Despite audience anticipation for the film, Taika Waititi is sounding doubtful about his new Star Wars project. Waititi first appeared in front of the camera for Lucasfilm's long-running franchise with Disney+'s The Mandalorian, in which he voiced the assassin droid IG-11 for three episodes of the series and earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance. The New Zealand filmmaker would also get behind the camera for episode 8 of the Star Wars show.
As Waititi's star profile continued to rise in the big-budget world helming Thor: Ragnarok for Marvel Studios, the Oscar winner would reunite with Disney to direct and co-write a new Star Wars film with Oscar nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns in early 2020. With Waititi busy on Thor: Love and Thunder and Next Goal Wins, amongst a number of other projects, the filmmaker has been slow at work developing his new Star Wars project, with Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy indicating it would release in 2023 prior to Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron, which is slated for December 2023. However, this may no longer be the case for the next big screen outing for the Star Wars franchise.
While speaking with the New York Times for Thor: Love and Thunder, Taika Waititi offered an update on his new Star Wars project. Though confirming he is still writing the film, the filmmaker sounded doubtful about its potential, saying it will be up to the studio to determine if his take on the franchise is approved. See what Waititi said below:
“I’m trying to write the ‘Star Wars’ idea at the moment. I’ve got to see how that goes, because once I submit it, that might determine when it gets made or if it gets made, even.”
Waititi's doubts regarding his new Star Wars project comes just a few days after he confirmed that it wouldn't begin filming this year as he will be busy with both Our Flag Means Death and Time Bandits for the rest of 2023, but did indicate he would still be writing. Though his new comments may prove concerning for those eager to see his take on the franchise, Waititi has offered plenty of promising teases about his Star Wars project in the years since he first signed on for the film, confirming he won't rely on legacy characters and that his biggest goal is to make it feel like a Star Wars movie. While Waititi may be doubtful, those around him seem more confident in the project, with co-writer Wilson-Cairns confirming not long ago development on the script was moving nicely and Kathleen Kennedy revealing at this year's Star Wars Celebration that she held a story conference meeting with the duo and was confident in its development.
One of the more interesting bits about Waititi's doubts for his new Star Wars project is that Lucasfilm may ultimately not accept the approach he's bringing to the franchise. The studio has memorably encountered multiple instances of creative differences with filmmakers in the past, including infamously firing Phil Lord and Christopher Miller from Solo: A Star Wars Story and reportedly clashing with Patty Jenkins on Rogue Squadron and resulting in its delay. While audiences await further updates on his Star Wars project, they can look forward to Waititi's Marvel Cinematic Universe return with Thor: Love and Thunder hitting theaters on July 8.
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