Warwick Davis has a mushy spot for the late Val Kilmer, with whom he costarred within the 1988 fantasy film Willow.

"He's actually the explanation I obtained via the making of the movie Willow," Davis instructed Leisure Weekly on Wednesday on the opening of Common Epic Universe in Orlando. "As a result of if ever I used to be drained, exhausted, fed up, chilly, he'd say, 'Come on, hold going!' And he'd be the form of chief of the military, conserving us going. He was a lovely man."

Davis defined that he tells as many individuals as he can about what he noticed in The Doorways star.

"I at all times like to inform the world how nice he was, as a result of I typically assume the media gave the mistaken impression of who he was as an individual," Davis mentioned. "He was a really heat, beneficiant, kind-hearted particular person."

Willow was an action-fantasy film, directed by Ron Howard and produced by George Lucas, that instructed the story of Davis' titular character defending a child from an evil queen. Kilmer performed the a part of disgraced knight Madmartigan, who befriends the younger farmer. Joanne Whalley, whom Kilmer later married and had two youngsters with earlier than divorcing in 1996, costarred within the movie, in addition to Kevin Pollak and the late Billy Barty.

Val Kilmer's 'Willow' director Ron Howard remembers actor after death The 10 best Val Kilmer movies ranked, from 'Top Secret' to 'Heat'

It was a success on the world field workplace, grossing almost $140 million, 4 instances its reported $35 million funds. The film additionally earned Oscar nominations for each sound and visible results.

The beloved story was resurrected for a 2022 Disney+ collection, with Davis once more within the lead position. Kilmer was struggling together with his well being, although, so he was unable to take part. Everybody concerned was upset, as each the present and Kilmer had wished it to occur.

"We began constructing out the primary season with the intent of getting him seem," showrunner Jonathan Kasdan instructed EW in November 2022. "[It wasn't clear we couldn't get him] till fairly late within the course of, frankly."

The present was canceled after a single season.

Need extra film information? Join Leisure Weekly's free publication to get the newest trailers, superstar interviews, movie opinions, and extra.

Kilmer died April 1 of pneumonia at age 65. The star of movies together with High Gun, Warmth, and Tombstone had been identified with throat most cancers in 2014.

The actor, who additionally took a flip as Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever, was remembered by colleagues, together with his Willow director Howard, who praised his "superior vary"; his High Gun costar Tom Cruise, who mentioned Kilmer had a "stunning" reward and was a "expensive pal"; and his Batman Endlessly costar Jim Carrey, who referred to as the actor a "generational expertise."