This year, Warwick Davis is set to reprise his role of Willow Ufgood in a reimagined mini-series by Lucasfilm for Disney+. Fans of the original fantasy film from 1988 will remember Willow: the tale of a young wizard who was sent on a treacherous journey to save a young child from a wicked witch.
Just like the 80s version, this new series was filmed in locations across Wales, including the historic Merthyr Mawr and the glorious grounds of Margam Country Park. With our rolling hills, vast beaches and rugged quarries, Cymru is proving a popular location for many productions looking to film in the UK, offering an epic backdrop to any adventure.
Our efforts to bring Willow to Wales started in 2018. We liaised with the production staff at Lucasfilm to showcase the capabilities of our film and TV industry and infrastructure, from our beautiful locations to our talented crew. Wales also boasts seven studios, which together offer a combined shooting space of 822,705 sq feet.
Through our dedicated Wales Screen service, we were able to support the production throughout filming. One key area of that support focused on helping the team at Lucasfilm find the perfect locations to tell the story. As well as setting up base and filming at Dragon Studios in Cardiff, the team also explored locations across Wales – from Pendine Sands in the south to the mountains of Eryri in the north. Find out more about those epic locations over at Visit Wales.
To help Lucasfilm bring the tale of Willow to life, we used our locations database and worked with Natural Resources Wales to secure the use of several of their sites, including grasslands, meadows, beaches, castles and ancient ruins.
Here in Wales, we’re a country of breathtaking beauty, unique landscapes and cutting-edge studios. So, what better place to film an epic adventure?
If you’re looking to film in Wales, visit our dedicated filming in Wales page that guides you through finding crew, locations and facilities.
