HBO’s Harry Potter series has a new Harry, Ron, and Hermione, as well as other new actors stepping into the magical world we all love. However, Warwick Davis, who played three Harry Potter characters in the original movies, is returning to the Wizarding World for the TV adaptation as Professor Flitwick. As for what it was like to step back into the shoes of the cheerful Charms teacher, the actor explained why refilming those scenes was “weird.” However, there's also a new addition that fans will love.

If you recall, Warwick Davis was quite the transformative actor, getting to play Professor Flitwick, a Goblin Bank Teller, and Griphook in the Harry Potter movies. For the TV series, the Willow actor is the first of the original actors to return as he reprises the Hogwarts Charms professor. In his interview with Times Radio, Davis got real about what was “weird” about refilming his Professor Flitwick scenes, and I totally get it:

Yes, the book-to-screen adaptation does directly connect to the OG movies by being shot at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden. It would be like returning to a familiar environment all over again. I can imagine the nostalgia Davis must have felt, surrounded by Hogwarts students again, with “a wand at the ready.”

Even though Warwick Davis is filming a lot of similar scenes as he did in the movies, it doesn’t mean his new Harry Potter experience is the exact same. To that point, the Leprechaun actor explained one new addition coming to the upcoming series that fans, like myself, will love:

That’s what I love to hear! As much as I love the Harry Potter movies, it would have been nice for the films to try to capture the same character development and depth of backstory that the J.K. Rowling books did. However, they simply just didn't have the time to go into deep detail. Fortunately, the HBO series has been priding itself on being a “faithful” adaptation, with each season capturing each book.

Plus, I’d like to believe the underrated Harry Potter film character of Professor Flitwick will get his flowers in the TV series, as he did in the books. Hopefully, we'll get to learn about his Ravenclaw student background and the fact that he's a master duelist. It would be great to see the series give the sunny professor the recognition he deserves.

It may have been “weird” for the returning Harry Potter actor to come back as Professor Flitwick on the same location grounds as the OG films. However, at least his reprisal as the Hogwarts professor will give fans a new faithful adaptation that fans haven’t seen before on screen. And I’m all the more psyched for this!

You can revisit Warwick Davis portraying his three Harry Potter characters by streaming the original films with a Peacock subscription or a Max subscription. And get ready to see him come back to Hogwarts with the upcoming Max series, which should hit the streaming schedule in 2027.

Before Jennifer Aniston became America’s sweetheart on Friends, (which is streamable with a Max subscription), she cut her teeth in the entertainment business with a cult classic. The movie in question is Leprechaun, a low-budget 1993 horror flick where she played a character that squared off against a gold-obsessed goblin played by Warwick Davis. And, according to Davis, some of her on-screen terror might’ve been the real deal. That aside, though, Davis also revealed what stood out about Aniston at that point.

Warwick Davis chatted with Entertainment Weekly at the opening of Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando. It was during the event that he shared his thoughts on filming what some might call a not-so-great but still a fun and campy awesome '90s horror movie. Davis mentioned just how taken aback Jennifer Aniston was when she saw him in his full costume on set. According to the Willow star:

Davis was buried under layers of grotesque prosthetics and long, sharp nails to play the evil Leprechaun, and he admits the whole process was physically demanding. Considering how Davis' appearance for the film, I can understand how Aniston or any of their co-stars would be unnerved. Still, it was effect for what the film was going for. While the horror-comedy hybrid didn’t wow critics, it clawed its way to a box office take of $8.5 million on a shoestring budget under $1 million, per Box Office Mojo.

Of course, Leprechaun may not be the role anyone expected to launch the career of someone who would star in one of the best sitcoms of all time. Over the years, Jennifer Aniston has poked fun at the film for being one of her worst roles, even famously calling it “embarrassing” in a 2021 InStyle interview. Despite all of that, Davis wasn’t surprised when she landed the life-changing role of Rachel Green soon after. He saw something early on that others might’ve missed:

So, as Aniston was fending off a demonic fairy in an old farmhouse, Davis was already clocking the charisma that would turn her into one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. Despite the We’re the Millers star’s occasional quips about her debut in horror movies, Leprechaun’s director, Mark Jones, told EW in 2014 that the actress later assured him she didn’t mind the film and had been misquoted in the past.

More than thirty years later, Jones' 1993 horror film stands as a campy cult classic and a fascinating footnote in the otherwise polished résumé of the Morning Show actress. But, for Davis, the film isn’t just horror nostalgia; it’s a time capsule of two careers on very different trajectories, colliding for one weird, wonderful, and slightly terrifying movie.

Jennifer Aniston isn’t the only Leprechaun alum who's made it big. Warwick Davis is a movie icon, from playing an Ewok in Star Wars to starring in Willow and its Disney+ spinoff and playing a Hogwarts professor in the Harry Potter movies. Davis has truly had an extraordinary career, and I'm grateful for his work, including the A+ way he spooked Aniston and co. on screen.

Check out Leprechaun for yourself by streaming it for free on Tubi.

One of the benefits of so many studios having their own streaming platforms was supposed to be that we would no longer lose access to content. Since the studio that owned the movie or TV show was the one offering it, there would be no worry of things disappearing due to the end of a licensing agreement. And yet platforms from Disney+ to Max have shown us this was never really the case, and Willow notably disappeared from the Disney streamer.

Over the last couple of years, we have seen plenty of content disappear from even the best streaming services, including shows and movies that were specifically created for streaming, and aren’t available anywhere else. One of those that felt that ax was the Willow series on Disney+, and more than a year and a half after the show vanished from the world, star Warwick Davis is honest in his frustration, calling it a “tragedy” on X (formerly known as Twitter):

Back when Willow was first pulled from Disney+, series writer Jon Kasdan put a surprisingly positive spin on the decision. It seems that over a year later the gloves are off, as Warwick Davis is quite critical of Disney seemingly putting shareholders ahead of the audience. Disney did reportedly save a lot of money by putting certain shows on the shelf.

It’s been about two years since Disney+ debuted Willow a Disney+ original series follow-up to the 1988 sword and sorcery film which starred Davis and Val Kilmer. While the movie wasn’t a massive hit, it became something of a cult classic and remained popular enough that talk of a Willow sequel movie never entirely died away. Eventually, the decision was made to do the follow-up series.

Despite the fact that the end of Willow teased multiple seasons, the show was canceled only a few months after it aired. That was bad enough, but then two months after that, the show joined a long list of projects that were purged entirely from Disney+. Since the show was developed directly for Disney+, it has never existed anywhere else. It can’t be purchased or downloaded through any other source.

As somebody who was a big fan of Willow, both the original movie and the series, I agree wholeheartedly with Warwick Davis. The series was a really fun follow-up to the movie. It had the classic fantasy elements but the Disney+ version of Willow had a rock 'n' roll vibe that was quite fun as well.

Cancelation is one thing. If not enough people watch a show, it gets canceled, and them’s the breaks. But to remove it entirely so that nobody can watch it again, and nobody has a chance to discover it for the first time, is a tragedy. There’s no other word for it. Warwick Davis would like to watch the episodes again. So would I.

For over three decades, Star Wars’ Warwick Davis has had his wife, Samantha, by his side. They share three children and worked together on multiple professional projects over the years. In heartbreaking news, Samantha Davis died on March 24 at the age of 53. Amidst Warwick Davis dealing with the grieving process, the actor has penned a tribute to his late wife. 

In a statement (per the BBC), Warwick Davis opened up about how the tragic death has affected himself and other loved ones close to them. In his words:  

Warwick Davis met his wife on the set of 1988’s Willow, and the couple married three years later. Samantha Davis is the daughter of Warwick Davis’ business partner Peter Burroughs. In the statement, Davis called his late wife his “favorite human,” along with saying this: 

Samantha Davis was an actress who also appeared in Leprechaun 2 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 with Warwick Davis. The pair also started Little People UK, an English charity that provides support to people of short stature and their families. As the website shares, there’s an estimated 652,000 people in the world with dwarfism, yet there are specific challenges that come with it that their organization is committed to assisting people with. 

Their kids are Annabelle, Lloyd and Harrison. Annabelle has become an actress in her own right, starring in the TV series for Willow, which was among the Disney+ shows that were cancelled in 2023. Their kids added to the statement by saying that their mother’s “love and happiness carried” them through their “whole lives.” Warwick Davis also said this: 

Warwick Davis is famous for playing multiple roles in the Star Wars franchise, including quite a few in Solo: A Star Wars Story. The actor first played Wicket in 1983’s Return of the Jedi and has since been in eight other projects from the franchise, including doing a nod to his first appearance in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Here's a photo of the couple together from October: 

As Warwick Davis shared in the tribute, without his wife, much of the work he did within his career, which includes over 90 credits, would not have been possible without the love and support of his wife. We here at CinemaBlend send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and other loved ones of Samantha Davis. May she rest in peace.

In my lifetime, I've seen plenty of movies that have made an impact on me, such as the Lord of the Rings franchise or even the Harry Potter movies, but what really started my love of fantasy all those years ago was one movie, and that was the 1988 film, Willow, starring Warwick Davis. 

The classic fantasy film has held a place in my heart for years, and now it’s getting its own spinoff series on Disney+ with a star-studded cast. For people like me who are excited about what’s to come in the world of Willow, here is where you might have seen the Willow cast before. 

Warwick Davis (Willow Ufgood)

Obviously, we need to start off with the main character, the man, the myth, the legend Warwick Davis, who plays Willow Ufgood, the same character he played in the original movie. Fun fact – did you know that Davis is the highest grossing supporting actor of all time? He’s been in so many big movies as a supporting character that he’s earned that title. 

Davis has starred in several movies during his time as an actor. Some of his biggest successes have been in the Star Wars franchise as multiple characters, the Harry Potter movie series as Professor Flitwick and as Griphook, and several others. He also starred as the main villain in the Leprechaun horror series. Other than that, some of Davis’ additional film appearances have been in Labyrinth, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Jack the Giant Slayer, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Text Santa, and more. 

In terms of television, Davis has also been successful on that front, as well, appearing in a variety of TV series. Some of his roles have been in shows such as Celebrity Square and Tenable, where he acted as a host. He also uses his voice a lot in many shows, including Moominvalley and Star Wars Rebels. 

Ruby Cruz (Kit)

Next up on the list, we have Ruby Cruz, who plays Kit in Willow. In comparison with many of her co-stars, Cruz hasn’t been in many movies, with The Lost Boys being her only movie credit so far, but she’s been very active in television. The actress was in the Mare of Easttown cast, and appeared in many other television shows like Blue Bloods and Castle Rock. But, hopefully after Willow, we’ll be seeing her in plenty of new shows. 

Erin Kellyman (Jade)

Moving on, we take a look at Jade, who is played by Erin Kellyman in Willow. Kellyman has been making strides and following in the footsteps of Warwick Davis – meaning, she’s been appearing in some pretty big film franchises. In terms of movies, she appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story, and in the 2021 medieval King Arthur-tale, The Green Knight. 

In television, Kellyman was in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier cast as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but she’s appeared in several other shows, including the BBC adaptation of Les Miserables, the HBO Max original, Raised by Wolves, Life and Top Boy. I’m sure after Willow, we’ll be seeing a whole lot more of her soon enough. 

Ellie Bamber (Dove)

Ellie Bamber plays Dove in Willow, and the young actress has been popping up in many movies and TV shows during her time in the spotlight. Bamber has had roles in movies such as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Nocturnal Animals, The Falling, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, High Resolution, Extracurricular Activities and more. 

Bamber also has appeared in many television shows. Like her co-star, Kellyman, she also had a role in the adaptation of Les Miserables for BBC. She also was a part of the casts for The Serpent and The Trial of Christine Keeler. 

Tony Revolori (Graydon)

If Tony Revolori is a name that sounds familiar, it should, because he’s been in many movies over the last few years. Revolori plays Graydon in Willow, but fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe might recognize him as Flash Thompson in the MCU Spider-Man trilogy. He has also appeared in two Wes Anderson films, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch. 

Other than that, Revolori has appeared in other movies such as Dope, The Perfect Game, Please Stand By, The Long Dumb Road, The 5th Wave and more. He’s also set to appear in the next Scream film that is still untitled. 

In terms of television shows, the talent has appeared in shows like Apple TV+’s Servant, as well as Son of Zorn, and had a voice role in Monster High in 2022.

Amar Chadha-Patel (Boorman)

Moving on, we take a look at Amar Chadha-Patel, who plays Boorman in Willow. Chadha-Patel is relatively new to the movie world, so his only credits so far have been in Doom: Annihilation and Dashcam, but he’s appeared in several television shows. 

These include the Amazon original series, The Wheel of Time, the binge-able Netflix series Sex Education, The Third Day, Beecham House and more. 

Dempsey Bryk (Airk)

Next up, let’s take a look at Dempsey Byrk, who portrays Airk in Willow. Byrk has had major roles in television shows such as The Birch and Heartland, but has guest starred in several other shows such as Coroner, Hudson & Rex, Timeline, Ransom and more. Byrk also had a guest-starring role on Black Mirror. 

With films, he appeared in the movies The Silence and Marlene, and he also did voice work for Far Cry 6 alongside Giancarlo Esposito. 

Joanne Whalley (Sorsha)

Last but not least, we take a look at Joanna Whalley, who plays Sorsha in Willow. Like Davis, Whalley is actually from the original film and is reprising that role, but she has done plenty in the world of television and movies since then. 

Some of her biggest films include Scandal, Storyville, Floor, 44 Inch Chest, The Secret Rapture, Before You Go, Trial By Jury, The Guilty and more. She’s also had plenty of television appearances and main roles. Some of her biggest parts have been during Season 3 of Daredevil (which is now also on Disney+), as well as a main role in The Borgias and Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands. She also had a recurring guest role in the CW hit, Gossip Girl. 

With such great stars, Willow is set to be a great fantasy series – and I can’t wait to see what comes next for this franchise that I hold so close to my heart.  

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker might have arrived in theaters back in December, but conversation around the movie's contents haven't slowed down. New information about the blockbuster is constantly being revealed, with more set to come when the movie finally arrives on DVD and Blu-ray. J.J. Abrams crafted a complicated plot, which serviced a massive ensemble cast of characters and decades of filmmaking. This even includes Wicket the Ewok, played by the legendary Warwick Davis. A video went behind the scenes on this callback, which included Warwick's son playing an Ewok himself.

J.J. Abrams was tasked with ending the entire Skywalker Saga in Episode IX, which is likely why The Rise of Skywalker included so many callbacks during its 143-minute runtime. Wicket popped up during the movie's happy ending, watching a Star Destroyer explode from the safety of Endor. Now we can see what it was like to film that moment on set, as well as the pre-production meetings and costume fittings. Check it out below.

I don't know about you guys, but this makes my nerdy heart quite happy. As if Warwick Davis back in Wicket's costume wasn't enough to get fans psyched, but the video also captures an amazing family memory for Davis' family.

This look into Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker comes to us from Syfy Wire, and is sure to excite the generations of rabid Star Wars fans out there. The galaxy far far away had had a long tenure in theaters, with Warwick Davis and Wicket present for the original trilogy's insane success. Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm helped to kickstart the property back up, with the sequel trilogy making a ton of money at the box office. And Davis has worked on a ton of projects since the House of Mouse began controlling the galaxy far, far away.

The above video shows Warwick Davis and his son Harrison being fitted for their Ewok costumes. Once wiggling in, the iconic Star Wars creatures quickly come to life, to the joy of J.J. Abrams and company. Eventually the pair of father/son actors arrive on set, and film their quick appearance for The Rise of Skywalker. It's especially sweet to see Warwick giving Harrison some advice, and helping him to really immerse himself into the world of the franchise.

Warwick Davis has been apart of some iconic film franchises, including Star Wars and Harry Potter. But for The Rise of Skywalker, he was able to share the filmmaking experience with his on Harrison. What's more, he was back playing the character that helped to really launch his career as a young man.

Wicket may have been Warwick Davis' first Star Wars role, but it definitely wasn't his last. He'd go on to play characters in The Phantom Menace, Rogue One, Solo, and The Last Jedi as well as voicing a role in Star Wars Rebels. He knows George Lucas' colorful world well, and it should be interesting to see where he pops back up again.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be available on digital March 17 and DVD and Blu-ray March 31. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

There’s probably nothing more Harry Potter fans would like better, with the exception of a new book in the series by J.K. Rowling of course, than to see the cast of the beloved and highly successful films reprise their roles for a new project. Well Potterheads you’re in luck, because some of the cast are returning to the Wizarding World, but perhaps not how you’d think. Take a look:

The Tales of Beedle The Bard is coming to Audible. For the first time since its publication, J.K. Rowling’s short story collection from the Wizarding World will be released in the audiobook format through the Audible platform on March 31. If that weren’t appealing enough for fans of audiobooks and Harry Potter who might need a little magic on their drives to work, cast members from the various Harry Potter adaptations will be narrating the stories.

First introduced in the last book in the Harry Potter series, 2007’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of five short stories meant as bedtime stories for wizarding children, The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, The Fountain of Fair Fortune, The Warlock’s Hairy Heart, Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump and of course and most notably, The Tale of the Three Brothers.

Providing the narration for the first story in The Tales of Beedle the Bard, The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, is none other than actor Warwick Davis. The alum of Willow, Star Wars played both Charms professor Filius Flitwick as well as the treacherous goblin Griphook in the Harry Potter film franchise.

Evanna Lynch will narrate the second tale of that bard Beedle, The Fountain of Fair Fortune for this Audible audiobook. Evanna Lynch of course played Luna Lovegood in the latter four Harry Potter movies. And Lending his dulcet tones to The Warlock’s Hairy Heart is Lucius ‘Why is this guy still not in Azkaban?!’ Malfoy actor Jason Isaacs.

Handling narration duties for Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump is actress Bonnie Wright. This is quite a fitting choice considering that Bonnie Wright portrayed Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films, the sister of Rupert Grint’s Ron Weasley, who looked incredulously at the muggle-raised Harry and Hermione when they weren’t familiar with Babbitty Rabbitty.

Lastly is the most important story from the The Tales of Beedle the Bard and the one that plays a pivotal role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Tale of the Three Brothers. Reading this story for the Audible version of the book is Noma Dumezweni. Those who have only seen the Harry Potter movies may be unfamiliar with Noma Dumezweni, but she originated the role of Hermione Granger in the West End and Broadway play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

In addition to those actors who will read the five main stories are two other Wizarding World alums. First is Sally Mortemore, who played librarian Irma Pince in the Harry Potter film series. She will read the book's introduction. Then there is Jude Law.

As you may remember, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Tales of Beedle The Bard is bequeathed to Hermione in Dumbledore’s will and since it is his copy, it contains notes from the Hogwarts Headmaster scrawled in the pages. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald starJude Law will reprise his role as Dumbledore to read these notes for this audiobook.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard was first released in 2007 with a limited run of seven copies to raise money for charity. In 2008, the book was published for the general public with the proceeds going to The Lumos Foundation, which works to help get children out of orphanages and institutions and into loving homes. The proceeds from this audiobook version of The Tales of Beedle the Bard will again benefit Lumos.

It may not be a film adaptation of Cursed Child or Harry Potter 8, but it’s still cool to see the Harry Potter stars diving back into the Wizarding World, even if it is for something small like this. For Harry Potter fans, we associate these actors with this story and hearing them read The Tales of Beedle the Bard may add a little something extra to help immerse you back in that world.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard arrives on Audible on March 31 and you can preorder it now. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what movies are hitting theaters this year (Fantastic Beasts 3 won’t be one of them). For the latest news from the Wizarding World and beyond stay tuned to CinemaBlend.

Star Wars directors, they're just like us! OK, maybe not in general, but anyone who geeked out a little seeing Return of the Jedi's Wicket back for The Rise of Skywalker has something in common with J.J. Abrams.

Warwick Davis, who turns 50 on February 3, was only 13 when Return of the Jedi came out in 1983. Star Wars: Episode VI introduced his Ewok character, Wicket W. Warrick. Not only did Wicket return, briefly, in Episode IX, he was shown to have a son named Pommet -- played by Davis' own real-life son Harrison. It was a great little addition to the final film in the Skywalker Saga. And it was thrilling for The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker director J.J. Abrams to see Davis get back in that Wicket costume after so many decades:

Warwick Davis told Comicbook that J.J. Abrams was effusive with his thanks for bringing Wicket back in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but Davis was quick to return the gratitude to Abrams:

Warwick Davis continued praising J.J. Abrams when talking to Inverse about bringing back Wicket:

Warwick Davis talked to CinemaBlend about helping behind-the-scenes in the process to recreate Wicket's costume. He also made sure to include Wicket's trademark head tilt -- which he told us was inspired by his own dog. He brought that back for Rise of Skywalker to help fans recognize that particular Ewok as Wicket.

Like Mark Hamill, Warwick Davis got to play more than one character in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker He also played Resistance member Wizzich Mozzer (not to be confused with Ed Sheeran's Resistance member, who is apparently this guy). When Rise of Skywalker gets its home release, Warwick Davis told CinemaBlend there will be a bonus feature documenting his process in bringing Wicket back on screen.

Ewoks have taken a lot of heat from the Star Wars fandom, but as a young girl when Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi came out, I loved them. Hopefully most fans were pleased with that little glimpse of the Ewoks in Episode IX. The Rise of Skywalker is still playing in theaters, and we're not sure yet when it will get its home release, but the Digital release should be first (maybe March), followed by the DVD/Blu-ray.

Actor Warwick Davis is no stranger to playing characters that require a lot of makeup and prosthetics, and one of his recent roles that required such work was that of Lickspittle in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. I recently had the pleasure of talking to Davis about his time on the Maleficent sequel, and he mentioned how when he was fully made up as Lickspittle, it made eating significantly more difficult because choosing the wrong foodstuffs could end up negatively affecting the makeup.

After noting how playing Lickspittle was quite similar to his time as Griphook in the Harry Potter movies when it came to the application process, Warwick Davis said the following:

So while Lickspittle may be among the most unique-looking of Warwick Davis’ characters, in order to maintain said look when he was on the Maleficent: Mistress of Evil set, he had to be conscious about his dietary choices. Chowing down on something like a chicken leg might have made for a delicious meal, but it could have led to all the stuff applied to his face and body being stretched out. That would undo those hours of labor the makeup artists poured into the Lickspittle look and require extra time to have Davis looking normal again… well, normal for a creature in the Maleficent world.

But picking the right food wasn’t the only challenge Warwick Davis dealt with while he was looking like Lickspittle. He also told me how because as a pixie, Lickspittle’s hands don’t look quite like a human’s, so he couldn’t hold onto or grab things as easily. As the actor put it:

So while enduring the makeup and prosthetics required for bring Lickspittle to life in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil was grueling, Warwick Davis was pleased with how things turned out in the final product. For those who didn’t check out the sequel or need a refresher, Lickspittle was the chief chemist for the main antagonist, Michelle Pfeiffer’s Queen Ingrith, who was tasked with finding a way to eliminate the denizens of the Moors.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. Be sure to look through our 2020 release schedule to plan your trips to the theater this year accordingly.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker are ahead!

We knew going into Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker that there’d be a lot of familiar faces. For instance, just weeks ahead of the movie’s release, a promotional video was released teasing that we’d be seeing Ewoks again. You remember the little fuzzballs who helped the Rebels fight the Imperials on Endor in Return of the Jedi, right? Don’t answer that, of course you do.

Sure enough, after Emperor Palatine was finally killed for good and his armada was destroyed in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, we looked in on several planets where The First Order was being toppled, and on Endor, Ewok all-star Wicket W. Warrick could be seen celebrating alongside his son, Pommet Warrick.

Warwick Davis, who played Wicket back in the day, reprised the Ewok for The Rise of Skywalker. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Davis about his role as Lickspittle in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and when the conversation turned to Star Wars, he said the following about how he strived to ensure that the audience would know he was playing Wicket again as opposed to just a generic Ewok:

Most hardcore Star Wars fans probably don’t have trouble recognizing the lovable Wicket, but in addition to chiming in on how his character’s fur would look a little different after so many years, Warwick Davis also threw in the head tilt as further indication that this was the same Ewok who helped foster an alliance between his people and the Rebels. If he hadn’t stumbled across Leia Organa following the speeder bike chase, it’s unlikely the second Death Star’s shield generator would have ultimately been destroyed.

As for the fact that we saw the older Wicket alongside his son towards the end of The Rise of Skywalker, that’s made extra special when learning that Warwick Davis’ own son, Harrison, was playing Pommet. This isn’t the first time one of Davis’ children has participated in a Star Wars movie, as his daughter, Annabelle Davis, worked on The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

While Warwick Davis has played plenty of other Star Wars characters over the years, including Weazel in both The Phantom Menace and Solo, Wicket is unquestionably the most well-known of the bunch. Not only was Davis surprised he was getting to play the Ewok again his expertise came in handy during the Wicket recreation process. He explained:

But donning the Wicket suit again was just one part of the fun. Warwick Davis also mentioned out how it was great to see the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker crew, including director J.J. Abrams, react to seeing him in costume before their eyes, saying:

In addition to playing Wicket, Warwick Davis also appeared in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as Wizzich Mozzer, a member of The Resistance. And while for those of you who just can’t get enough Wicket, Davis revealed to me that there will be a behind-the-scenes featurette on the The Rise of Skywalker home media release exploring him playing the character again. In his words:

There’s no word yet on when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for that information. For now, the final installment of the Skywalker is continuing its theatrical run, and while critical reception has been polarizing, it’s been doing quite well for itself at the box office, currently sitting at $946 million worldwide.

If you haven’t already, read CinemaBlend’s review of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and keep checking back for more coverage concerning the movie. You can also start planning what you’ll see in theaters later this year with our 2020 release schedule.

As for Warwick Davis, you can see his performance as Lickspittle in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil on Digital now, and the sequel’s Blu-ray and DVD copies will be released next Tuesday, January 14. He’s also set to reprise the eponymous protagonist of 1988’s Willow for a TV series that’s in development for Disney+, with Ron Howard and Jonathan Kasdan also attached.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

As the grand finale of the nine-episode Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker was expected to reach deep into the franchise canon to execute a conclusion, and that expectation was very much met. Some big questions are answered, some significant arcs are brought to a close, and many characters came back for some final goodbyes.

It’s that last bit that we’re here to talk about in this feature. Not only did director J.J. Abrams manage to bring in some franchise legends, but also big actors in surprising roles and a handful of fun appearances. So let’s dig into it, shall we? Here are all of the cameos we know about in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker so far.

J.J. Abrams (D-O)

Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz were notably brought in to help create the voice for BB-8 in the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but the production didn’t go to outside consultation when it came to making D-O for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. The droid notably speaks English (much like C-3PO), and while its modulated, the voice you’re hearing belongs to director J.J. Abrams. It marks the first time that he has acted as a character instead of himself since a 2001 episode of Alias in which he had a voice role.

Jodie Comer (Rey's Mother)

Those of you who are fans of the critically-acclaimed series Killing Eve probably got a bit of an extra thrill seeing Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker this weekend noticing that Villanelle herself, Jodie Comer, plays Rey’s unnamed mother (opposite actor Billy Howle as Rey’s father). It’s not clear if she is the daughter of Emperor Palpatine, or if that lineage is on her husband’s side, but either way it was fun seeing the Emmy winner in her first blockbuster (and actually only her second movie).

Warwick Davis (Wicket W. Warrick)

Warwick Davis has a long history playing multiple characters in the Star Wars universe (eight to be exact), but for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker he returned to the role that began his relationship with the legendary franchise. In 1983 Davis made his feature film debut playing the fuzzy Ewok named Wicket in Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi, and in 2019 he reprised that same role for a quick appearance following Rey’s defeat of the Sith. It’s a quick moment, but a cute one, and gives us an interesting look into the biology of the species (much like Wookiees, it appears that they age very slowly).

Harrison Ford (Han Solo)

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker may have rewritten a lot of what Star Wars: The Last Jedi implemented in the canon, but one fantastic detail that was maintained from Rian Johnson’s film was the idea that Kylo Ren was “haunted” by the spirit of his father, Han Solo, whom he killed in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. J.J. Abrams brought this to life in the new blockbuster, getting Harrison Ford to perform one last scene as the world’s favorite intergalactic smuggler. Abrams even finds a way to reference Solo’s famous “I know” line from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – though this time the context refers to Kylo Ren a.k.a. Ben Solo reembracing the Light Side of the Force.

James Earl Jones (Darth Vader)

As we’ll get into more a bit later, not all of the cameos in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker were in-person, as the film finds a way to include a number of actors in voice-only roles. One perfect example is James Earl Jones, who has a single line toward the beginning of the film as Darth Vader speaking as an imitation performed by Emperor Palpatine. It’s a nice surprise, and Jones’ voice is always amazing to hear… though the much more substantial role he had in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story did make this appearance a tad less exciting.

Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles)

Star Wars fans spent the majority of the Sequel Trilogy wondering what exactly had become of Wedge Antilles. The skilled pilot was a key part of some of the most important battles between the Rebels and the Empire in the original trilogy, and yet the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi suggested that he had moved on from fighting tyranny when the Rebellion became the Resistance. Just in time for the whole saga to end, though, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker brought back actor Denis Lawson for a surprise appearance in the new film, featured as one of the heroes brought into battle by Lando Calrissian in the ultimate fight against the First/Final Order.

Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke)

Audiences worldwide were shocked to see Supreme Leader Snoke sliced in half in Star Wars: The Last Jedi given that it seemed he was being set up as the big bad of the Sequel Trilogy – but J.J. Abrams did still find a way for the character to have a minor part in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. Specifically, much like James Earl Jones as Darth Vader, you can hear Serkis’ voice spoken through the mouth of the Emperor early in the film when the master of the Dark Side is discussing possibilities for the future with Kylo Ren.

Chris Terrio (Colonel Aftab Ackbar)

Did you know that Admiral Ackbar had a son? Did you know that he was a colonel in the Resistance? Well, those are piece of information brought to light in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, as Colonel Aftab Ackbar makes his first big screen appearance. On screen the character is played by Tom Wilton, who wears the prosthetics necessary to bring the squid-like alien to life, but his voice is provided by none other than Chris Terrio – who co-wrote the film’s script with J.J. Abrams, and like the director couldn’t resist taking a role in the Star Wars universe.

John Williams (Oma Tres)

There are many reasons why Star Wars is a true icon of cinema, but the epic and unforgettable music composed by John Williams most certainly ranks high on the top of the list. As such, it’s only right that he have a small role to play in the actual universe, appearing on screen for the first time since a 1959 episode of the television series Johnny Staccato. He plays Oma Tres (an anagram of “Maestro”), and is hard to miss in the movie: he’s the bartender the camera lingers on when Poe, Rey, Finn and the other heroes visit the watering hole on Kijimi.

All Of The Jedi

Most of the cameos discussed so far are spread throughout the runtime of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, but one particular sequence jams a bunch of them into the space of just a few seconds. I am, of course, referring to the moment when Rey reaches out with the Force to try and connect with all the dead Jedi of the past while doing battle with Emperor Palpatine. The chorus she hears in response includes the voices of just about every lightsaber-wielding hero we’ve ever seen on the big screen – and some we’ve only seen in animated features. The list includes:

Some of the voices are easier to pick out than others simply because of their recognizability (Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, and Liam Neeson, for example, should click instantly for even casual fans), but the effort on the whole is very impressive. When you go back and watch Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker again in the future, see if you can identify each individual voice.

With so many characters sporting helmets and appearing as crazy aliens, we can never be fully sure about all of the cameos in Star Wars movies – and we fully expect that more will be revealed following the publication of this feature. For now, though, hit the comments below to tell us which of all the special appearances is your favorite.

In 2021, J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world will officially be returning to the big screen with a third Fantastic Beasts film, starring the likes of Eddie Redmayne, Johnny Depp, and Jude Law. The spinoff franchise has offered up fans another look of the universe introduced to them with the Harry Potter series – mixing in new elements with callbacks to the original stories. Such as 2018’s Crimes of Grindelwald transporting audiences back to Hogwarts to meet a younger Dumbledore.

Now Harry Potter’s Warwick Davis is hoping to return to the franchise for a Fantastic Beasts film after taking on three makeup-heavy roles throughout the series. Davis played a Goblin Bank Teller and Professor Filius Flitwick in Sorcerer’s Stone before returning to play the key role of Griphook the Goblin (and continuing as Flitwick) later in the series. Here’s what he says about finding a Fantastic Beasts part:

Warwick Davis seems confident he could find another place in the spinoff franchise and per his words to Daily Express, he’ll be having a talk with J.K. Rowling about it next time he runs into her. The actor plays the most prevalent Goblins in the original movies, so if the author wanted to bring the race of magical beings back for a Fantastic Beasts sequel, Davis is the guy to call!

Considering the franchise may place a higher focus on Jude Law’s Dumbledore and the Hogwarts school, audiences could perhaps learn more about Filius Flitwick’s origins (or his lineage) before he became the Head of Ravenclaw House. His story may have had something to do with the events being told in the Fantastic Beasts movies. Who knows? Even if not, the actor could certainly take on a fourth character too!

In the Star Wars franchise, Warwick Davis recently took on a number of roles in 2018’s Solo after previously taking on parts in a galaxy far, far away spanning back to playing Wicket the Ewok in Return of the Jedi. He’s also had various roles in Phantom Menace, Force Awakens, Rogue One and Last Jedi. A recent photo of the actor also teased the possibility of his Wicket returning for Rise of Skywalker, too!

There are so many possibilities for Fantastic Beasts to call back to the original Harry Potter series! Such as fulfilling Eddie Redmayne’s dreams for Hagrid to be welcomed back to the franchise. We don’t know much about the third Fantastic Beasts movie, but it is said that Rio de Janiero will be one of its new exciting locations!

Fantastic Beasts 3 is expected to begin shooting in spring 2020 and hit theaters on November 12, 2021.

It's a very exciting time to be a Star Wars fan. With less than a month until The Rise of Skywalker wraps up the nine-film Skywalker saga, anticipation is at a fever pitch. J.J. Abrams has been tasked with helming that blockbuster, which should be intimately connected to previous installments in the long-running franchise. We already know that Emperor Palpatine will somehow factor into the story, and now it looks like more iconic characters from the original trilogy are popping up in Episode IX as well. Namely, Ewoks.

The Ewoks made their debut in Return of the Jedi, with the adorable furry creatures heavily factoring into the final battle on Endor. They haven't been seen on the big screen again since, but that might change with The Rise of Skywalker. A new video promoted the Star Wars' franchises legacy ahead of Episode IX, which featured a shot of actor Warwick Davis back in an Ewok costume. Check it out below.

Well, this is exciting. Warwick Davis has played a variety of characters throughout the Star Wars franchise, but he's perhaps best known for playing Wicket in Return of the Jedi. And it looks like that furry guy is going to pop back up in J.J. Abrams' upcoming blockbuster.

This quick image comes to us from the official Star Wars youtube page, which recently posted a featurette ahead of the release of The Rise of Skywalker. It shows Warwick Davis back in an Ewok costume, looking up at some masks for Wicket. Davis is no longer the young man he was when filming Return of the Jedi, which indicates that this is a new photo-- likely from the set of Episode IX. Although just how the Ewoks will factor into the upcoming narrative remains a mystery.

Clearly J.J. Abrams is going to have a mixture of classic and modern Star Wars characters in The Rise of Skywalker. This should excite the generations of Star Wars fans, especially the OG's who flocked to theaters to see the original trilogy. The pressure is on for Abrams to deliver, as his upcoming movie will wrap up the entire nine-film franchise. So rather than simply concluding the current set of movies, he must somehow craft a satisfying conclusion to the franchise as we know it.

Related: Why Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Brought Back The Knights Of Ren, According To J.J. Abrams

You can check out the full Star Wars featurette below, including Warwick Davis' brief appearance.

Narratively, it seems like The Rise of Skywalker could go seemingly anywhere. Because the franchise's security and marketing is to methodical, the plot has been largely kept under wraps ahead of its release. While we know the story will pick up a year after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, it's unclear what the actual story about. But it'll include the likes of Carrie Fisher's Leia, Palpatine, and apparently the Ewoks.

Perhaps Wicket's role in The Rise of Skywalker is connected to Leia's story. She was the one who forged the alliance between The Rebels and Endor's Ewoks which ultimately resulted in the second Death Star's destruction. Maybe Leia will get a sendoff in the upcoming blockbuster, with Wicket in attendance. Only time will tell.

All will be revealed when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies. And our 2020 release list to look ahead toward the New Year.

One component of the ongoing horror boom has seen iconic horror villains returning to the big screen for new chapters of terror. One horror villain about to make his return is the Leprechaun in the new movie Leprechaun Returns. The Leprechaun is returning, but franchise star Warwick Davis isn't because the actor's outlook on horror has changed as a parent, as he explained:

Although he previously starred in six Leprechaun films from 1993 to 2003, becoming a parent changed Warwick Davis, and how his children see things is ever-present in his mind. This changed his thought process on horror, resulting in him deciding to take a break from the genre, at least until his youngest child turns 18.

In his comments to BANG Showbiz, Warwick Davis didn't explicitly say what it was about horror that made him not want to do it until his kids are all adults. After all, his other horror movies are out there. Maybe he doesn't want to be in the mental space those roles require while he is still parenting or perhaps he just doesn't want his kids to see him playing that type of character until they are older.

You certainly can't blame Warwick Davis. Everyone has to parent the best way they see fit and it's not like he hasn't put in his time as the Leprechaun before. Not to mention that, with the return of Star Wars, he's been busy putting in work in a galaxy far, far away.

Warwick Davis' daughter Annabelle is already 21, but his son Harrison is 15. So those of you waiting to see the Leprechaun actor return to the horror genre have at least three more years to go.

In Warwick Davis' absence, the horror villain he brought to life has returned. In 2014 the franchise was rebooted with Leprechaun: Origins, which was less humorous than the original series and starred Dylan 'Hornswoggle' Postl as the Leprechaun. The new film, Leprechaun Returns continues in the franchise's horror-comedy tradition and seems to ignore the 2014 reboot, instead taking place after the original 1993 film, a la the 2018 Halloween.

Leprechaun Returns sees a group of girls unwittingly awaken the Leprechaun when they tear down a cabin to build a new sorority house. It's not a period piece exploring the folklore of Leprechauns as our own Mike Reyes has advocated for, but it does seem to be more in the spirit of the original films. The film from director Steven Kostanski stars actor Linden Porco as the Leprechaun. You can check out the trailer for Leprechaun Returns below.

Leprechaun Returns will be available on Digital HD on December 11. For all of the movies, horror and otherwise, hitting theaters next year, check out our 2019 Release Schedule.

Star Wars fans got a rare treat in Solo: A Star Wars Story as they actually got to see the face of Warwick Davis, an actor who is frequently part of Star Wars, but frequently covered by makeup and costumes. In fact, we've only ever seen his face in Star Wars once before. He played a character called Weazel in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and it turns out that he actually played the same part in Solo. Clearly, a lot has happened to Weazel over the years, so when I got to speak with Warwick Davis earlier this week, I asked him if he knew the backstory of what brought Weazel into the gang of Enfys Nest. According to Davis...

While the fact that Warwick Davis was appearing in Solo: A Star Wars Story wasn't a major secret, it wasn't until the credits rolled on the movie that we realized that the space pirate character from Solo actually had the same name as the guy we saw sitting next to Watto during the pod race in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

How does one go from betting on pod races to fighting the Empire alongside Enfys Nest? Warwick Davis thinks that Weazel was a good guy with a good heart who ended up just becoming part of the wrong crowd. Eventually, he realized he needed to turn his life around, which led to where we find him in Solo.

Exactly what event caused this change of heart Davis doesn't know, though he told me he hopes that the creative minds beyond the new Star Wars Expanded Universe might tell that story one day. Maybe we'll meet Weazel in a novel or comic book and see the event that caused him to leave Hutt Clan behind and join the fledgling rebellion.

You can see Warwick Davis return as Weazel, and see him in five additional roles where he's invisible, in Solo: A Star Wars Story now available in Digital and coming to Blu-Ray September 25.

Warwick Davis has had a cameo role in every new Star Wars movie that has come out in recent years, but he actually had a lot more than one in Solo: A Star Wars Story. While we saw the actor's face in the role of Weazel, Davis actually took on an additional five roles, for a total of six different parts over the course of Solo. I spoke with the actor earlier this week and Davis ran through all of his different roles for me...

Warwick Davis has been a mainstay of the Star Wars universe ever since he first played Wicket in Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi, but the actor is frequently covered in either extensive make-up or an elaborate costume, so you can rarely tell it's him. While the fact that Davis played Weazel as well as one of the fight droids was previously known, I'm not sure everybody knew quite the extent of his presence in the film. Davis played multiple roles throughout the Harry Potter franchise as well but there he only played three characters over the course of a franchise. Here he played five in a single film.

It's the fact that Warwick Davis is rarely seen that allows him to be a sort of jack of all trades as an actor and take on these multiple roles in a single film. We don't even see Davis' face when we first see Weazel, as he's wearing a mask that doesn't come off until near the end of Solo: A Star Wars Story.

While most of these roles are small enough that they'd be little more than cameos, combined it shows that Warwick Davis works as hard as anybody on the set of a Star Wars movie, harder if you consider the hours he needs to often spend getting setup with makeup and prosthetics to bring his roles to life. It's no wonder he was excited to play a role in Solo that didn't require all that extra work.

Having appeared in every other new Star Wars movie, it seems likely he'll appear, at least once, in Star Wars: Episode IX, though Warwick Davis was not able to discuss that at this time.

While Warwick Davis is probably best knows for his various roles in the Star Wars franchise, or perhaps Harry Potter, many remember him just as fondly for the 1988 fantasy movie Willow. Davis recently reunited with Willow's director, Ron Howard for Solo: A Star Wars Story and so it's little surprise that the 30-year-old film has been a topic of conversation. Howard has recently talked about the possibility of doing a follow-up and so when I recently had the opportunity to speak with Warwick Davis personally, I asked him if he would be interested in returning to the role. It turns out that not only would he be excited to play Willow again, but while filming Solo he even talked to screenwriter Jon Kasdan about places to take the character in a new story. According to Davis...

While Warwick Davis certainly wasn't ready to tell me if there's an actual plan in place for the future of Willow it does appear that it is the sort of thing that a lot of people are excited to consider. The fact that Jon Kasdan, the co-writer of Solo: A Star Wars Story is a Willow fan is not unknown, so one would guess he'd be up for writing a screenplay if Lucasfilm decided they wanted one.

As far as what the odds are of a Willow sequel actually happening go, they might be better than you think. Warwick Davis told me about an event that took place on the Solo set where pretty much everybody who would need to be involved in a Willow sequel found themselves in one place and chatting, not about Star Wars, the set they were on, but Willow.

Willow wasn't a massive success when it was first released 30 years ago but over the ensuing years, generations have found and fallen in love with the story. While a new project is far from a sure thing, it also certainly doesn't sound like it's an entirely crazy idea either. Could we see the likes of Willow and Elora Danan again down the road? Watch this space, I guess.

Last December, Star Wars: The Last Jedi finally arrived in theaters, with the fan community very divided on the movie's contents. Some people hated it while others loved it, and writer/director Rian Johnson has been justifying his decisions ever since. While some fans were not on board with the eighth installment in the Star Wars series, Warwick Davis -- the original Wicket -- thinks that's pretty common for most movies. Here's what Davis had to say when he was asked his opinion on the divided response to The Last Jedi:

Warwick Davis knows a thing or two about controversy in Star Wars. He famously played Wicket aka The Main Ewok from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, and reprised the role for a series of TV movies. The Ewoks in general aren't looked back upon too fondly by most Star Wars fans, so it's only natural that Davis has some thoughts on The Last Jedi, the latest in a long line of Star Wars controversies.

Warwick Davis shared his thoughts on the fan division over The Last Jedi to the Metro (via The List) and reminded fans that Star Wars is meant to be a piece of entertainment and escapism above all else. He also said that every movie technically divides people on opinion, and that's just the way it is. This particular movie is only drumming up so much attention because it's a Star Wars movie. While this writer would say that people not liking the movie is what's preventing them from being entertained, Davis is certainly correct that movies -- especially Star Wars movies -- are meant to just be a good time.

The backlash over Star Wars: The Last Jedi has certainly been interesting to watch, and the truth of the matter is probably much closer to the movie being both good and bad at the same time (it's possible). For all Star Wars and movie updates, be sure to keep it right here at CinemaBlend and we'll be sure to update you with new information as soon as it becomes available.

Very few actors can claim to be part of the Star Wars saga, the Harry Potter franchise, and the Leprechaun series. In fact, I think Warwick Davis might be the ONLY person in film history to lay claim to that distinction. But did you realize that Warwick Davis played three different characters over the course of the eight-film Harry Potter arc? That's right, Davis switched between three roles during the filming of the sequels, and recently explained how he, as an actor, approached that narrative dichotomy, stating:

That sounds like actor speak for something that probably makes common sense. Of course you have to approach each character differently. But seeing as how, in the Harry Potter universe, an actor can really play around with reality -- and with what is expected -- it becomes easier to manipulate physical characteristics to bring new color and flavor to a role. Whether you are playing a Hogwarts instructor, or a bank teller at a goblin financial institute.

As you may recall, Warwick Davis -- who gave this quote during a Reddit AMA -- started playing Professor Flitwick in the first Harry Potter movie, 2001's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. He's pictured in that role at the top of this article.

In that same movie, though, Warwick Davis appeared as a Goblin Bank Teller in the scene where young Harry followed Hagrid to Gringotts Bank:

Later on in the series, though, Warwick Davis was able to step into the pivotal role of Griphook, a goblin from Gringotts who helps Ron, Hermione and Harry break into Gringotts to steal something very valuable.

Warwick Davis has been able to keep his Star Wars streak alive, appearing in Rogue One as well as next year's Solo: A Star Wars Story. He hasn't kept up his Harry Potter streak, though, by finding a way into Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Not yet, anyway. Though, with numerous chapters in that saga still to come, I'm thinking they can find a way to fit Davis in in SOME capacity. Track the sequel right here and we'll see if Warwick eventually gets added.

The Star Wars franchise has always felt like a family affair. It's not just the fact that the films are suitable for families to watch together or the fact that the main story centers on the drama of one particular family. The cast and crew have frequently reunited to work on these films over the years, and it lends a sense that each performer has a connection to the galaxy far, far away. That tradition will continue next year when the Han Solo movie finally debuts in theaters, and newly released details about Warwick Davis' role in the project seem to suggest that he's portraying a cool new droid with some seriously deadly abilities.

A new rumor has surfaced online from the folks at Makingstarwars.net, and it appears that Warwick Davis will show up in the Han Solo movie as badass new droid. Named Fight Droid 2, the character is a Power Droid with chainsaw and buzz saw blades in the place of his hands, and his quietly cool persona has reportedly led some on the set of Ron Howard's film to refer to him as the Boba Fett of droids. That said, specific details about his relationship to the film's plot remain vague at this point, so it remains unclear if he's a good guy, a villain, or simply a background character who will appear during some new version of the cantina scene.

Power Droids are nothing new to the Star Wars franchise, although it's worth noting that we have never really seen one quite like Fight Droid 2. In most Star Wars properties, they're typically depicted as boxy and timid -- with arguably the most famous Power Droid being the one tortured in Jabba's palace in Return of the Jedi.

As far as performances go, Warwick Davis has become one of the most consistently prolific actors in the entire Star Wars universe. His tenure in the franchise began with his role as Wicket in Return of the Jedi (which he would later to go into reprise two more times in Ewok-centric TV specials), and he returned to the franchise almost two decades later for a cameo during the podracing sequence in The Phantom Menace, as well as a cameo as Yoda when Obi-Wan Kenobi finally becomes a full-fledged Jedi Knight. In recent years, he has made appearances in The Force Awakens and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and he also has a confirmed cameo in The Last Jedi later this year.

Han Solo's spinoff movie will debut in theaters next summer on May 25, 2018. As for this year, make sure to get ready for the next step in the main Star Wars saga when The Last Jedi debuts in theaters on December 15, 2017.

When Ron Howard took over directing the Han Solo movie he actually joined a project created by George Lucas for the second time in his career. As it turns out, the two films have something else in common as well. Warwick Davis, who played the title character in Ron Howard's Willow, has been confirmed to have some sort of role in the new Star Wars movie. Ron Howard revealed the detail in response to a fan who asked if Howard working with Lucasfilm might ever lead to the long desired Willow sequel.

While 1988's Willow was not the blockbuster movie it was hoped it would become, the movie has successfully built a loyal fan base over the decades. Ron Howard directed the film based on a story created by George Lucas. Now, the director and writer have been reunited once again on the set of the new Han Solo movie.

We, of course, know nothing about exactly what sort of role Warwick Davis will be playing. More than likely it's a simple cameo. Following Warwick Davis' role as Wicket in Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi, Davis has returned to cameo in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and he also appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Davis will also cameo in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It appears the plan is to bring Warwick Davis as a good luck charm for most of the Star Wars movies from here on out, as luck would have it, in this case, that meant reuniting Davis with his former Willow director.

Warwick Davis confirmed his appearance in the new Han Solo movie in a tweet of his own, complementing Ron Howard as a director.

Odds are we won't even recognize Warwick Davis when we see him in the Han Solo movie. He'll likely be playing some sort of alien and be covered in prosthetics. Still, it's kind of cool to know that he's in there and that he and Ron Howard got to work together again. It's a silver lining to the insanity that led to Ron Howard taking over the job as director for the film. Now, if we actually could get that Willow sequel, that would be great.

Star Wars: Rebels hasn't shied away from bringing in big names from the Star Wars franchise to voice characters, ranging from Anthony Daniels as C-3PO to James Earl Jones as Darth Vader. Now, the Disney XD series is bringing in another Star Wars franchise legend to play a major character from the Expanded Universe. Warwick Davis himself will voice the character of Rukh in Star Wars Rebels Season 4.

The announcement came at the Rebels panel at the gigantic Star Wars Celebration convention in Orlando, and it points to some exciting developments on the Imperial side. Rukh will be a minion of Thrawn's, and if his role in the series is anything like his role in the Expanded Universe books, he'll have a huge part to play in the villain's future. He's known for his role as Thrawn's bodyguard, which makes sense. After Bendu's prophecy about Thrawn's doom in the Season 3 finale, we can bet that Thrawn will be pretty paranoid about Rebel threats coming at him. Check out who his picked as his guard:

According to Star Wars Rebels showrunner Dave Filoni, Rukh will be pretty intimidating. He had this to say about Warwick Davis' new character:

That's quite the ringing endorsement, Filoni! Warwick Davis is best known in the Star Wars franchise for his role as Wicket the Ewok in Return of the Jedi. Love the Ewoks or hate the Ewoks, there's really no denying that Wicket was both an adorable and a game-changing addition to the Star Wars universe. The Rebels might never have defeated the Empire if not for Wicket, and so Warwick Davis - despite not actually appearing in the flesh in Return of the Jedi - is a pivotal actor in the saga. Interestingly, Davis also had cameo appearances in several subsequent Star Wars films, including The Phantom Menace, The Force Awakens and Rogue One. He's even slated to appear in the upcoming The Last Jedi. It should be intriguing to see how he handles Rukh.

Warning: spoilers ahead for the character Rukh from the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

Ever since Lucasfilm announced that the Expanded Universe was no longer officially part of the Star Wars canon, many characters who had been written into the saga in post-Return of the Jedi stories no longer exist, although some have been brought back in slightly different capacities in other projects. The Rukh of the Expanded Universe is indeed known for his work as Thrawn's bodyguard, but he's even better known as the person ultimately responsible for Thrawn's downfall.

Rukh was a key ally of Thrawn's for quite some time, but he turned on Thrawn when he discovered that Thrawn was secretly keeping his devastated homeworld of Honoghr in unfortunate circumstances so that the people would be dependent on and beholden to the Empire. Understandably, Rukh was not pleased by this discovery, and he ultimately assassinated Thrawn with a knife.

If Rukh is responsible for Thrawn's death on Rebels, we can bet that his method of assassination will probably be much less grisly for the Disney XD audience. All things consideredin, it's hard to imagine that Dave Filoni and Co. would bring in a huge EW name like Rukh without ultimately turning him on Thrawn. Given that Thrawn never appeared in the original Star Wars trilogy and we just learned that Season 4 will be Rebels final season (see the details), I wouldn't be surprised if Thrawn was killed. We'll have to wait and see.

Warwick Davis will make his debut as Rukh when Star Wars Rebels returns on Disney XD in Fall 2017. Take a look at our midseason TV premiere guide and our summer TV premiere schedule to discover all your viewing options while you wait for the return of Rebels later this year.

There are few franchises with as much iconography as Star Wars. The original trilogy in particular has been enjoyed by generations of fans who can name each and every setting, character, and droid. This includes the Ewoks of Endor, who saved the day in Return of the Jedi. The most popular of these furry creatures is Leia's buddy Wicket, played by actor Warwick Davis. Davis landed the role of Wicket when he was just 11 years old, and got the role because the late Kenny Baker was too ill to film his scenes.

And now an old letter that Warwick Davis sent to George Lucas after his experience on set. About a year after filming, Davis sent Lucas this:

I mean, how adorable is that?

This letter comes to us from yesterday's Star Wars celebration in Orlando, Florida. The letter was shared for the fans, showing how a young Warwick Davis was so thrilled to be apart of such an important film. And like so many of us would do, he wanted to make sure he gets the right merch- especially for his signature character.

Perhaps this letter to George Lucas is exactly why Warwick Davis hasn't really stopped working for the Star Wars franchise. While Wicket is his largest role in the canon, Davis has had bit parts in nearly every Star Wars film since Return of the Jedi; Davis has had small roles in The Phantom Menace, The Force Awakens, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He's a member of the Star Wars family, and he'll stay that way.

Warwick Davis' big break in Return of the Jedi likely contributed to his success as an actor. Because besides his Star Wars work, Davis has had quite a few significant franchise roles. Davis played the villainous title character in the Leprechaun franchise, and played Professor Flitwick/Griphook in nearly every Harry Potter film. And what self respecting nerd wouldn't kill to be in both Star Wars AND Harry Potter? No one.

Warwick Davis also has an unknown role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which will fly into theaters on December 15, 2017. Be sure to check out our full 2017 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

TV nowadays is facing a trend of reboots, adaptations, and sequels that re-introduce audiences to beloved characters in mostly whole new ways. One project that could be perfect for television is a series continuation of the cult classic film Willow, which starred the wonderful Warwick Davis in the title role. The 1988 movie was a fun-filled fantasy epic straight from the imaginations of George Lucas and Ron Howard, and the time couldn't be better to bring the characters back for another hopefully more widely appreciated adventure. When asked about the idea of a Willow TV series, Ron Howard said this:

There are a couple of ways that a Willow TV sequel could work, such as a retelling of the original plot in a serial format, similar to how Lethal Weapon and Rush Hour were reinvented for primetime. But Ron Howard's ideal Willow series seems to have much more in common with the X-Files revival that brought back the original stars to pick up where they left off. He wants Warwick Davis back as the star, and it's hard to blame him, since Willow almost certainly would not have gained its cult following if a lesser actor had tackled the leading role. Davis could technically play a new role withing a newly established storyline, but why even go there?

Ron Howard also mentioned in his chat with Nerdist that Disney now has the rights to Willow due it its purchase of Lucasfilm back in 2012. Disney's ownership of Willow makes it somewhat conceivable that a show could find a home on one of the ABC networks without too much trouble, assuming the higher-ups go through the trouble of putting such a project into development. I can practically see the Willow/Once Upon a Time crossover already. The biggest problem with launching a Willow show might actually be getting Warwick Davis on board for the small screen.

Warwick Davis is best known for his roles in huge franchises like Star Wars and Harry Potter, with a much more limited career in TV. A Willow series might not appeal to him as much as fans would like. He has expressed a willingness to do a movie sequel in the past; there's no saying how he might feel about a television show. Perhaps his most standout small screen role was for his HBO series Life's Too Short with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, and we all know that comedies make for easier TV shoots than fantasies with epic costumes and locations.

We can only cross our fingers and hope that Ron Howard's support of a hypothetical Willow TV series is a sign that we may finally get a followup on the 1988 movie. It's been nearly 30 years; surely the time has come for another look at the magical world of Willow and his whimsical pals.

The return of Star Wars has been a wonderful thing for fans all around the world. That includes the fans that have also acted in the franchise. One classic Star Wars actor has revealed that he'll be back when Star Wars: Episode VIII hits the screen. Warwick Davis began his acting career in 1983 with Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi. Now, the actor says he will continue with a mystery role in Star Wars: Episode VIII.

While his face was never seen on camera, a young Warwick Davis played the role of Wicket, a young Ewok, in the final film of the original Star Wars trilogy. The actor returned for a cameo in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. More recently Davis was involved in the Harry Potter franchise, playing the dual roles of Professor Flitwick and a Gringott's Goblin. However, he's now clearly back in the Star Wars fold as he has told Australia's news.com that he will be in Star Wars: Episode VIII, though he won't say anything beyond that.

Warwick Daivs is following up on his cameo role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens where he played the role of Wollivan, one of the folks inside Maz Kanata's bar when Han Solo and Rey arrive there.

There's a pretty good chance that Warwick Davis' role in Star Wars: Episode VIII will be something along the lines of his role here, a simple cameo with a character that you won't even know the name of until you find it in the credits or buy the action figure. Davis is also listed for a role in the upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story so it would appear that Lucasfilm is planning to just use him over and over again as the Star Wars franchise continues. Davis may be viewed as a "good luck charm" in much the same way that John Ratzenberger continually lends his voice to Pixar films.

Whether or not we recognize Warwick Davis when we see him, he likely won't be the only actor hidden among the aliens. Star Wars: The Force Awakens saw a number of cameo roles from the likes of Simon Pegg and Daniel Craig, who were hidden under prosthetics, and a Stormtrooper helmet, respectively. There's a pretty good chance that the same thing will happen in Star Wars: Episode VIII. Several rumors to that effect have already surfaced.

We're glad Warwick Davis is continuing on with the Star Wars universe. If we learn anything more about his role, we'll be sure to let you know, with significant spoiler warnings, of course.

Famous folks poking fun at themselves is always entertaining, and key members of the cast of ITV’s Downton Abbey spoofing their own show in a comedy sketch for a good cause is sure to be a favorite – or should that be favourite? – of the 2015 holiday season. Lord Grantham, Lady Edith, and Isobel Crawley sat in as American Idol-style judges as a stream of hopefuls came to the Abbey to audition for the role of Santa Claus. Although plenty of familiar Downton faces popped into the audition room, the real stars were the real-life celebrities who swung by to try out for a part. Check it out!

The ten-minute sketch plays like a showcase of famous Brits, ranging from Warwick Davis to bleeped-out chef extraordinaire Gordon Ramsay. The star-studded cast of the Downton Abbey Text Santa sketch is a solid follow-up to last year’s venture that featured George Clooney in a Christmas Carol-esque featurette of just what might have befallen the Abbey if Lord Grantham had never been born. On the whole, however, Mr. Carson’s jolly appearance as Father Christmas in the 2015 clip may just have been heartwarming enough to eclipse the fun of the 2014 Clooney-fest.

This year’s sketch is particularly enjoyable because it is just so very…well, British. Harry Potter had representatives with both Warwick Davis and Jim Broadbent, Doctor Who had a presence in Penelope Wilton, and the upstairs and downstairs of Downton alike were featured on screen. Of course, the long-winded monologue filled with Cockney slang may have been a bit too British for folks on the American side of the pond to get too many laughs out of it, but it's perfect for the target audience. After all, Americans aren't going to be the primary people donating to the Text Santa ITV charity appeal.

Text Santa is ITV’s annual charity drive that makes it almost too easy for Brit viewers to donate. A simple text is a pledge to contribute to a fund that will be split between MacMillan Cancer Support, Make-A-Wish UK, and Save the Children.

The 2016 Text Santa presentation from the crew at Downton Abbey will sadly be the last to air while the show is still producing new material. The end is sadly nigh for the series, but at least our wait for our last glimpse of the Crawleys and Co. at Downton will be somewhat funnier now that we have the Text Santa sketch to rewatch. Who knows? Depending on how the series ends, we may need the sketch to cheer us up after that final installment. The series finale of Downtown will air on Christmas Day on ITV, and the sixth and final season will begin its run on PBS on January 3, 2016.

We live in a world where Hollywood will reboot or make a sequel to anything they can get their hands on. Studios are not only adapting every comic book character or commodity available, but they’re also delving back into franchises that they own from yesteryear that they hope will both appeal to new and older audiences alike. So it’s hardly a surprise that Ron Howard is being asked about the chances of a Willow sequel. While he admitted that he’d love to work on such a film, he thinks Lucasfilm is a little too busy at the moment. 

Ron Howard made this admission while partaking in a Reddit question and answer session to promote his upcoming nautical adventure, In The Heart Of The Sea. After being asked about the chances of a follow-up to the much loved fantasy epic, which starred Warwick Davis as the eponymous lead character, Ron Howard was rather candid about its prospects.

Willow was originally conceived by George Lucas all the way back in 1972, but it took until 1985, when Ron Howard was working on the post-production for Cocoon, for Lucas to offer Howard the chance to direct the fantasy epic. Warwick Davis, who at the time of Willow’s release was only 18-years-old, was given the lead role after starring in Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi, Ewoks: The Battle For Endor, and Labyrinth. 

Warwick Davis’ Willow starts off the film as a farmer who becomes a reluctant hero for his attempts to stop a tyrannical queen from killing a mystical and special baby that she has vowed to destroy in order to take over their world. 

Unfortunately, Willow didn’t manage to chime with an audience upon its release, only grossing $57.3 million from its $35 million budget, and receiving only mixed reviews. However, in the ensuing years, it went on to achieve a cult status among fans. Thanks in large part to the sweet and whimsical nature of the storytelling.

This isn’t the first time that a Willow sequel has been discussed. Back in 2005 both George Lucas and Warwick Davis suggested that a television series was being considered, while since then both Davis and Val Kilmer have insisted that they were open to a follow-up. But, since Lucasfilm is currently putting all their eggs in the highly lucrative Star Wars basket, it’s safe to say that the Willow sequel isn’t foremost in their minds at the moment. 

There are many different divisive elements within the Star Wars universe, but certainly ranking near the top is the existence of the furry little aliens known as Ewoks. Introduced in Return of the Jedi, the creatures are seen by some as cute little rebel allies, while others find them to be too kid-friendly and stupid. If you fall into the latter category, you may want to brace yourselves, as a new rumor has cropped up saying that the Ewoks - specifically Warwick Davis' Wicket - may have a presence in J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

This should all be taken with a grain of salt, but the story comes from the folks over at Making Star Wars, who make the claim of having two pieces of evidence suggesting that Wicket will show up in the seventh chapter of the Star Wars saga. The first comes from a press tour that Daisy Ridley and Kathleen Kennedy recently went on in Japan. Guests were given a press book that featured blurbs about the Star Wars cast, and this list included Warwick Davis - who is directly identified as Wicket (it should be noted that he has actually been two characters in the franchise, having also played "Wald" in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace).

The second piece of evidence is admittedly just as sketchy. In addition to having a photo of the press book from Japan, the site also claims to have previously heard about artwork from Star Wars: The Force Awakens that features a good number of dead Ewoks following a visit to the forest moon of Endor from The First Order (the new name for The Empire). Evidently they are on the hunt for Darth Vader's mask - as seen in the theatrical trailer released a couple months ago - and have no problem killing any and all furry creatures who stand in their way. It's posited that Wicket could be a survivor of this slaughter.

J.J. Abrams hasn't been incredibly shy when it comes to the more controversial aspects of the Star Wars universe, as there's a strong possibility that the bones of Jar Jar Binks may show up in Star Wars: The Force Awakens... but I'm still not sure I'm buying this story. Including Ewoks in any capacity is courting potential anger from fans, and even if The First Order does visit the moon of Endor to get Darth Vader's mask, that doesn't mean that the fuzzy inhabitants of the area will have to be involved.

What do you guys think? Given the evidence, do you think that there will be Ewoks included in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, or are you a bit more dubious about what has been presented here?

After an extremely humorous video broke the news that Warwick Davis was officially signed on for participation in Star Wars: Episode VII, there was a huge lightbulb that went off over the collective heads of fans. A question so big, it could affect how most fans see the future of the Star Wars saga before they even see the next film: are the Ewoks coming back?

On the one hand, the Star Wars universe hasn't been known to linger on one planet or race for too long, as the tapestry is so rich that there's a multitude of stories that could be told. To stay with the Ewok race on the forest moon of Endor would be a little bit of a stretch, considering that the Death Star and the Empire are of little to no power at this point in the Star Wars universe. Not to mention, the lingering fan reaction to the Ewoks has ranged from "meh" to vehemently against the cuddly little soldiers.

On the other hand though, J.J. Abrams is a huge enough fan of the original Star Wars trilogy that he's been slowly but surely pulling from the Star Wars canon and cherry picking what he wants to pay homage to, as well as what he wants to discard. To say that Abrams wouldn't want to revisit the last site of the final battle against the Empire would be almost counter-intuitive to his nostalgic tendencies, and it stands as equal a chance to recur in Star Wars: Episode VII as any other element from the original films. If John Williams and 35mm film can make it into Star Wars: Episode VII, then why not the Ewoks?

Personally, I'm going to come down on the side of the Ewoks not returning. While they were cute and cuddly 30-something years ago in Return Of The Jedi, they've played their course in the Star Wars universe. If they return, it'll probably be some sort of walk on, and that can easily be done with some sort of special effects magic. Warwick Davis' hiring onto Star Wars: Episode VII is being treated as big news, so it would stand to be assumed that his role will be a substantial one. Otherwise, why advertise it at all? Do you see fans clamoring for an epilogue to Wicket's life story? They barely remember the standalone Ewok films, much less care about what happens next.

Odds are that Warwick Davis is coming back to the Star Wars fold as a new character/creature that we've never seen before. With this new piece in play, the next generation of Star Wars magic will begin to unfold, and whether we'll welcome or fear the implications of this new character will be left open for interpretation until we get some more information.

In either case, it's good to see Davis coming back to one of the most iconic film series on his resume, and it's also good to see that he's still got that sharp sense of humor about him. Fingers crossed he gets to bring some of that to Star Wars: Episode VII, which opens on December 18th, 2015.

This poll is no longer available.

Warwick Davis’ first screen role was as the Ewok Wicket in the 1983 film Star Wars: Episode VII. Though he also had a role in 1999’s The Phantom Menace, Davis has stayed busy in the Star Wars community as a host and moderator for numerous fan events around the globe. And now, according to this video, he has found his way into Star Wars: Episode VII.

Post by Star Wars.

Best casting announcement ever?

This is a very clever video made by Warwick Davis and shared on the official Star Wars Facebook page. The little details in the video crack me up, from the tiny Ewok action figure sitting on Davis’ desk at the beginning of the clip, to the image of him on a coffee mug and the phrase, "Actual size."

Not that Warwick Davis has been sitting around waiting for Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy – of his former director, George Lucas – to give him a call. The actor transitioned from the Star Wars films to the massively successful Harry Potter franchise, where he played Filius Flitwick, Head of the Ravenclaw House.

Finding room for Warwick Davis is just another concession that J.J. Abrams is making to the fans in an effort to connect Star Wars: Episode VII to the original films. When you already have Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher in the movie, I’m not sure how many more bridges you need between the old trilogy and the new series of films. And Davis did appear late in the original trilogy. Hopefully this doesn’t mean that Abrams wants Ewoks in his movie. Because we do not need a return to Endor, and a musical sequence. Yub nub, yourself, sir.

So, will we recognize Warwick Davis? Will he be buried under makeup? Let’s hope more will be revealed as we get closer to the movie’s release date.

Who needs American television when Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant continue to do great work for the BBC? And this side of the pond eventually gets the series too, just a little while after they make their splash in the UK. Also, we usually get an American remake, so you could just sit around and wait for that and avoid the annoying British accents and ultra-dry and often cringeworthy (brilliant) comedy. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. Anyway, I wouldn't hold my breath for an American remake of their newest BBC2 series, Life's Too Short.

In the same vein as Extras, Gervais and Merchant are interested in exploring a slightly fictionalized version of the entertainment industry in order to, well, mostly to take the piss (and allow actors to take the piss out of themselves). It's all in good fun and sometimes, as in the case of Kate Winslet, a guest appearance on a Gervais/Merchant program can even land you an Emmy nomination.

For those unaware, Life's Too Short follows the exploits of a slightly fictionalized Warwick Davis (as are all the celebs in their shows; I especially love the way Ben Stiller plays Ben Stiller), a working little person struggling to get by in the entertainment industry. Oh, back to awards shows: this clip from the upcoming BBC2 series has Johnny Depp accompany Davis to the offices of Gervais and Merchant, where the topic of the Golden Globes is awkwardly addressed. "No one makes fun of Tim Allen on my watch, and gets away with it."

Watch. Cringe. Laugh. Then enjoy the photo of Depp and Gervais shoving Davis into a toilet.

Life's Too Short debuts on November 10th on BBC2, and then on HBO in February 2012. You can also catch the third season of The Ricky Gervais Show on HBO early next year, as they are just wrapping up the final podcasts and ensuing animation.

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are a proven comedy writing and production team. They brought the original of The Office, Extras, and more recently introduced us to Karl Pilkington in HBO's animated The Ricky Gervais Show. Now they're looking at Warwick Davis, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Davis is an actor, and a little person, best known for his roles in Willow, the Leprachaun series and perhaps the Harry Potter films, though he was under a lot of makeup in the latter. He was the ewok Wicket in Return of the Jedi as well, but that was a full-on costume. Now, Gervais and Merchant are developing Life's Too Short, a half-hour single-camera sitcom that will follow Warwick in his day-to-day life.

Considering the pair have mastered awkward and inappropriate in their earlier work, I should imagine Life's Too Short will be offensive and uncomfortable for many viewers. It will also likely be quite brilliant. Gervais and Merchant have even written minor roles for themselves. I would imagine some comedy could be found in the physical size difference between the 3'6" Warwick and the 6'7" Merchant just by having them interact on the screen together.

The production is for the BBC, though with the talent attached I'd say it's a fair bet it will make it stateside as well. There's no word on when the project might be ready for air.