On the infamously known Star Wars Day, 4 May, it was announced that Taika Waititi, the filmmaker responsible for Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Ragnarok, will both direct and co-write the most recent Star Wars film.
Waititi who won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in February for his controversial film Jojo Rabbit, is well acquainted with Star Wars. Indeed, he lent his voice to droid IG-11 in Disney’s The Mandalorian and directed the first season’s finale.
The film, the title of which is yet to be made public, will also receive the creative contribution of Krysty Wilson-Cairns, the Oscar-nominated 1917 writer.
In February, Waititi was asked whether he would consider working with the Star Wars franchise following his latest film, Next Goal Wins, which will star Elizabeth Moss and Michael Fassbender. He told Variety that: “I would want to do any kind of movie if it made sense, and if it felt not like career suicide.”
Waititi is also currently at work on the script for Thor: Love and Thunder prior to its planned release in 2022.
Waititi’s appointment follows the new that Leslye Headland, the creator of Netlfix’s Russian Doll, will develop a new Star Wars series for Disney+. It is believed this will focus on the Rogue One prequel series and specifically the life of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
At the time of publication, the Star Wars films have made over $10 billion at the worldwide box office.
