Taika Waititi’s career has seen its share of successes and disappointments over the past ten years. He’s celebrated for films like What We Do in the Shadows and Thor: Ragnarok, but Thor: Love and Thunder and Next Goal Wins received a less enthusiastic response. He was tapped to direct a Star Wars movie as part of Lucasfilm’s effort to bring in new directors, but as of 2026, the project remains uncertain.
Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie doesn’t have a release date yet because of delays from both him and Lucasfilm. But while at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, he told Variety that he’s aiming to recapture the playful spirit of the original Star Wars films, hoping to bring that same feeling back to audiences and remind them why the franchise became so beloved.
As a lifelong movie fan, I always revisit the classics for inspiration. With this project, I really wanted to recapture the feeling of the earlier films – that blend of high-stakes drama and genuine fun. I remember those movies being incredibly exciting, but also just a blast to watch, and that’s the vibe I was hoping to bring back to this one.
What Taika Waititi Could Deliver in New Star Wars Movie
20th Century Fox
Taika Waititi’s upcoming Star Wars film has been delayed, but fans are still eager to see his vision for the franchise. He’s already proven his talent within the Star Wars universe, directing a highly-regarded episode – “Chapter 8: Redemption” – of The Mandalorian‘s first season, and also appearing as IG-11 and IG-12. Everyone is now wondering what kind of story he’ll tell when his movie finally arrives in theaters.
Star Wars is entering a new phase in cinemas, especially since the last film, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, came out in 2019. While that movie earned over $1 billion globally, it didn’t receive very positive reviews from critics or fans, and actually became the lowest-rated live-action Star Wars film on Rotten Tomatoes, scoring only 51%.
Following the theatrical release of The Mandalorian and Grogu this May, Lucasfilm will release Shawn Levy’s Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling. Taika Waititi’s currently untitled Star Wars film will come after that. Knowing Waititi’s previous work – like Thor – audiences can anticipate a lot of humor and exciting action in his new space adventure.
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Taika Waititi’s directing of the Season 1 finale of The Mandalorian—which was written by the show’s creator, Jon Favreau—showed he understands and appreciates the history of the Star Wars universe. Combining that understanding with his own creative vision, and drawing inspiration from the original trilogy, he could deliver a thrilling new story for fans.
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2026-01-25 04:17