I feel like I’ve lived several lifetimes since it was announced that Taika Waititi would be directing a new Star Wars movie.
Whispers that the Boy director was in consideration to direct a Star Wars production first came to light in 2017, following the release of Taika’s excellent Hunt For The Wilderpeople, after LucasFilm’s Kathleen Kennedy told Newshub, that she would “love” for Taika Waititi to direct a franchise film for them.
“I would love for him to direct a Star Wars movie. I think he has exactly the right sensibility,” she said. “It was very exciting to see him step into the Marvel universe and do such an amazing job with Thor.”
That verbal manifestation came to fruition in 2020 with a confirmation that Taika had signed on to direct an as-yet-untitled Star Wars film.
Since then, updates on the hallowed production has been few and far between. Taika seemed to have his hands full with various other projects (directing Thor: Love And Thunder, working on the FX series Reservation Dogs, co-starring in Free Guy, kissing Rita Ora) and the future of the project felt more uncertain with each passing day. Until now.
Taika recently sat down with Wired where he offered fans a much-desired update on the elusive project. Taika confirmed that he has come up with a story, but the film is “It’s still in the ‘EXT. SPACE’ stage,”, i.e. a screenplay is yet to be written.
“But we’ve got a story. I’m really excited by it because it feels very me,” he adds.
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When asked how he’s fared marrying his offbeat sense of humour with the “operatically sincere Star Wars universe” Taika mused, “I tend to go down that little sincerity alleyway in my films,” he says. “I like to fool the viewer into thinking ‘ha it’s this’ and then them going, ‘Damn it, you made me feel something!’”
So what can we expect from a Taika-led Star Wars production? In December last year, Kathleen Kennedy promised that “Star Wars’ theatrical slate is pushing forward into a new future era. Taika’s approach to Star Wars will be fresh, unexpected, and unique. His enormous talent and sense of humor will ensure audiences are in for an unforgettable ride.”
