Retronauts Episode 516: Willow
You're gonna have beef with a silly little guy?
When George Lucas sold LucasFilm to Disney for four billion dollars back in 2012, the headlines focused on Star Wars because the Force draws ink. A few other people also wrote about Indiana Jones, who will indeed return to the silver screen this summer.
But George Lucas spent decades working in Hollywood; Star Wars may be his most famous creation but over the years he wrote, produced, and influenced dozens of other projects. And late last year, Disney revived one of his less-celebrated properties, the fantasy adventure Willow, as a television series, reuniting most of the cast to return to the world of…well, I'll be honest, I have no idea what it was called, and Google isn't helping.
Regardless of whether or not you remember Willow, Willow is back, and notably Willow (the film) received multiple video game adaptations in the late 1980s, making it perfect fodder for Retronauts (that's us). So put away your magic wands and listen to Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, and guest Chris Baker of Willow Talk chat about the fantasy epic that left a larger impression than you might expect.
Description: In 1988, as the Star Wars fields lay fallow, George Lucas gave us a fantasy epic he assured us he'd been dreaming up for years: Willow. This tale of magic and mystery spun the story of a humble hobb—er, Nelwyn—and his incredible journey to deliver a thing to a place in the manner of J.R.R. Tolkien. Needless to say, Willow didn't amount to the next Star Wars, and after a few video game adaptations, the book on Willow seemed forever closed... until very recently!
With the recent Disney+ series freshly behind us, there's never been a better time to look at the legacy (if any) Willow left behind. So join Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, and Chris Baker (of Willow Talk) as they dress in their finest Renaissance Faire gear to discuss this blast from Lucas' past that's gotten a new lease on life.
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MP3, 86 MB | 1:34:09 Direct download Retronauts on iTunes Retronauts at Audioboom
As with all of the episodes Bob produces, this week’s cover art is by Nick Daniel. Check out his Twitter, or patronize his Patreon!
