With an Oscar in hand forJojoRabbit, an episode ofThe Mandalorianin the can and now streaming on Disney+, and a big-budget follow-up to his MCU crowd-pleaserThor: Ragnarokon the way,Taika Waititi’s decades-long career is currently bearing fruit in big ways. But rather than look back on past accomplishments, recent though they may be, many Waititi fans are looking forward, especially when it comes to a big-name franchise inStar Warsand the acclaimed anime classic,Akira.
Waititi has already firmly planted his filmmaking flag inStar Warsas both an actor in, and director for, the Disney+ seriesThe Mandalorian. But since theStar Warsseries can act as a proving ground for a bigger stage, fans have been wondering if the powers that be want toelevate Waititi to the director’s chairfor the future of their franchise; we reported as much not that long ago. But inVariety’swide-ranging chat with the filmmaker following his Oscars win, Waititi clarified theStar Warsof it all:
I wish there was a better story, I’ll put it that way. Are there discussions about the “Star Wars” film? Like, yeah, I discussed with my friends in 1996 how cool “Star Wars” was. That’s what they’re going off … I think people see me hanging out with people, especially with “Star Wars,” and think I’m having some big discussions about it. I would f—ing love to … If it was right. I would want to do any kind of movie if it made sense, and if it felt not like career suicide.
So while we put a pin in Waititi’sStarWarsplans until (if and when) Disney decides to announce them officially, what about thatAkiralive-action movie that Waititi was attached to? He wasin talks to directway back in September of 2017 and sharedhis casting plansa few weeks after that. The movie even got a2021 release date, signifying that the project might actually happen. But then,Waititi’s busy scheduleand alengthy delay forAkirasurrounded the whole thing in question marks once again. Here’s how it stands, according to Waititi:
The whole thing went on hold. We had to keep pushing the dates, and it encroached on the “Thor” dates, which were immovable. So “Akira” ended up shifting two years down the track … Post-“Thor.” So I’m not sure if even in two years I’d be — I don’t know what I’m doing in f—ing two days … I think eventually it will happen. I’m just not sure ifI’llbe doing it.
Either Waititi’s being diplomatic about bothStar WarsandAkira, or he’s just being earnest; all signs point to the latter. The good news is that we have Waititi’sThor: Love and Thunderto look forward to when it arrives on August 05, 2025.
