Thor Director Taika Waititi Reacts To Franchise Continuing Without Him

Highlights

  • Director Taika Waititi has announced that he will not be involved in Thor 5 if it happens, as he wants to focus on other films he has signed on for in the next few years.
  • Waititi clarified that his decision to step back from the Marvel franchise is not due to any drama but because he wants to concentrate on his other projects.
  • With Chris Hemsworth also hinting at leaving the MCU, it’s not surprising that Waititi is less enthusiastic about the next Thor film. Additionally, Waititi has a busy schedule with other movies in the works, including a Star Wars film.


It’s still unclear if Thor 5 is on the way, but the blockbuster director, Taika Waititi, already announced that he would not be part of it, and he’s fine if another person helms the movie.

Thor is one of the most popular films in the MCU franchise, with Chris Hemsworth playing the titular character. There are already four movies featuring the Norse God of Thunder – Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). There are rumors that Thor 5 is happening, but Marvel Studios hasn’t confirmed it. However, Waititi, who directed the last two movies, announced that he would not be part of the next film if it’s produced, clarifying that there’s no drama in his decision to step back from the Marvel Studios franchise.

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Waittiti spoke with Business Insider while doing press for his upcoming film Next Goal Wins. Waititi doesn’t want Marvel Studios to wait for him and clarifies that it’s okay with him if they do Thor 5 with somebody else in the director’s chair. “I would never feel like they are cheating on me,” he said while joking that they have an “open relationship.” The New Zealand filmmaker and actor said he would be happy to see other people working on the project, and he would still work with Marvel Studios.

Waititi’s decision to step back from the Marvel Studios franchise is unsurprising, as several actors had already left MCU, and many had expressed their desire to follow suit. Chris Evans’ Captain America, Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man, and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow were among the characters who died in Avengers: Endgame. All of them were satisfied with how their characters were written off and were good about moving on from their superhero roles.

Hemsworth also hinted that he’s leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Thor star previously said Thor: Love and Thunder could be his last MCU movie. Hemsworth said if Thor 5 would happen, it would be his final appearance as the strongest Avengers, and he would only do it to wrap up the story. With Hemsworth also leaving the franchise, it’s unsurprising that Waititi is less enthusiastic about the next film. Most importantly, the filmmaker has a lot on his plate. He is working on a movie adaptation of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s graphic novel The Incal and is also developing the upcoming Star Wars movie. He has a lot of stuff to keep him busy in the coming years.

The Thor movies are available on Disney Plus.

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MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.

First Film
Iron Man

Latest Film
Marvels

Cast
Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Chris Hemsworth , Scarlett Johansson , Mark Ruffalo , Jeremy Renner , Chadwick Boseman , Zoe Saldana , Chris Pratt , Tom Hiddleston , Iman Vellani

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Source: Business Insider