One of the vast numbers of major projects Disney is working on for its streaming service, Disney+, is the long-awaited sequel series to the fantasy film, “Willow.” And fans of the film were especially excited by the announcement that filmmaker Jon M. Chu would helm a portion of the new series. Unfortunately, it appears plans are changing, as Chu has to depart the series.
In a tweet, Chu revealed his decision to step away from working on “Willow.”
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“I’m heartbroken to let you all know that I, unfortunately, have to step away from directing ‘Willow,’” he wrote. “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 continued by expressing how much he loves “Willow” and is “devastated” that he can’t work with the other creators on the show. But he looks forward “to watching this magical new world unfold as a very enthusiastic fan.”
The filmmaker is probably best known for directing the hit rom-com “Crazy Rich Asians,” but he’s no stranger to action properties such as in “Now You See Me 2” and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation.” His next film is the forthcoming musical, “In the Heights.”
On the one hand, it’s sad that Chu is stepping away from the series, as the filmmaker could have added a unique style to the series. However, if you’re someone that is excited to see “Willow” arrive on Disney+, this does show how Disney is moving ahead fairly soon on production for the series. It’s been decades since the film’s release, and many fans are eagerly anticipating what Disney has up its sleeve for this series.
You can read his entire statement below:
