Fanspot
Nelwyns Wood
“- Going the direction the bird is flying!
The Great Alwyn (Billy Barty) and Burglekutt (Mark Northover)
It’s going back to the village!
– Ignore the bird. Follow the river.”
Several scenes in Willow, especially at the beginning when Willow (Warwick Davis) and her children discover little Elora at the water’s edge, were filmed in Epping Forest, an ancient royal forest that quickly became the haunt of several highwaymen over the years.
It is here that Ron Howard produced several sequences, giving the world of the Nelwins, these distant cousins of the Hobbits, a decidedly woody patina.
Once upon a time there were Nelwyns
George Lucas first imagined the story of Willow, the diminutive sorcerer’s apprentice, while working with Warwick Davis on Return of the Jedi. Entirely built around the personality of the young actor still a child, Willow focuses on a people of small stature reminiscent of the Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.
The opportunity for George Lucas to organize the largest casting of small people in the history of cinema to constitute the population of the village of Willow. A people of which Kenny Baker, the famous interpreter of R2-D2, the hectic droid of the Star Wars saga, is a part.
A magician in the making
When he shoots Willow, under the direction of Ron Howard, Warwick Davis does not have much experience yet. It is also the first time he appears on screen with his face uncovered.
The 17 year old particularly appreciates the way his director works, as he confided to the website Avclub: “If George had directed WillowI think I would have felt a little left out. Ron Howard, on the other hand, took the time to answer all my questions about my character. For this kind of role, I think you need a director like Ron. His staging was great. That was all I needed.“
The trail the Nelwyns used at the beginning of their adventure is now known as the Willow Trail.
Warwick Davis was only 17 years old when Willow was filmed.
Epping Forest
This ancient royal forest is located in the south of England. It covers an area of 2,476 hectares
A privileged place for walkers, muse of artists who notably inspired the Genesis song The Battle of Epping Forest, this forest is located in the district of the same name and borders several villages. For a long time frequented by habitual criminals and highwaymen, it is unfortunately also famous for containing several graves of murdered people nearby. It has been used several times as a filming location.
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LONDON map of 100 cult places (French Edition)
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By Gilles Rolland
Passionné de cinéma, de rock and roll, de séries TV et de littérature. Rédacteur de presse et auteur des livres Le Heavy Metal au cinéma, Paroles de fans Guns N' Roses, Paroles de fans Rammstein et Welcome to my Jungle : 100 albums rock et autres anecdotes dépareillées. Adore également voyager à la recherche des lieux les plus emblématiques de la pop culture.