After directing the final season episode of The Mandalorian, Taika Waititi is back to the director's seat for a yet-to-be-titled Star Wars movie. But three years after the project was announced, nothing has yet to come to fruition. Now, the director himself shares a new update about the film, which, though hilarious, is still saddening.
The epic space opera franchise has several projects in development, including a new movie from Waititi. The film was officially announced in May 2020, with Academy Award nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns as the Thor: Love and Thunder director’s co-writer. So, has the film seen any progress since?
In his appearance at the TIFF Tribute Awards to honor fellow director Shawn Levy, Waititi joked about their Star Wars film. The two filmmakers have Star Wars films to direct, and Levy’s was announced in November 2022.
“Unlike me, let’s hope he manages to finish a script for that,” Waititi said at the event (via Variety).
What happened to Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie?
With the 48-year-old’s latest update about his Star Wars film, fans can’t help but wonder what has happened to the project. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in May, Rita Ora’s husband admitted that doing the film’s script is giving him a hard time.
"I’ve got a really good idea for it," he revealed. "It’s just as with all films, it’s this middle part. You’re like, ‘What’s going to happen?’ And then you look at all of those films that are so great, you’re like, ‘Well, I guess they can’t meet some smuggler with an alien sidekick.'"
It’s also good to note that the ongoing writers’ strike may have something to do with this. Levy told Collider that his Star Wars project was on hold because of it.
But despite Waititi’s claim, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy told Empire Magazine that he was already working on the said movie. However, it may take a little while before fans know anything about it, especially after the film producer revealed Waititi is working on it slowly.
"Taika is working away. He's just, and he won't get mad at me for saying this, slow. We've got a couple of acts, we need a third," she claimed.
When will Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie be released?
Based on the interviews and Waititi’s revelation, his Star Wars movie is still in the works. Hence, no official release date has been announced yet.
Kennedy earlier revealed to Variety that this film would be next in the pipeline of the upcoming Star Wars projects. She also told GamesRadar+ in May 2022 that they aimed to release this project in late 2023. However, the year’s last quarter is near, and no announcement has been made yet. Waititi’s Star Wars project wasn’t even included in the 2023 Disney release schedule.
Waititi’s Star Wars project may still push through, considering there's no any cancellation announcement. Knowing his approach in doing movies, this one will surely be a must-see.
