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“I Have The Power!” was the key to He-Man. He-Man empowered 5-year-old boys like me in the 1980s. You held the sword (which was quite expensive), and suddenly you had the power, not your parents or teacher.

“Doing my research” (watching the Netflix documentary The Toys that Made Us), I was surprised that He-Man was the best-selling toy, but only for a brief few years, before falling off a cliff into obscurity. Mattel’s attempts to bring it back over the years have been met by a collective shrug. It is also worth mentioning that the brilliant Filmation cartoon was a marketing effort to sell toys and merchandise. Unlike the Turtles, which was a weird, dark comic book that was tweaked to turn it into a hit, He-Man was a product of marketing efforts.

The fall of He-Man was abrupt. There seem to be 2 main factors. The first is that Mattel had a quantity-over-quality approach.

These days, Courteney Cox is a globally-known actor with several leading roles in sitcoms under her belt and an established place in the "Scream" universe as reporter Gale Weathers, but in the mid 1980s, she was just an unknown who had danced onstage with Bruce Springsteen in his music video for "Dancing in the Dark." Other than a few appearances in shows like "Murder, She Wrote" and "The Love Boat," she didn't have many credits to her name, but in 1987 she got a fairly major role in a movie that had the potential to be a huge blockbuster: "Masters of the Universe." 

"Masters of the Universe" was a wildly popular franchise that originally started as a line of toys, and in 1987, there was a cartoon series and animated movies about the adventures of Prince Adam, known better as He-Man, so a live-action "Masters of the Universe" movie seemed like a sure thing.

Fans awaiting the 2026 live-action reboot of Masters of the Universe will soon be able to revisit its classic predecessor on a new streaming platform. The 1987 Masters of the Universe movie starring Dolph Lundgren is heading to Prime Video on June 1, 2025.

Based on the Mattel toy franchise, Masters of the Universe was directed by Gary Goddard and starred Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor. It included other notable actors such as Scream star Courteney Cox and Billy Barty (The Lord of the Rings). In the film, He-Man and his friends travel to Earth to stop Skeletor from obtaining a special key that would allow him to take over the entire universe, including their home planet of Eternia.

When Masters of the Universe was released theatrically in 1987, it was a critical and commercial failure. The movie was unable to break even, grossing only $17 million worldwide against a $22 million budget.

Patty Maloney, an actress whose 30-plus year career included memorable turns on Little House on the Prairie, Syd & Marty Krofft’s Far Out Space Nuts, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and the Star Wars Holiday Special, has died. Her passing was confirmed via a post on the official Syd & Marty Krofft Facebook page. She was 89.

Maloney stood 3 feet 11 inches and weighed about 60 pounds. Her stature and pantomime stills meant she often worked in costume. And work she did, with memorable roles on some of the most popular TV shows of the ’70s an ’80s.

On her first series, the actress played the furry and funny Honk on the Kroffts’ Far Out Space Nuts, a character who spoke only in horn-like honks. The show was a Saturday morning staple for kids in the ’70s, especially via syndication. She also appeared on 13 episodes of The Krofft Superstar Hour and other of the duo’s shows.

Patty Maloney, the 3-foot-11 actress who played the alien Honk on the Sid & Marty Krofft family show Far Out Space Nuts and Chewbacca’s son, Lumpy, on the long-lamented Star Wars Holiday Special, has died. She was 89.

Maloney had suffered several strokes over the years and died Monday in hospice care in Winter Park, Florida, her brother, Dave Myrabo, told The Hollywood Reporter. “For a little person growing up in a big world, she did everything she wanted to do,” he said.

Maloney did lots of work alongside the 3-foot-10 Billy Barty. The two appeared together in the Wizard of Oz feature Under the Rainbow (1981), starring Chevy Chase, and on episodes of Little House on the Prairie, Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Trapper John, M.D. and more.

Far Out Space Nuts, starring Bob Denver and Chuck McCann as bumbling maintenance workers turned accidental space travelers, aired for one season (1975-76) on CBS.

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.

Tom Cruise can count on one hand the number of cinematic failures and box office bombs he's suffered in his illustrious 40-year Hollywood career. While some anticipated releases may have underperformed relative to their forecasts, no Cruise movie ranks as a bigger commercial black eye than Legend, the 1985 fantasy film directed by revered filmmaker Ridley Scott.

In Legend, Cruise plays Jack in the Green, a pure forest child who protects his lover Princess Lili (Mia Sara) from Blix, The Lord of Darkness (Alice Playten). A classic woodland fairytale full of ghouls and goblins, Legend was both a box office bomb and a critical misfire. It also marked the last time Cruise made a fantasy film and the only time Cruise and Ridley Scott collaborated. As Legend turns 40 next year, it's time for a closer look at the notorious Ridley Scott/Tom Cruise hiccup.

What Is Legend About?

Legend PG-13

Release...

Ridley Scotts 1985 fantasy epic Legend is heading to Tubi. Fans of the dark fantasy adventure will be able to watch a youthful Tom Cruise take on the mighty Tim Curry for free, and relive a movie that was a box office bomb on its release, but has since become a cult classic thanks to some iconic imagery and special effects.

In 1985, Ridley Scott had already tasted success with Alien, and he attempted to repeat that with Legend, a movie that continues to be as visually stunning now as it was almost 40 years ago. While it is almost unthinkable to imagine Cruise and Curry starring in a movie directed by Scott and the film not becoming a success, all three were in the early years of their careers, and the initial release in theaters barely made back the movies $25 million budget.

Legend PG-13AdventureFantasyRomance Release Date April 18, 1986Director Ridley ScottCast Tom Cruise,...

Although Ridley Scott is best known for movie franchises such as Blade Runner or Gladiator, there is one movie by the famed director that deserves a lot more praise. Since the late 1970s, Ridley Scott has helmed some of the most iconic and successful movies in modern Hollywood. From Alien to Thelma and Louise, Scott has created stories that remain in popular culture for decades after their release. Yet, not all of Ridley Scott's movies are lauded. In fact, one of his earliest movies was severely underrated upon its roll-out, and it continues to be looked over.

In 1985, Ridley Scott directed a movie called Legend. It was his fourth movie and came directly after Blade Runner and Alien. The movie starred Tom Cruise as the lead character Jack, a forest-dwelling young man who sets out to save his princess lover and protect the world from being taken over by Darkness.

Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon captivates audiences with his sleek design and amicable personality. The amazing special effects in The Lord Of The Rings bring Treebeard to life, emphasizing the ethereal history of Middle-earth. Pepita from Coco stands out with her unique design and formidable presence, adding depth to the story and Imelda's character.

Fantastical creatures that look incredibly cool are a key part of some of the most popular fantasy movies ever. Many of the best fantasy movies of all time feature magical creatures based on mythology and legend that contribute to the settings and provide jaw-dropping spectacle. Some fantasy creatures play more important roles in their respective movies than others, as they may serve as a classic dragon to defeat or a loyal steed/lifelong friend.

How these creatures are rendered depends on when the movie was made. Certain older fantasy and sci-fi movies with...

By the power of Umbrella Entertainment! Australia’s indie distribution treasure has given us another banger of a release with 1987’s Masters of the Universe. Now we can all watch the live-action production from the defunct, yet beloved, Cannon Films pitting He-Man versus Skeletor battle for Eternia re-Mastered via a new Blu-ray!

In this film, Skeletor (in an amazing and underrated performance by Frank Langella) and his legion wreak havoc on Eternia that results in imprisoning the Sorceress (Christina Pickles) and capturing Castle Grayskull. And he accomplishes these great feats by using a stolen portal-hopping musical device, the Cosmic Key, thanks to the help of Evil-Lyn (Meg Foster). He uses the Key to penetrate the Castle’s defenses, thus giving him “the power of Grayskull.”

In an attempted rescue effort, He-Man (Dolph Lundgren) and his squad featuring Man-At-Arms (Jon Cypher) and Arms’ daughter Teela (Chelsea Field) track down the inventor of the Cosmic Key,...

The same year he was cast to play the iconic character Kramer on the sitcom Seinfeld, Michael Richards could also be seen on the big screen in the comedy Uhf – which was a financial disappointment at the time of its release in the summer of 1989, but has gone on to gather a huge cult following over the years. Musician “Weird Al” Yankovic plays the lead role of George Newman, who is put in charge of the Uhf television channel Channel 62, with Richards in the supporting role of janitor-turned-host Stanley Spadowski… and for a while, it looked like Richards would be playing Stanley while dealing with a case of Bell’s palsy.

As Richards writes in his memoir Entrances and Exits, “Before the Seinfeld pilot, I star in three pilots: Herndon (1983), Help (1984), and Slickers (1985). All three are offered to me. The second pilot, Help, is retooled and called Marblehead Manor, and...

Little House on the Prairie featured legendary actors in guest and main roles, leaving impressive legacies in the industry. Notable stars like Jason Bateman, Melora Hardin, and Jonathan Banks appeared on the beloved family Western show. The cast members who have passed away, such as Michael Landon and Katherine MacGregor, left lasting impacts on the TV industry.

The Little House on the Prairie cast who have died in real life include some legendary and prolific actors whose filmographies comprise decades of work. The classic Western historical drama premiered on NBC in 1974 and lasted for nine seasons and three TV movie specials that premiered afterward, all following the Ingalls family who live on a farm in Minnesota in the 1870s-90s. Based on the novels by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie famously featured a large ensemble cast of recurring characters as well as a guest list of notable stars.

By the time Rumpelstiltskin was in the works, the slasher model of yesteryear was replaced with something fresh but still familiar enough. Hence the many oddball slashers where the antagonist is neither human nor ordinary. From djinns to scarecrows, the decade saw horror turning to more fantastical inspirations. Mark Jones, whose career began in writing for cartoons and television, essentially kicked off the trend with Leprechaun. And had his first movie not been so successful, his next would have likely never happened.

After striking gold with Leprechaun in the early 1990s, Mark Jones looked to another magical icon for his second horror movie. Two specific on-screen depictions of Rumpelstiltskin influenced Jones’ own unique reimagining; he drew from Shaike Ophir and Billy Barty’s performances, respectively from the vintage anthology show Shirley Temple’s Storybook and an ‘87 movie directed by David Irving. Jones remembered Ophir’s take on the Brothers Grimm character to be particularly creepy.

Gwildor, a character from the 1987 Masters of the Universe movie, is included in the new Masters of the Universe: Revolution series on Netflix. Gwildor's appearance in the series is a shot at redemption for the character, who was overshadowed in the poorly received movie. Gwildor's inclusion in the series allows for him to finally interact with Orko, which is something fans have been waiting for.

With little studio presence at San Diego Comic-Con, there wasn't much news from the annual fan event. However, Mattel and producers of the forthcoming Masters of the Universe: Revolution animated series on Netflix were there. One major revelation is the inclusion of the character Gwildor from the Masters of the Universe movie released in 1987. While most folks might wonder who he is, '80s kids of a certain age would jump up and cheer if it wouldn't throw out their backs.

The original run of...

Masters of the Universe: Revolution brings back Gwildor, a character from the 1987 movie, bridging the gap between the film and the original series. Gwildor played a central role in the movie as the inventor of the Cosmic Key, and his presence in Revolution suggests that the events of the film are now considered canon. The connection between the movie and the show opens up possibilities for more exciting stories and adventures, including the potential use of Gwildor's technology to explore new locations.

Warning: Spoilers for Masters of the Universe: Revolution part 1

A major character addition in Masters of the Universe: Revolution builds a bridge between the classic show and the live-action movie. Two years after the conclusion of Fillmmation's He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon in 1985, Dolph Lundgren starred as He-Man in a live-action adaptation that pitted him against Frank Langella's Skeletor. Directed by Gary Goddard, the...

Largely rejected upon its release back in 1987, the live-action film adaptation of Masters of the Universe (watch it Here) has gathered a cult following over the decades, and elements of the film have even been worked into the recent animated Netflix shows Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Masters of the Universe: Revolution. On April 17th, Umbrella Home Entertainment in Australia will be giving the film a collector’s edition Blu-ray release – and copies are available for pre-order Here! (Just make sure you have the ability to play Region B Blu-rays before ordering one.)

Directed by Gary Goddard from a screenplay by David Odell, Masters of the Universe has the following synopsis: When the evil Skeletor finds a mysterious power called the Cosmic Key, he becomes nearly invincible. However, courageous warrior He-Man locates inventor Gwildor, who created the Key and has another version of it. During a battle, one of...

Plot: The new epic chapter in the battle for Castle Grayskull!. The newly mechanized Skeletor, armed with Motherboard’s might, attacks Eternia’s heart while Prince Adam grapples with a new responsibility and what that means for him as He-Man!

Review: Back in 2021, I gave a glowing review to Kevin Smith’s revival of He-Man. Titled Masters of the Universe: Revelation, the Netflix original was released in two five-episode drops, both of which I loved. A blend of modern animation techniques coupled with a throwback to the Filmation style of the 1980s cartoon, Revelation was blasted online by a vocal minority who disliked Smith’s decision to “kill off” Prince Adam in the first episode and make the series centered on Teela and many of the female characters. By the end of the full series, Smith’s vision came to fruition, even though many fans were not swayed. The second...

This article contains spoilers for Masters of the Universe: Revolution.

Episode 3 of Masters of the Universe: Revolution features former Man-At-Arms Duncan (Liam Cunningham) and wizard Orko (Griffin Newman) achieving an important goal, enhancing He-Man’s Sword of Power. To do this, Duncan goes to the one person he believes can do it, a locksmith who is, “small in stature and tall on talent.”

That locksmith is a short creature named Gwildor (Ted Biaselli.)

For those not well-versed in their Masters of the Universe franchise lore, Gwildor doesn’t come from the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Filmation cartoon. He actually debuted in the 1987 live-action movie, Masters of the Universe, played by Billy Barty. In that film he was also a locksmith whose main purpose in the plot was as the creator of the Cosmic Key, the object used to transport He-Man and company to Earth in that film.

Marcia DeRousse, who came to the aid of the supernatural as Dr. Patricia Ludwig on the HBO drama True Blood, died Saturday in Altadena after a long illness, a publicist announced. She was 70.

She wrote on Facebook in April that a fall in her doctor’s office was going to “lead to my death,” adding that the spill “caused my hiatal hernia to move to an area where it is now dangerous.”

The 4-foot-4 DeRousse made her big-screen debut alongside fellow little person Billy Barty in the Warner Bros. film Under the Rainbow (1981), also starring Chevy Chase and Carrie Fisher. She also was in the movies Tiptoes (2002) and D.J. Caruso’s The Disappointments Room (2016).

DeRousse appeared on episodes on the Alan Ball-created True Blood during its second, fourth and seventh seasons.

A native of Doniphan, Missouri, DeRousse graduated from the University of Missouri and came to Los Angeles with...

Now that Barbie has busted open the box office and set records of all kinds, Awfully Good Movies presents another Mattel toy line that had far less luck on the big screen back in 1987: Dolph Lundgren as He-Man in Masters of the Universe!

Yes, from Cannon Films, the proudly cheap studio that filled up many theaters with glorified skin flicks and Chuck Norris ass-kickers in the 80s, comes the cinematic adaptation of the powerful plastic figures that became a hit animated TV series, with Ivan Drago stepping out of the ring to play the most powerful man in the universe who saves the day in the land of Eternia. However, any significant resemblance to the iconic Filmation show will stop and start at the characters, as a battle with Skeletor (Frank Langella) sends He-Man, Man-at-Arms and Teela (Orko or Prince Adam playsets not included) off to present day California,...

Figment, the tiny purple dragon that served as the mascot to Epcot’s Imagination Pavilion and the star of the pavilion’s marquee attraction is finally getting his own movie, from producers Point Grey and writers Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, TheWrap has confirmed.

If you are unfamiliar with Figment, he’s a tiny dragon who guides guests through the endless world of imagination, voiced initially by Billy Barty and later by Dave Goelz. The original attraction that featured Figment, Journey into Imagination, had a unique layout and ride system, combining the patented Disney Omnimover ride system with several large show scenes that revolved along with the ride vehicle. The creation of another character, the Dream Finder, Figment was a rascal and scamp and illuminated the possibilities of imagination through inventive show scenes. Created by a dedicated team of Imagineers that included Tony Baxter and Steve Kirk, it was largely...

“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+ has released the teaser trailer for “Willow,” the Lucasfilm and Imagine Entertainment series that serves as a sequel to the 1988 fantasy film of the same name.

The company revealed the first look footage during its Star Wars Celebration event in Anaheim, with star Warwick Davis, creator Jonathan Kasdan, the original film’s director Ron Howard, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and some of the series’ cast on hand.

“It’s a dream to return to this character,” Davis said onstage. “Making this movie was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Davis’ Willow narrates much of the teaser, reintroducing viewers to the mystical world of the original film.

“There is a balance between all things — light and shadow, good and evil,” Willow says. “When that balance is upset, the universe corrects. … Into the unknown, that’s where we must go.”

In addition to the first look, the “Willow” crew...

The big-scale Cinerama fantasy once thought unrecoverable is back — a terrific restoration brings us George Pal’s ode to fairy tales, filmed on Bavarian locations with an international cast. Laurence Harvey and Karl Boehm are the brothers that compiled the famed tales of princesses, witches, magic spells and fiery dragons. Their idealized biography is interspersed with three full fairy tale stories, about a magic cloak of invisibility, a cobbler’s helpful elves, and a pair of fearless dragon slayers. The show has dancing, beautiful locations, a sequence with Puppetoons and a terrific animated dragon. Featured stars are Claire Bloom, Walter Slezak, Barbara Eden, Oscar Homolka, Martita Hunt, Yvette Mimieux, Russ Tamblyn, Jim Backus, Terry-Thomas and Buddy Hackett; a long-form docu goes into fascinating detail explaining how Dave Strohmaier and Tom March accomplished the mind-boggling restoration.

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1962 / Color / 2:89 widescreen [Smilebox] widescreen / 140 135 min.

Busby Berkeley’s musical comedy extravaganza not only gets away with a social message, it makes one of the best cultural statements ever about the Great Depression. Social upheaval suddenly being a real thing these days, we understand. The story is a romantic backstage musical but The Wolf at the Door is present in the dialogue, the lyrics, everywhere. This might be the sexiest of Berkeley’s musicals, with even star Joan Blondell teasing the nudity; but audiences were floored when the gala curtain number ‘Remember My Forgotten Man’ shouted out a cry for social justice. Warren William, Aline MacMahon, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell & Guy Kibbee star; and this is Ned Sparks’ best role, with additional gold-digging by pert ‘n’ perky Ginger Rogers.

Gold Diggers of 1933

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1933 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 96 min. / Available at Amazon.com / Street Date February 8, 2022 / 21.99

Starring: Warren William, Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell,...

Actor Clayne Crawford joins Josh and Joe to discuss a few of his favorite flicks.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Two Mules For Sister Sara (1970)

Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) – John Landis’s trailer commentary. Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review.

Mad Max (1979) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary. Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review.

The Killing Of Two Lovers (2021)

Metropolis (1927)

On The Waterfront (1954) – John Badham’s trailer commentary.

Top Gun (1986)

Gremlins (1984) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review. Tfh’s Gremlins celebration.

Young Guns (1988)

Citizen Kane (1941) – John Landis’s trailer commentary.

Star Wars (1977)

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Moonraker (1979)

Robocop (1987) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary.

12 Monkeys (1995) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review.

Brazil (1985)

Predator (1987)

Rocky (1976)

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) – Alan Spencer’s trailer commentary.

The Fisher King (1991)

The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

Five Easy Pieces (1970)

Easy Rider (1969) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary.

Batman (1989)

Grand Hotel (1932)

It’s Alive (1974) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary.

If Ridley Scott stopped making movies immediately after Alien in 1979, he’d likely still be remembered as one of the great horror directors of all time. But I’m damn glad he didn’t stop there, because six years later he released a film that would forever shape my taste as a movie fan. And while his twisted fairytale Legend isn’t strictly horror, it has more than enough gorgeously spooky elements to enthrall any horror fan. Anytime it popped up on television I remember dropping everything and planting myself in front of the screen, ready to be enraptured by a world of fairies, goblins, and one of the most terrifying (yet captivating) villains ever put to screen.

Now, the seed for Legend actually predates Alien, as Scott first conceived the idea while he was filming The Duelists. The story took shape over the course of several years, with Scott...

Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights director Jon M. Chu has stepped down from directing the pilot for Disney+’s upcoming series, Willow.

The filmmaker announced his exit on Monday afternoon, noting that he’s “heartbroken” to step away from the project.

“With the production schedule moving due to continued lockdowns in the UK, and with a new baby coming this summer (surprise!), the timing is just not going to work for me and my family,” Chu wrote in a statement. “As you may know, Willow has been one of my favorite movies since I was a child, so I’m devastated that I won’t be able to work with my heroes old and new like Kathy, Ron, Jon, Wendy, Michelle, and the amazing cast and crew they’ve put together.”

In October 2020, Disney+ announced that Chu would helm the series pilot. The announcement of the new Disney+ series,...

The Willow Disney+ series will need to find a new director as Jon M. Chu has announced his departure from the project. Last month, Disney confirmed that Chu would be directing the series' pilot episode with a planned release for 2022, but production has since been bumped to this summer. Taking to Twitter, the filmmaker explains that his exit is not personal and is just a matter of timing now that his family has a new addition on the way. From the Twitter post:

Personal Update on Willow for @disneyplus that I’ve been working on... pic.twitter.com/eS7uurCMfg

— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) January 11, 2021"I'm heartbroken to let you all know that I unfortunately have to step away from directing Willow. With the production schedule moving due to continued lockdowns in the UK, and with a new baby coming this summer (surprise!), the timing is just not going to...

The Willow TV Show is officially happening. While Lucasfilm, purchased by Disney in 2012, is most well known for it Star Wars tales of galaxies far, far away - those stories are not the only for which the shingle is known. Willow, a 1988 dark fantasy drama, was also released by the label. Today, at Disney's massive investor day event, it was announced that Willow would be getting a sequel series that will be released directly to the studio's streamer, Disney+.

Willow, an Original Series from Lucasfilm starring Warwick Davis, with pilot directed by @JonMChu, is coming in 2022 to @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/6t6s09gNbZ

— Disney (@Disney) December 10, 2020

Willow, released in 1988, was directed by Ron Howard and written by Bob Dolman from a Story by George Lucas, who also produced. The film starred Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh and Billy Barty. The story follows Davis, who plays an...

Erin Kellyman, Cailee Spaeny, and Ellie Bamber are negotiating to star in the “Willow” series at Disney Plus, Variety has confirmed.

Details on the characters the three would play are being kept under wraps. The show will take place years after the original and will introduce new characters to the world originally established in the 1988 film.

Kellyman previously appeared in the Lucasfilm release “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” Her other credits include the recent BBC miniseries take on “Les Misérables” along with shows like “Life” and “Don’t Forget the Driver.” She is repped by CAA and Curtis Brown Group.

Spaeny most recently starred in ” The Craft: Legacy.” She also starred in the FX on Hulu limited series “Devs” and will appear in HBO’s upcoming “Mares of Easttown.” Her other feature credits include “Pacific Rim: Uprising” and “Bad Times at the El Royale.” She is repped by WME, Identity Agency Group,...

John Schlesinger’s adaptation of Nathanael West’s novel is one of the best ‘Hollywood on Hollywood’ pictures ever, even if it soaks everything about The Golden Age of Tinseltown in an acid bath of cynicism. The perverse dystopia of dreams and vice is beautifully rendered in every respect, and culminates in a finale that caught ordinary audiences by surprise. Is this an indictment of the shallow aims of America’s Fantasyland, or one misanthrope’s vision of self-loathing and apocalyptic wish fulfillment? Don’t look for anyone to root for, as even the benign characters are moral freaks. Karen Black, Burgess Meredith, Donald Sutherland and William Atherton give utterly original performances; [Imprint] has a secured a great new interview extra with Atherton.

The Day of the Locust

Blu-ray

Viavision [Imprint] 13

1975 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 144 min. / Street Date November 6, 2020 /

Starring: Donald Sutherland, Karen Black, Burgess Meredith, William Atherton, Geraldine Page, Richard Dysart, Bo Hopkins,...

The Willow television adaptation has been handed a series order at Disney+.

Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu will direct the pilot for the series, which is slated to begin production next year.

This comes 18 months after news of the development of the adaptation of the movie, directed by Ron Howard from a story by George Lucas, first emerged.

The fantasy film starred Warwick Davis as a reluctant farmer who plays a critical role in protecting a special baby from a tyrannical queen who vows to destroy her and take over the world. Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, and Billy Barty also starred.

Chu will also serve as executive producer along with showrunners Jonathan Kasdan (Solo) and Wendy Mericle (Arrow). Jonathan Kasdan wrote the pilot. Ron Howard, also returns as executive producer on the series with Bob Dolman, writer of the original film, serving as consulting producer. Kathleen Kennedy,...

The enchanting world of “Willow,” created by George Lucas, is officially coming to the small screen.

Disney Plus has confirmed a sequel series taking place years after the events of the original Ron Howard-directed pic is heading into production next year. Howard is returning to the project as executive producer alongside original star Warwick Davis, who will once again play the titular hero Willow Ufgood.

The series has also tapped “Crazy Rich Asians” and “In the Heights” director Jon M. Chu to helm the pilot and exec produce. Jonathan Kasdan (“Solo”) and Wendy Mericle (“Arrow”) will serve as showrunners.

“Willow” the series hails from Lucasfilm and represents the company’s first non-“Star Wars” venture since 2015. The show will introduce all-new characters to the magical realm of fairy queens and two-headed Eborsisk monsters. News of the official greenlight from Disney Plus comes over a year after the project was...

While the movie was not a massive success upon initial release, the family adventure Willow has gone on to become a cherished cult classic, with talk of a sequel popping up every so often over the years. Original director Ron Howard has now given an update on the potential Willow 2 Disney+ series, and while the TV show sequel has not been officially greenlit just yet, his words are very positive indeed.

"I was in a two-hour story meeting last night. The writer Jon Kasdan is leading the charge. They have a great group of writers and it's in very active development. The scripts are going great. So, they have to get through the season and the budget. And so forth, there's no green light there yet, but I'm very optimistic about it. I love [Kasdan's] take on it."

As Howard mentions, Willow 2 has not yet been given the go-ahead, but the...

A sequel to 1988's cherished family fantasy adventure, Willow, was teased back in January, with the idea being that Willow 2 would be a Disney+ series. But, since getting fan's excitement levels bubbling over, not much else has been said about the project. Well, Willow 2's potential director, Ron Howard, has now revealed a little more about the possible follow-up.

"Well, if I say anything too concrete it's gonna go viral because anytime I say anything about Willow, people take it all very seriously. I will say that, let's see...what can I say? It's still in development. It doesn't have a green light. Warwick Davis is thrilled by it and if we are lucky enough for it to go, he would come back as Willow."

So, sadly it does not sound like Willow 2 is very far along at all, however, the fact that the project is still in development is certainly promising,...

Production on the Willow sequel series has officially begun, as writer Jon Kasdan (Solo) has revealed that the writing process is now under way. On his official Twitter account, Kasdan shared an image of a cap on the wall bearing an image of an illustrated Willow. Just to ensure there's no mistaking who the character is, his name is written beneath the illustration as well. "The office is open," Kasdan writes in the caption, confirming the project is definitely getting made. You can peek at the tweet below.

The office is open. pic.twitter.com/wty5ENi3He

— Jon Kasdan (@JonKasdan) January 6, 2020

Last year, Ron Howard, who directed the original Willow movie, teased the upcoming sequel series by revealing discussions were taking place to bring the project to Disney+. "I think it'd be a great way to go. In fact, George [Lucas] always talked about the possibility of a Willow series,...

Willow may be returning to the small screen. A series reboot of the MGM fantasy film from Ron Howard and George Lucas is being considered at Disney+.

Howard, who directed the film from a story by Lucas, told MTV’s Happy Sad Confused podcast that Jon Kasdan, a writer on Howard’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, has been “hounding” him about rebooting the pic for the upcoming Disney+ streaming service.

“I think it’d be a great way to go,” Howard said. “In fact, George always talked about the possibility of a Willow series, and it’d be great and more intimate, and built around that character and some of the others. And Jon Kasdan has, I think, an inspired take on it and it could be really, really cool.”

There have been conversations about the project at Disney+, a source tells Deadline.

The fantasy film starred Warwick Davis...

Ron Howard is in talks to bring a “Willow” sequel series to Disney+, with actor Warwick Davis — who played the title character in the 1988 film — set to return, TheWrap has learned.

Howard said that “serious discussions” for a continuation — not a reboot — from himself and “Solo” writer Jonathan Kasdan were ongoing at the upcoming streaming service, during an interview with the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast.

“Warwick is so cool and so good and he’s such a good actor that I really hope we get the chance to see the mature Willow in action,” Howard said.

Disney+ declined TheWrap’s request for comment on the project.

Directed by Howard and produced by George Lucas, “Willow” starred Davis as Willow, a reluctant farmer who plays a critical role in protecting a special baby from a tyrannical queen who vows to destroy her and take over the world in a high fantasy setting.

Ron Howard and “Solo” writer Jonathan Kasdan are in negotiations for a sequel series to Howard’s 1988 feature “Willow” at Disney+, Variety has confirmed.

The original fantasy film came from a George Lucas story and was produced by Lucasfilm, so a Disney+ series adaptation would seem like a natural fit, given how many other Lucasfilm projects are in the works for the streaming platform.

In an interview on MTV’s “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Howard said that “serious discussions” were ongoing and confirmed that Warwick Davis, who played the titular character in the original, would be returning.

“Warwick is so cool and so good and he’s such a good actor that I really hope we get the chance to see the mature Willow in action,” Howard said.

“Willow” centers on a dwarf Willow Ufgood (Davis) who reluctantly forced into playing a critical role in protecting a special infant named...

It was just a few days ago that we passed along word that Sony and Band of Robbers directing duo Aaron and Adam Nee's new big-budget reboot of Mattel's He-Man and the Masters of the Universe flick may have snagged its lead. Supposedly, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, The Fosters and Sierra Burgess Is a Loser star Noah Centineo is in talks to play He-Man. And today we have word that, regardless of who ends up playing Prince Adam and/or He-Man, this new movie will begin shooting in Prague on August 19th.

It's about time this reboot got to the shooting stage as a reimagining of Masters of the Universe has been teased for as long as I can remember. Actually, it has really only been a big project in Hollywood since 2007 when rumors were circling that Face-off and Broken Arrow director John Woo was...

Hervé Villechaize is described early in HBO’s new film My Dinner with Hervé as “the most famous dwarf in the world.” The scene is set a decade after Villechaize’s 1983 firing from his iconic role on Fantasy Island as the bell-ringing Tattoo (“De plane! De plane!”) and two decades after he first became famous as the Bond villain’s henchman Nick Nack in The Man with the Golden Gun. Yet the honorific, while both dismissive and outdated, still fit him after all that time. Fantasy Island and Tattoo were just that beloved,...

Chelsea Field is best known for playing the super hot warrior Teela -- opposite Billy Barty as the interdimensional locksmith Gwildor -- in the 1987 He-Man masterpiece 'Masters of the Universe.' Guess what she looks like now! Read more...

This Week in Home Video‘They’re Playing With Fire’ Blends Bloody Violence and T&A Thrills to Surprising EffectPlus 13 more new releases to watch at home this week on Blu-ray/DVD.

Welcome to this week in home video! Click the title to buy a Blu-ray/DVD from Amazon and help support Fsr in the process!

Pick of the WeekThey’re Playing With Fire [Kl Studio Classics]

What is it? A sexy college professor seduces her student, and then people start dying horrible deaths.

Why see it? I’ve been a Sybil Danning fan for more years than I care to recall, but somehow this one slipped past me before now. I’m not sure what teen me would have thought, but as an adult I’m in awe of just how off the rails it gets from its very clear T&A origin. From the cover to the copy the film sells itself as just another sex flick, but...

Halloween is a time when regular folk allow themselves to see the world as us horror lovers do – weird and wonderful, sinister mischief with tongue in cheek under (and over) tones. They watch that scary movie they’ve been meaning to get to for the past year, string up skeletons, and parade around at office parties in the latest ironic costumes (expect tons of Trumps and Weiners this year). But for the fearful faithful, this is our workaday; we watch the films daily, display our rooms with terror trinkets, and dress up as our favourite icons at constant conventions around the globe. So what separates the actual day of Halloween from our normal routine? TV viewing, of course.

‘Tis the season when every station trots out horror programming, sometimes for weeks on end leading up to and including the big night. A lot of this is for Johnny and Jane...

Back in 1988, Ron Howard was still much more well-known as an actor than he was a director, from iconic roles in Green Acres, The Andy Griffith Show, Happy Days and American Graffiti. The actor/filmmaker had directed hit comedies such as Night Shift, Splash, Cocoon and Gung Ho before he delved into the world of fantasy filmmaking with the iconic Willow. During a Ama session to promote his new film In the Heart of the Sea, in theaters this weekend, the filmmaker was asked if he would ever consider making a sequel to Willow. Here's what the director had to say.

"Right now, the Lucasfilm team led by Kathleen Kennedy, who is an old dear friend, is entirely myopically focused on the Star Wars universe as you can imagine. So I think the immediate possibility of another Willow movie is probably not on the front burner. But Warwick Davis is such a cool guy,...

Anchor Bay Entertainment

Forget No Holds Barred, Ready To Rumble and The Wrestler. Pretty much every wrestling fan has seen them, for better or for worse, and they’ve penetrated mainstream pop culture through cable reruns and award shows.

However, there’s a whole world of bizarre, terrible and oddly wonderful wrestling films that once seen, cannot be unseen. There’s vanity biopics, Japanese science fiction, and family-friendly dog shenanigans (seriously), but the common thread that stretches between them all is our beloved pseudo-sport.

I’ve included Immortal Dialogue for all of these cinematic treasures, and I want you to know that I didn’t just crib these from an IMDb quotations page. Don’t get me wrong, I totally would have, but most of these movies are so obscure that they don’t even have quotations on their IMDb pages!

You’re welcome.

Proceed at your own risk, friends.

Mike Cecchini Aug 7, 2019

The He-Man and The Masters of the Universe movie from 1987 with Dolph Lundgren is always worth another look.

Masters of the Universe, the 1987 movie starring Dolph Lundgren that transferred what was at the time one of the most successful toy lines of all time to the big screen, wasn’t as well received as anybody hoped. The modestly budgeted He-Man movie underperformed at the box office, and response was so lukewarm that it’s credited as one of the factors that toppled the Masters of the Universe toyline from absolute mastery of the boy's action figure market to mere afterthought in the space of a year.

Much has been made of the failures of the Masters of the Universe movie, and the disappointment inherent in the decision to set the vast majority of the film on Earth: two teenagers and a bumbling detective are the primary Pov...

By Lee Pfeiffer

One of Mel Brooks' least-discussed films, the 1991 comedy "Life Stinks", is also one of his most accomplished works. The film didn't click with Brooks's usual audience at the time, perhaps because the film is laced with social commentary. Brooks obviously ignored the old Hollywood advice to "Leave the messages to Western Union". Nonetheless, it's precisely because of this departure from his usual productions that gives "Life Stinks" a certain poignancy that isn't found in his earlier works. Granted, Brooks always included some sentiment in his films (even Zero Mostel's Max Byalystock in "The Producers" is con man with some admirable traits.) However, "Life Stinks" makes a  plea for compassion toward society's most vulnerable people, even as it concentrates on the primary purpose of any Brooks film: to make the audience laugh.  

The movie opens with a very amusing scene in which we are introduced to the central character,...