Writer/director Taika Waititi jokes he will ruin Star Wars following the announcement of his upcoming film. Waititi’s stock has risen exponentially over the last decade, fine-tuning his signature irreverence with independent movies like Boy, What We Do in the Shadows, and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. His first real blockbuster, Thor: Ragnarok (which he also starred in as Korg), reinvigorated the Thor franchise and left an inimitable impression on the MCU. After winning an Oscar for his most recent film, Jojo Rabbit, Waititi has become one of the most sought-after personalities in Hollywood.
Waititi's partnership with the Disney-owned Marvel Studios has extended to Lucasfilm. In addition to returning for the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder, Waititi voiced IG-11 in The Mandalorian season 1 and directed “Chapter 8: Redemption.” Not long after his directorial stint on The Mandalorian, reports started to emerge that Lucasfilm wanted Waititi to helm a new Star Wars movie. Even though Waititi denied those rumors, Lucasfilm officially confirmed them on Star Wars Day (AKA May 4th) 2020.
During Disney’s Investor Day, Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy further confirmed Waititi’s upcoming journey to a galaxy far, far away. Waititi shared his hilarious reaction to the announcement on social media. Check it out below.
Saying he's a "longtime fan of Star Wars" who’s "angry about what [he’s] about to ruin” playfully mocks the franchise's notorious controversy. Almost every Star Wars director (George Lucas included) has endured harsh criticism at some point. Generations of fans grew up with Star Wars; therefore, those who have disliked various entries in the franchise have accused respective filmmakers of “ruining their childhood (among other things).” For example, Star Wars: The Last Jedi's Rian Johnson was the subject of intense harassment online. Thankfully, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker marked the end of the Skywalker saga, birthing a new age of Star Wars.
Kennedy also announced Patty Jenkins' upcoming Rogue Squadron and two new Disney+ spinoffs of The Mandalorian: Ahsoka and Rangers of the New Republic. While expectations are high for those projects (taking place within the Skywalker saga), no one knows what to expect from Waititi's Star Wars film—which will likely explore uncharted territory. That said, Waititi’s sense of humor and unique perspective has awarded him a massive following. As a filmmaker, he seems less concerned with expectations than artistic fulfillment. Posts like the one above exhibit his fearless ability to poke fun at nerve-racking/sensitive subjects. While the pressure is still on, Waititi’s filmography and persona have fans confident he will deliver in 2025.
Source: Taika Waititi/Instagram