Months ago we wrote about a rumor that Lucasfilm wanted Oscar-winning writer/director Taika Waititi to make a Star Wars film. And now the rumor has become reality because it has been announced that Waititi will co-write and direct a brand new feature-length Star Wars movie. Lucasfilm made the announcement today, of course, since it is May the 4th.
Waititi will co-write the script with Krysty Wilson Cairns (1917) and will likely begin working on the story ASAP though I wouldn’t expect production to begin for some time.
Waititi has been a hot commodity for awhile and his stock has only risen since his Oscar win for the screenplay of Jojo Rabbit. He has a lot of projects lined up currently, including the next Thor film and a couple of Netflix series about Willy Wonka. I think this Star Wars news spells doom for the planned Akiraadaptation he is attached to but that’s no big loss is it? Is anyone really clamoring for that Akira movie?
I really hope that Waititi is able to inject his personality and especially his humor into his Star Wars film but I am also a bit cautious because this isn’t the first time a talented, unique voice has been hired to direct SW and the results haven’t always been solid. Phil Lord and Chris Miller were going to direct the Solo: A Star Wars Story but they got fired during production. Gareth Edwards was directing Rogue One but he pretty much got pushed out of the editing room. Lucasfilm talks a big talk when it comes to hiring great, on-the-rise talent but they don’t alway stand behind them 100%. Let’s hope they don’t get in Waititi’s way.