A Temporary Information to All of the Taika Waititi Initiatives We’re Nonetheless Ready For

It’s simply a part of Hollywood that initiatives will probably be introduced with a variety of fanfare after which fade away, with suspects each regular (scheduling conflicts, artistic variations, funds considerations) and strange (world pandemics, industry-wide strikes) in charge. However sure creators appear to connect their names to films or TV reveals that by no means materialize with larger frequency—together with Taika Waititi.

His various profession contains writing, directing, producing, and appearing (Our Flag Means Death ceaselessly), and he already has an Oscar on his shelf. So it’s no shock that he’s seemingly being pulled in a variety of totally different instructions and strikes on to new endeavors sooner than most. However since his TBD checklist is stuffed with issues we’d really wish to see at some point, right here’s a reminder of the very best sci-fi and fantasy stuff that’s on it.

Decide Dredd

Information broke this week that Waititi is hooked up to helm a brand new live-action tackle the violent comic book character, beforehand seen in films made in 1995 (with Sylvester Stallone) and 2012 (with Karl City). The Hollywood Reporter famous there’s a script by Drew Pearce (Fall Man; Mission: Inconceivable – Rogue Nation) however no studio hooked up but. Based on the commerce, “sources say Pearce and Waititi each grew up with the books and are mates who’ve been looking for a venture to work on collectively for years.”

THR additional notes that “the pitch is claimed to take inspiration extra from the comics than the earlier display screen iterations, leaning into the world-building and darkish humor,” which sounds nice, although this element doesn’t: “The need is to see the film launch a Dredd universe that could possibly be explored with extra films and reveals throughout varied platforms.” Why although?

We’re Wolves

In all probability only a fleeting dream at this level, provided that this werewolf-focused sequel to What We Do within the Shadows (the film) was being talked about earlier than What We Do within the Shadows (the TV present) arrived. However the show ended late last year after six triumphant seasons, with many followers nonetheless wishing it might proceed. Would possibly We’re Wolves emerge from the darkness in spite of everything?

Akira

Just some weeks in the past, we discovered that Warner Bros.’ long-teased Akira movie was being taken off the desk. Waititi’s title was one in every of many bandied about to direct when it was nonetheless in play, and he definitely appeared enthusiastic—though in 2019 he defined he’d had to step back from it on account of his Marvel commitments. However simply because Warner Bros. isn’t going to deal with Akira doesn’t imply the manga adaptation received’t ever occur; one other studio would possibly properly decide up the newly obtainable rights. Possibly Waititi will circle again when and if that occurs?

Flash Gordon

Image it: summer season, 2021. We acquired an intriguing replace on the animated Flash Gordon film Waititi had first teased in 2019. The sport modified, and now it was going to be a live-action Flash Gordon movie! Even just a few years later, it nonetheless looks as if a really perfect outlet for Waititi’s irreverent type and bombastic method to superhero motion, however thus far there’s been no recent momentum on this one.

The Incal

In late 2021, Waititi teased one other fascinating venture: an adaptation of The Incal, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Jean Giraud’s (aka Moebius) sci-fi masterpiece. “The movies and graphic novels of Alejandro Jodorowsky have influenced me and so many others for therefore lengthy,” Waititi informed the Hollywood Reporter on the time. “I used to be surprised to be given the chance to convey his iconic characters to life.” We’re not mad at it both, aside from the truth that it hasn’t occurred but.

Netflix Roald Dahl sequence

In 2020, io9 had trigger to run a post with the headline “Oompa-Loompa Doom-Pa-Da-Dee-Tee, Get Pumped for Roald Dahl by Taika Waititi,” on the event of Waititi asserting two deliberate Netflix sequence set on this planet of Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing unit. Together with one all about Oompa-Loompas! As we all know, Netflix sunk a lot of dough into buying Dahl’s story catalog a few years back, however hasn’t finished terribly a lot with the IP since; within the meantime, the Timothée Chalamet-starring Wonka film, whose conception pre-dated the Netflix acquisition, type of took over the cultural dialog on magical chocolate factories. Nonetheless, the streamer continues to be holding onto Dahl, so possibly Waititi will return to this one finally.

Star Wars

This one’s a complete galaxy larger than simply Waititi, as a result of pinning down Lucasfilm’s future big-screen plans has been no straightforward activity for the reason that sequel trilogy ended. However amid the positive issues (The Mandalorian and Grogu, Ryan Gosling’s Starfighter) and the handful of initiatives that seem to still be on track (like James Mangold’s “Daybreak of the Jedi” film), Waititi’s long-teased Star Wars movie, which might reunite The Mandalorian season one star with the franchise, is one which’s by no means been dominated out. We nonetheless don’t know if it would occur, although.

Which percolating Taika Waititi initiatives are you hoping really materialize? Do you suppose Decide Dredd will transfer ahead, or will it be part of these different titles in Waititi limbo? And can he ever make his Star Wars film?

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