Warwick Davis Reveals How Val Kilmer Helped Him Survive ‘Willow’ Filming

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Warwick Davis acknowledges Val Kilmer as the driving force behind his successful completion of the filming for Ron Howard’s 1998 fantasy-adventure movie, “Willow.” In this production, Davis portrayed the character Willow Ufgood, while Kilmer played the unconventional mercenary and swordsman Madmartigan. However, it seems that Kilmer’s talents extended beyond combat scenes; he was also a motivational “mentor” who encouraged his fellow cast members. Davis expressed this sentiment during the opening of Universal Epic Universe in Orlando to Entertainment Weekly.

He played an essential role in helping me complete the movie ‘Willow.’ Whenever I felt drained, disheartened, or cold, he would encourage me to persevere with words like, ‘Let’s keep going!’ He led our team with determination and enthusiasm, keeping us motivated. He was truly a remarkable individual.

In the aftermath of his passing, Davis has added his voice to the numerous tributes and reminiscences shared by Hollywood stars regarding Kilmer. Known for his memorable film roles in movies such as Batman Forever, Top Gun, and Heat, among others, Kilmer succumbed to pneumonia on April 1 at the age of 65 after a prolonged battle with throat cancer. Throughout his career, he worked closely with many industry professionals, leaving an indelible mark on those who had the privilege of working with him. Davis, one such individual, acknowledged, “I’ve always felt compelled to share with the world what a remarkable person he was, as I believe the media sometimes gave an inaccurate portrayal of his true nature. He was genuinely warm, generous, and kind-hearted.

Val Kilmer Was Originally Part of ‘Willow’ Disney+ Series Plans

Among the films where Kilmer took a leading role, “Willow” stands out as one of the most financially successful, earning close to $140 million worldwide. This figure is four times greater than its production cost of $35 million, making it unsurprising that it was revived for a swords and sorcery series on Disney+ in 2022. Davis returned to his original role in the “Willow” sequel series, but due to Covid-19 safety measures and Kilmer’s throat cancer diagnosis, he couldn’t travel for filming, preventing him from reprising his iconic character Madmartigan. This was unfortunate as both Kilmer and showrunner Jon Kasdan had expressed a desire to bring the character back on screen.

In the creation of their series, the team cleverly paid tribute to Kilmer and his character by having Jack Kilmer, Val Kilmer’s real-life son and Joanne Whalley’s child, voice Madmartigan in the sixth episode. This allowed for a touching scene where Madmartigan spoke to his on-screen daughter, encouraging her to pass through a portal. Although Val Kilmer underwent surgery due to cancer and lost his natural speaking voice, he still contributed significantly to the recording process, with his performance serving as a guide track. Kasdan felt it was essential to include him because Val Kilmer had always been deeply connected to the Willow family.

It seems Kilmer expressed interest in reprising his role if given the chance, but sadly, the show got canceled after just one season, despite receiving favorable reviews and an 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, those who didn’t catch it when it aired can’t watch it now, as Disney+ decided to pull Willow (just the series, not the movie) from their platform soon after its termination.

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2025-05-24 16:32