When Season 8 of Forged in Fire began airing on the History Channel in 2022, fans were upset to see the show's original host Wil Willis had been replaced. Willis helped guide each season's blade smiths through the grueling competition year after year. It's safe to say, the former military man was a fan favorite, and his sudden departure from the show was baffling, to say the least.
Willis spent ten years as an Air Force Pararescueman, and four years as an Army Ranger. After he retired from the military, Willis began using his expert weaponry knowledge as a commentator on various TV shows and even an actor in hit movies. Then, in 2015, he began hosting Forged in Fire. Season 8 premiered with Ultimate Survival Alaska alum Grady Powell as the new host, and fans are wondering what happened to Willis.
Updated on January 20, 2023: Wil Willis has stayed out of Hollywood since Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges in 2020. He is now focusing on life as a husband and father, spending as much time with his family as he can. Willis is, however, still taking time for his passions; in May 2022, he shared on Instagram a knife he was making with a fellow artist. Wil does not post on social media much, except to share information that is close to his heart.
7 Who Is Wil Willis?
The History Channel star was born in Portugal in 1975, remaining there only through his elementary school years. His father was in the military, so he and his four siblings spent a lot of time moving from base to base.
His father retired from the military in 1991 and the family moved to California. Wil received American citizenship and joined the US Army after graduating from high school in 1993.
6 Wil Willis' Military Background
Willis was a ranger in the 11B2V-Ranger Batallion for four years. He later joined the US Air Force in 1998. His military rank was the Air Force Pararescue Recovery Specialist, and he stayed in this position until 2007. After this service, he performed one more year of reserve duty with the Air Force before leaving the military in 2008.
5 Wil Willis Started A Career In Acting
Following his military leave, he still dedicated much of his life to it. For the next three years, Willis worked as a trainer of military science and technology at Assessment and Training Solutions. His military background and extensive knowledge eventually helped him find a way into the entertainment industry.
Starting still in military based projects, Wil Willis began working at Broken Lizard Productions, and soon after, began hosting various military-themed documentary shows, such as Special Ops Mission and Triggers: Weapons That Changed the World. Along the way he even started appearing in movies. His appearances over the years include Beerfest, In the Valley of Elah, Waste of Time, Sovereign, and The German King.
4 What Was His Role On Forged In Fire?
The History Channel premiered this reality competition show back in 2015. The show features blade smiths who try to recreate historical weapons, with four judges evaluating them.
With both his knowledge of weaponry and his TV experience, Wil Willis was the perfect choice for the host of the show. Wil's responsibilities were not only hosting the show, but also giving competitors directions and specifications that they should meet for their weapons. He also provided valuable advice from his personal experience.
Over seven seasons viewers grew to love Willis, and he even began hosting the spinoff series Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges. So when the show came back for its eighth season with a new host, fans were stunned.
3 Why Did Wil Willis Leave The Show?
In 2017, Willis married realtor Krystle Amina. On March 6, 2020, the couple welcomed a baby boy, Flash Orion Willis. Since then, the former military man's social media has been dominated by pictures of his adorable little one. Even over the pandemic and lockdown, Willis was basking in fatherhood and enjoying the time with his family — especially after the turbulent year that was 2020.
Additionally, in a December 2020 episode of the B3f podcast, Willis opened up about the demanding nature of the Forged in Fire filming process. He shared that it takes "three to five days to film an episode," and admitted the process can be "boring." Although he expressed his appreciation for the show and its crew, his comments suggested he was ready for a new adventure.
After Willis did not return to the show, the History Channel issued a statement assuring fans that Grady Powell will be ushering in a new era of Forged in Fire. In the statement, a spokesperson for the channel said "As with any legacy series that has had the privilege of being on the air for five-plus years, fans will notice new names and faces from time to time. While we appreciate Wil Willis and everything he brought to the series, we are excited to start this new chapter and welcome Grady Powell into the 'forge' as our new host."
Despite the statement, the response from fans proved they were still unsatisfied, with some asking to bring the old host back.
2 Who Is Grady Powell?
Grady Powell is a former U.S. Army Green Beret and Senior Detachment Weapons Sergeant. With tours in Iraq and Northern Africa, Grady is a small arms, mobility, and survival expert.
After Grady served with distinction in the US Army Special Forces, he started training military, law enforcement and civilians in lifesaving skills, trauma medicine, and defensive weapon implementation.
1 What's Wil Up To Now?
It seems these days that Willis is simply enjoying being a father. Through his Instagram he posts adventures he has taken with the family, vacations, and playing sports together. He also has been studying screenwriting at the New York Film Academy, and is interested in continuing his career in the industry as a producer and writer.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErZ%2Bippeoe6S7zGiuobFdrLatedaio6Who2K5prLTZp2oqpeasW61zWadoqqVYq6vsIyhprBlmJ7AbrjIn5xmoJGoeqS0wKeenpxdqLavr8Ro