Dork Side of the Force
Fansided

Star Wars: Taika Waititi set to direct, co-write new theatrical film

ByThomas Willoughby|
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Writer-director Taika Waititi, winner of the Adapted Screenplay award for "Jojo Rabbit," poses in the press room during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Writer-director Taika Waititi, winner of the Adapted Screenplay award for "Jojo Rabbit," poses in the press room during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California.

On Star Wars Day 2020, Luscasfilm has confirmed some exciting rumors, including Taika Waititi directing a new movie.

Lucasfilm has announced that Taika Waititi, director of Thor: Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit, is set to direct and co-write a brand new, theatrically released, feature film. Waititi will be penning the project with Krysty Wilson-Cairns, writer of 1917 and the upcoming Last Night in Soho.

This isn’t Waititi’s first foray into the Star Wars universe. The New Zealand native directed ‘Redemption,’ the eight chapter of The Mandalorian’s first season. He also voiced the bounty hunter droid, IG-11, in three episodes.

Both Waititi and Wilson-Cairns are heading into it on the back of two lauded projects. Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit earned Academy Award and BAFTA Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay. What Waititi is most known for, however, is his first entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; Thor: Ragnarok. The film is set to see a sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder, in 2022.

For Krysty Wilson-Cairns, 2019’s 1917 saw her awarded a BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film, and an Academy Award nomination for the award of Best Original Screenplay.

More from Star Wars News

Small Screen

In addition to this announcement, we received confirmation that Emmy Award-nominee Leslye Headland, writer of Netflix’s Russian Doll, will be developing a new Star Wars series for Disney+. Headland will write, executive produce, and act as showrunner for the as-yet untitled series.

While both of these projects have been heavily rumored, it’s welcome to see them both receive a confirmation on “Star Wars DAy”. The pedigree behind the two is undeniable, given the accolades all three names have been nominated for, and the successes all three have enjoyed.

While release dates for both projects have yet to be confirmed, there is plenty to keep Star Wars fans busy before either sees release. The second season of The Mandalorian is currently in post-production, with a third being green-lit, and both the Cassian Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi series’ are in the early stages of production.

What do you make of the announcements? Is there anyone you hope will oversee a Star Wars projects in the future? Let us know!

Home/Star Wars News