Culture

Willow star Warwick Davis slams Disney+ for removing the LGBTQ+ inclusive series

By Jordan Robledo

23rd October 2023

Willow star Warwick Davis has slammed Disney+ for removing the fan-favourite series from its platform. 

Back in 2022, fans of the 1988 film of the same name were finally treated to the highly anticipated sequel series. 

The show, which takes place 17 years after the defeat of Queen Bavmorda, follows a group of unlikely heroes as they set off on “a dangerous quest to places far beyond their home, where they must face their inner demons and come together to save their world.” 

Following its eight-episode release, Willow received universal acclaim for its engaging storylines, LGBTQIA+ representation and expanding the original film’s extensive lore. 

On 16 March, two months after the show’s season one finale, fans were left devastated when Deadline reported that Disney was axing the fantasy teen drama.

However, a day later, the show’s creator, Jon Kasdan, revealed that the adventure series would be returning for a second season but was simply on an extended pause. 

“We’ve developed and written what we hope is a brain-melting fun, richer, darker and better Volume II, which builds on the characters and story of our first eight episodes,” he added. 

“Ignore the bird, follow the river, I promise it’ll take you where you need to go.” 

While Kasdan seemingly confirmed Willow’s return, Disney+ threw the fandom for a loop when they removed the show from its platform in May. 

“We are in the process of reviewing the content on our STC services to align with the strategic changes in our approach to content curation,” CFO Christine McCarthy revealed in a Disney earnings call, per Deadline.

Disney+

Disney+

Since that fateful day, fans have continued to express their disappointment in Disney’s decision across various social media posts. 

One fan on X (formerly known as Twitter) wrote: “Willow being removed from Disney+ yet the poster still being a Disney insiders reward at full price seems like such a weird move.”

Another viewer wrote: “WDYM THEY REMOVED WILLOW FROM DISNEY+.” 

Fans weren’t the only ones upset with Disney. Davis, who played the titular character in both the original film and series, also expressed his annoyance in a post on X.

“I meet lovely people on a daily basis who are fans of #Willow, who are the reason the @DisneyPlus series was made,” he wrote. 

“Please tell me @WaltDisneyCo, what do I say to these subscribers when they ask why they can’t watch the series any more? #embarrassing.”

Even though fans and Davis have slammed Willow’s removal, Kasdan expressed a different reaction to the news back in May. 

“I’ve been quiet on this news that Willow is leaving Disney+ cause… I’m kinda into it. I grew up at a time when Disney movies were periodically re-released and not available to own, and it made them more special,” he wrote in a now-deleted X post. 

“I worry about many things, but NONE of them are that Willow will never be available again, either on [Disney Plus] or perhaps… someplace else.”