerer named Willow helped a swordsman named Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) defeat Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) to save the baby Elora -- prophesied to be an empress. The world needs him back now, and so does the new cast, including Erin Kellyman ("The Green Knight"), Ellie Bamber ("Les Misérables"), Ruby Cruz ("Mare of Easttown"), Tony Revolori ("Spider-Man: Far From Home"), Dempsey Bryk ("Black Mirror"), Amar Chadha-Patel ("Alladin"), and Talisa Garcia ("The Girlfriend Experience...

The September release slate from Severin Films has been announced and detailed today, this latest batch of new releases headlined by 1980 classic The Changeling on 4K Ultra HD.

Severin Films will be haunting disc players across the continent with a new 4K edition of Peter Medak’s beloved ghost story The Changeling, along with landmark Spanish television series Tales to Keep You Awake, My Grandpa Is a Vampire via the Severin Kids imprint, and the entire Plaga Zombie Trilogy through sublabel Intervision Picture Corp.

As if that isn’t enough, Severin will also be putting out a Blu-ray double feature of Al Adamson’s Dracula vs. Frankenstein and Brain of Blood as a standalone release.

Read on for everything you need to know about Severin’s September slate…

The Changeling: It has been called “remarkable” (Paste Magazine), “utterly terrifying” (Mondo Digital) and “a ghost story guaranteed to freeze the...

Collector’s box on the horizon: Severin assembles hours of video extras and text illumination for another group of films featuring favorite actor Christopher Lee. The roundup of titles bookends his career as a screen vampire, with one of Lee’s earliest vampire roles and also his last turn as Count Dracula. Looming large on the academic side of Severin’s research are experts and biographers Kat Ellinger, Barry Forshaw, Troy Howarth, Kim Newman, Nathaniel Thompson and Jonathan Rigby, who also contributes a hundred-page book.

The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Collection 2

Blu-ray

Uncle Was a Vampire, The Secret of the Red Orchid, Dark Places, Dracula and Son, Murder Story

Severin Films

1959-1989 / Color / 2:39 widescreen, 1:66 widescreen, 1:85 widescreen

Street Date July 26, 2022

Available from Severin Films / 134.95

Starring alphabetically: Marie Hélène Breillat, Catherine Breillat, Joan Collins, Robert Hardy, Adrian Hoven, Klaus Kinski, Sylva Koscina, Herbert Lom, Susanne Loret, Jean Marsh, Marisa Mell,...