Star Wars: Taika Waititi Says His Movie Will "Piss People Off"

In a surprising turn for the Star Wars franchise, Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi, known for his work on "Jojo Rabbit" and "Thor: Love and Thunder," is developing a new Star Wars film that promises to be uniquely his own.

Waititi, speaking at the premiere of Searchlight's "Next Goal Wins," hinted at a fresh direction for his Star Wars project. "It will be … a Taika Waititi film," he declared to Variety. "It's gonna piss people off."

His approach to the beloved universe is not without its challenges. The film, still untitled and in the development phase at Lucasfilm, has been subject to the same production slowdowns affecting the industry, including the Writers Guild of America strike.

Despite the delays, Waititi's vision for the film remains unshaken. He has openly acknowledged the pressures and expectations surrounding a franchise as iconic as Star Wars. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Waititi revealed, "I've got a really good idea for it. It’s the middle part that's tricky." His comments reflect a desire to innovate within the well-established boundaries of the Star Wars universe.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has expressed support for Waititi's creative process, albeit noting his methodical approach. Speaking to Empire Magazine, she said, "Taika is working away. He's just, and he won't get mad at me for saying this, slow."

Waititi's candid nature surfaced in an interview with Rolling Stone, where he discussed the immense lore of Star Wars and the challenges of meeting fan expectations. He joked about the impossibility of pleasing everyone and the daunting task of navigating the franchise's extensive history.

As of now, there's no set release date for Waititi's Star Wars film. But one thing seems certain: it will be a departure from the norm, potentially reshaping how Star Wars movies are perceived and created in the future.