In the second and final part of the interview, Lucasfilm.com and Sarah Young explore the new looks for Willow, Elora Danan and the other characters in the Disney+ Willow series.
One of costume designer Sarah Young’s favorite memories of working on Lucasfilm’s series Willow came at the end of the journey. In November 2022, she was among those invited to the series premiere in Los Angeles where fans lined up in their homemade Willow costumes, including ones inspired by new clothing worn by characters like Elora Danan and Kit Tanthalos. “They had so many questions about Elora’s green scarf,” Young says with a laugh, “asking about how to make it.”
Each and every costume piece, including Elora’s scarf, had been designed and created by Young’s department based at Dragon Studios in Wales, along with many collaborating vendors. For Young, each new costume was an opportunity to tell a story. “For all of the characters, the clothing needed to be versatile. They leave on the journey with one costume, and you want the clothing to develop as they develop,” she says.
Keeping images of the characters from the original 1988 movie around for inspiration, Young and her team set about creating each costume and its variations. This often involved imagining points about the story to inform their decisions. “If they don’t give me a story, I need one to create these characters,” she says. Inferring from the scripts, Young envisioned different backstories and details. “I’m not afraid to pitch things in meetings and explain why. That’s what sparks the ideas.”
Willow Ufgood
For the series’ namesake, it all began with the costume from the original movie. “I couldn’t see Willow in anything other than a blue tunic,” Young says. “You put blue on [actor] Warwick Davis and his eyes are incredible. He really suits the color.”
Starting with the same concept, she then conferred with Davis, and together they imagined new refinements that added practicality to the design. Facing tough conditions on the quest, Willow also sported a leather jacket with removable sleeves. Because he is now High Aldwin, Young included runic symbols across the jacket, hundreds of them hand-painted, cut, and sewn (including ones for all of the duplicate jackets!).
Willow’s design also represented the culture of the Nelwyn, who have gone underground since their last appearance in 1988. Considering how these changes would have affected them, Young took inspiration from the lockdown during the global pandemic. “People created stuff,” she explains. “When you’re confined, even during a terrible situation like the Nelwyns in hiding, people come together. I thought they could be making things with organic materials, dyeing with natural colors, hand-weaving, and hand-knitting. It’s a progression from the original.”
Elora Danan
Few of Willow’s characters experience as dramatic a change in appearance as Elora Danan (even her hair changes color). Initially, this sorceress-to-be needed to appear quite ordinary and blend in with the other staff at Tir Asleen’s castle. Joining the others on the quest, her green shawl distinguishes her from the refined appearances of Kit and Jade.
“I never saw her in a skirt,” Young says. “She’s actually wearing wide-leg culottes. They’re trousers. I knew they’d work practically for the shoot because of all of the stunt work, but they also fit the character. She starts as this young girl in love with Airk and goes on this journey of self-discovery.” Later, Elora’s green shawl is replaced with a darker coat that exudes her growing confidence and power.
Kit Tanthalos
Kit’s emotional journey takes her from overconfidence to a deeper vulnerability, and we see this evolution as her costume becomes more flexible. The design began with her mother’s costume from the original movie. Young took inspiration from Sorsha’s corseted belt and shoulder armor, giving Kit a waist cinching belt and attached shoulder piece as a modernized version.
Of course, Kit is also the one to finally don the Kymerian Cuirass, and as Young recalls, showrunner Jonathan Kasdan had always envisioned armor that transforms from a dirty relic into a kind of super-hero suit (Marvel’s Iron Man was used for reference). The complex design and fabrication process involved both Neal Scanlan’s creature effects department and the visual effects team.
Actor Ruby Cruz’s body was scanned as she wore a corset. Individual pieces for the Cuirass were then 3D printed, and affixed to a lycra body suit. “The ultimate goal was to accentuate Ruby’s body,” as Young puts it. The build included a practical light for the glowing Lux Arcana that brings the armor to life. “All of the cast would practice fighting during the costume fittings, and with the Curiass, I made sure we had the sword so she could try moving around.”
Airk Tanthalos
According to Young, one of Kasdan’s first notes about the costume for Prince Airk Tanthalos was “this is the Harry Styles of Willow.” Leaping at the opportunity, she began with researching 1970s glamor fashion. “It was interesting to show that feminine side,” Young explains. “It doesn’t take anything away from his character. He can be whatever he wants to be.”
Experimenting with different approaches, Young quips that she helped turn actor Dempsey Bryk onto new ideas in fashion. At times, Airk’s costume includes elaborate skirts attached to his trousers as well as various jewelry. “It was fun to show that flamboyant side to his character,” Young adds. “He has a unique style.”
Read the interview in full here, and watch Willow now on Disney+.
