Last year, Taika Waititi was a very busy man. Not only did he release the Oscar-winning film, “Jojo Rabbit,” but he also signed on to write and direct the fourth ‘Thor’ film for Marvel Studios. However, when the news of his involvement with “Thor: Love & Thunder” was announced, it was a bit bittersweet, as he was ready to work on the live-action version of “Akira,” based on the acclaimed manga and animated film of the same name.
And in a new interview with Variety, Waititi updates the current status of “Akira,” and it appears that the film has once again found itself on shaky ground.
“The whole thing went on hold,” said Waititi about “Akira.” “We had to keep pushing the dates, and it encroached on the ‘Thor’ dates, which were immovable. So ‘Akira’ ended up shifting two years down the track.”
When asked if that meant the film would be completed post-‘Thor,’ Waititi was a bit more coy about providing any definite answers.
“Post-’Thor.’ So I’m not sure if even in two years I’d be — I don’t know what I’m doing in fucking two days,” he said. “ I think eventually it will happen. I’m just not sure if I’ll be doing it.”
Oof. That’s not the answer fans of “Akira” were hoping to hear. For a film that has been in development for something like two decades, the idea that waiting a couple of more years isn’t such a big deal. But if Taika Waititi isn’t involved, then that could be another big blow for the production. That isn’t to say he won’t be involved, but it definitely doesn’t sound like a sure thing, huh?
Another not-a-sure-thing is the idea that Waititi will stick around Lucasfilm and work on a “Star Wars” film. The filmmaker side-stepped the question recently when asked if he’d been approached by Lucasfilm about doing a new “Star Wars” feature. He once again confirms that nothing is definite and jokes about discussions that may or may not have happened. But he does say that if Lucasfilm offers, he’d take a look at the idea.
“If it was right,” said Waititi about a potential “Star Wars” film. “I would want to do any kind of movie if it made sense, and if it felt not like career suicide.”
Unfortunately, that bit about “career suicide” might be enough to scare many filmmakers away, as the fandom surrounding the “Star Wars” franchise has become…volatile, to say the least.