Taika Waititi Reveals Concept for His 'Star Wars' Film

Director Confirms He's Still Working on His Own Film Within the Iconic Saga's Universe

The 'Star Wars' film project from Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi, first announced in 2020, is still in development despite significant leadership changes at Lucasfilm. Recent comments from the director himself, as well as outgoing studio head Kathleen Kennedy, indicate the project has not been cancelled and remains in the company's plans.

Interest in the film has been rekindled after a long period of silence, as Waititi has publicly discussed his creative approach to the legendary franchise for the first time in a long while.

Returning the Spirit of the Original Trilogy

At the premiere of his new film "Fing!" at the Sundance Film Festival, Taika Waititi shared his vision for his 'Star Wars' movie. The director stated that his primary goal is to recapture the feeling he experienced watching the saga's original films.

Waititi emphasized that the original trilogy always blended high drama with vibrant humor. There were serious stakes, danger, and large-scale conflicts, yet also a sense of lightness, irony, and memorable comedic moments. It's this specific balance he finds essential and aims to reintroduce into the universe.

A Standalone World Within the Franchise

The director also confirmed he does not plan to directly tie his film into the already overstuffed 'Star Wars' timeline. He explained that the project's initial idea was built around creating a more autonomous story.

Waititi noted that too much is already happening in the main saga's continuity, so realizing his own concept required creating a world separate from the key plotlines. This approach, he believes, offers more creative freedom and allows for telling a self-contained story without disrupting the franchise's established mythology.

The Project's Long Road and Sparse Updates

Taika Waititi's film was officially announced by Lucasfilm back in 2020, but news since then has been extremely scarce. The lack of concrete timelines and frequent internal studio reshuffles fueled rumors of the project being shelved or cancelled.

The situation was clarified by a recent statement from Kathleen Kennedy, who is stepping down as President of Lucasfilm. She noted that Waititi's film is "still kind of alive," thereby confirming the studio hasn't abandoned the idea entirely.

A Script Exists, But No Timeline Given

Furthermore, Kennedy confirmed that Taika Waititi has turned in a script for the film. However, no details were revealed regarding its development stage, start of filming, or a potential release date.

For now, the project remains one of the most enigmatic films in the 'Star Wars' universe. Its future is directly tied to Lucasfilm's new strategy, but the director's fresh comments make it clear he remains interested in realizing his vision and hasn't walked away from working on the saga.