Taika Waititi, director of the upcoming Star Wars project, has shared his vision of recapturing the fun that defined the original trilogy. More than five years after his attachment to the film was announced, Waititi remains focused on blending high stakes with lighthearted moments, aiming to bring a joyful spirit back to the Star Wars universe.
Waititi’s Approach and Standalone Storytelling
Speaking with Variety at the Sundance premiere of the family adventure Fing!, where he plays the villain, Waititi elaborated on the tone he hopes to bring to his Star Wars film. He stated,
“I’m just trying to go back and harness a little bit more of the fun from the original films, which is what I remember [from] them,”
Taika Waititi, Director.
“The stakes are very high, and there’s serious things going on, but there’s also a lot of fun to be had in those films. That’s what I was trying to bring back.”
He explained that his script, written by Krysty Wilson-Cairns, is crafted as a standalone story, separate from the numbered episodes of the saga.
“I was trying to work in a world that was a little bit separate to that because they’ve got so many things going on within that space,”
Taika Waititi, Director.
“For me to do something there, it would need to be a little different and a little bit more its own thing.”
Project Status and Lucasfilm Leadership Transition
Despite the early announcement of Waititi’s involvement, concrete progress on the film has been slow. This delay was underscored by Lucasfilm’s outgoing president Kathleen Kennedy during her January exit interview, where she confirmed the film was “still somewhat alive” but made clear that final decisions would be up to her successors. She mentioned having read a “hilarious and great” script but emphasized,
“just not my decision, especially when I’ve got a foot out the door.”
With Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan now serving as Lucasfilm’s co-presidents, the fate of Waititi’s Star Wars endeavor hinges on their direction moving forward.
Other Lucasfilm Projects in Development
Alongside Waititi’s project, Lucasfilm continues to advance other new entries in the Star Wars franchise. Filming is currently underway in the UK on Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy. The cast includes Ryan Gosling, Aaron Pierre, and Amy Adams among others. Levy also revealed that Thomas Newman, known for composing scores for films like American Beauty and Finding Nemo, will create the musical score for the 2027 release.
Challenges Facing Star Wars Filmmakers
Recent developments have also highlighted challenges within the Star Wars cinematic universe. After the 2017 release of The Last Jedi, director Rian Johnson was slated to produce three more Star Wars films, but these have yet to materialize. Kathleen Kennedy has attributed the halt partially to the impact of online negativity, which reportedly discouraged Johnson from continuing. However, Johnson has since denied this claim.
The Significance of Waititi’s Star Wars Vision
Taika Waititi’s effort to reintroduce a sense of fun and fresh storytelling to Star Wars comes at a time when the franchise seeks to balance legacy and innovation. His commitment to delivering a standalone narrative that honors the joyful aspects of the original trilogy could appeal to both longtime fans and new audiences. As Lucasfilm transitions leadership, the decision to greenlight this project will signal the company’s direction in expanding its Star Wars universe through distinct, character-driven experiences.
