Taika Waititi Gives Update on His ‘Fun’ Star Wars Movie

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Taika Waititi, the director of acclaimed films like Jojo Rabbit, is revisiting his plans for a Star Wars movie. This comes shortly after Kathleen Kennedy announced she was leaving her position as president of Lucasfilm, and Waititi is now sharing more about his vision for the film.

Taika Waititi has been working on a Star Wars movie since 2020. When the project was first announced, he was set to direct and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (known for 1917) would write the screenplay. After being stuck in development for six years, the project might move forward now that Kathleen Kennedy has left her position.

Taika Waititi explained that his goal for the Star Wars franchise is to recapture the sense of fun he experienced watching the original films. He shared this at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of his new movie, Fing!

He explained that while the films deal with important and potentially dangerous situations, they’re also meant to be entertaining. He wanted to recapture that balance. He also preferred to work on projects that weren’t directly tied to those existing storylines, feeling they needed to stand on their own and offer something unique. He felt adding to the already complex narrative would require a significantly different approach.

Kennedy Stepped down in Mid-January

On January 15th, Kathleen Kennedy stepped down as president of Lucasfilm after serving in the role for 14 years. Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan will now lead the company, while Kennedy will return to producing films.

Just one day after announcing her departure as president, Kennedy reflected on a past interview where she discussed an upcoming film and Rian Johnson’s Star Wars trilogy. She praised Johnson, stating, “I think Rian made one of the best Star Wars movies.” She explained that he’s a talented director who became hesitant, adding, “This is the tough part. Every filmmaker and actor who comes into this world asks me, ‘What’s going to happen?’ They’re a little afraid.”

Okay, so I’m really excited – we’re getting another Star Wars movie! Shawn Levy, who’s directing the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine, is also tackling Star Wars: Starfighter, which is slated for May 28, 2027. But hold on, there’s more! Before that, another Star Wars film is coming out on May 22, 2026. It’s a good time to be a Star Wars fan, honestly.

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2026-01-25 18:35