It's only been a few weeks since Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy admitted that the company has a slew of Star Wars plans on the horizon, and Lucasfilm has already confirmed another trilogy of Star Wars movies is on the way. With so many possibilities on the horizon, Kathleen Kennedy, and Lucasfilm as a whole, are also open to looking for new directors to take on projects. She recently revealed that she would be cool with the idea if Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi were interested in an upcoming venture for another Disney-owned property. Kennedy said:
I would love for him to direct a Star Wars movie. I do, I agree. I think he has exactly the right sensibility. It was very exciting to see him step into the Marvel universe and do such an amazing job with Thor. Let him know.
So, at the very least, Kathleen Kennedy seems to know who Taika Waititi is and be a fan of the director. The Newshub reporter asking about Waititi also got Kathleen Kennedy to agree that her statement "was kind of a job offer," so if the stars align this could theoretically happen for the Star Wars universe down the line.
I would be remiss if I didn't note this whole idea may sound great, but if you've been paying attention to Taika Waititi in interviews at all, you may already know that the Thor: Ragnarok director has stated he doesn't think he's the best fit for a Star Wars venture. He said:
Lolz, I like to complete my films. I'd be fired within a week.
Taika Waititi's comments came after Phil Lord and Chris Miller were let go by Lucasfilm while partially through filming Solo: A Star Wars Story. Reportedly, one big thing that Lord and Miller have in common with Waititi is a lot of improvisation on the set. All of that improvisation worked for Thor: Ragnarok, which was a funnier, more charming film than the other Thor ventures. It didn't really work for the seemingly more buttoned-up Lucasfilm, which replaced Lord and Miller with a more straightforward storyteller in Ron Howard. Waititi has also called Star Wars movies "particularly hard" so I'm not sure the two parties would ever come to the table to create something together, even if Kathleen Kennedy admires Waititi's work.
Still, there's a part of me that would be very curious to see a Star Wars movie created by Taika Waititi. The New Zealander has his own sensibilities when it comes to making movies, and the world George Lucas created has already been improved by a variety of different minds and points of view, the firing of Phil Lord and Chris Miller notwithstanding. We'll get to see Rian Johnson's vision next, when Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15. If you haven't pre-ordered your tickets for that adventure already, we totally have you covered.
