Taika Waititi is behind some of the decade’s biggest films, and he hopeshis nextStar Warsmoviewill be received the same way. Following the release of 2019sStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the feature-film output by Lucasfilm has been dry. Instead, the franchise has turned to TV and Disney+, releasing shows likeThe Mandalorian,The Book of Boba Fett, andObi-Wan Kenobi. On the animated side of television,Star Warssaw the seventh season ofStar Wars: The Clone Warsarrive at Disney+, alongside the anthology seriesStar Wars: Visions. However, Lucasfilm PresidentKathleen Kennedy assures fansthat more titles are making their way to the big screen in the future, with the first one being Taika Waititi’s project.
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The director recently spoke withScreen Rant, providing updates on his upcomingStar Warsmovie and how it may differ from previous entries in the franchise. As he explained:
“That’s yet to be seen. I don’t know. I’m still writing. I’m still coming up with the ideas and storylining it and just wanted to ensure that it feels like a Star Wars film. Because, I could say, ‘Oh yeah, we’ll write any old thing and set in space and then put Star Wars on the front.’ But it wouldn’t be a Star Wars film without certain elements and a certain treatment, so I’ve just got to make sure that it stays within that wheelhouse.”
It seems the director will be handling the property with care, taking his time writing the story to ensure it fits within the already established universe.
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Taika Waititi is No Stranger to Major Franchises
Fitting into the narrative of theStar Warsuniverse shouldn’t be a problem for Waititi. In 2017, he helmed the filmThor: Ragnarok, received well by critics and audiences alike. It was the third entry into theThortrilogy and the 17th movie to be released within the MCU canon. Despite his late entry into Marvel, Waititi handled the character excellently, andRagnarokis widely considered the bestThorfilm to date. He will continue his journey with the God of Thunder later this year, withThor: Love and Thunderlanding in theaters on July 8th.
Waititi already has some experience directing in theStar Warsuniverse as well, although in a smaller capacity. He guided the finale ofThe MandalorianSeason 1 in 2019, arguably the best episode of the debut season for the series. Waititi has been on a roll the past few years, with nearly everything he touches becoming a success. The director/actor hopes to continue this run with his soloStar Warsfilm. The release date is still unknown; however, following the delay of Patty Jenkins’Rogue Squadron, which was set to release in Dec. 2023, Kathleen Kennedy may be hoping that Waititi’s film can take its spot.
