Taika Waititi's unrealized projects
Taika Waititi cancelled projects
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During his career, film director Taika Waititi has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction.
2010s
We're Wolves
In 2015, Jemaine Clement announced that a follow up to 2014's What We Do in the Shadows was in development, which Waititi later announced to be titled We're Wolves, in addition to confirming he would return co-write and co-direct with Clement. The film was postponed until Waititi had finished his responsibilities with Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok.[1][2] In 2017 he reaffirmed his intentions to do the film, while noting development would be done slowly.[3]
Bubbles
In May 2017, it was announced Waititi was set to co-direct the stop motion animated film Bubbles with Mark Gustafson, based on the Black List screenplay of the same name by Isaac Adamson focusing on Michael Jackson's pet monkey.[4] Mark Gustafson departed the project in late 2018 to work on Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio.[5] In May 2019, it was Waititi had also departed the film, alongside distributor Netflix. By this point pre-production was ongoing at Starburns Industries.[6]
Akira
In September 2017, it was announced Waititi was in talks to helm the live action adaptation of Akira.[7] He was confirmed to be directing the film, in addition to co-write it with Michael Golamco, in May 2019, when Warner Bros gave the film a May 2021 release date. Filming was scheduled to begin in that Summer.[8] However, Waititi pushed aside the project to work on Thor: Love and Thunder, although he remains attached to film.[9] In 2023 he reaffirmed to be working on the film, which he would write with Interior Chinatown collaborator Charles Yu.[10]
Flash Gordon
In June 2019, Waititi was revealed to be working on an animated film based on the character Flash Gordon. At the time it wasn't clear if he would just write the film or if he would direct as well.[11] In 2021, regarding rumours of its possible cancellation, producer John Davis declared that he was still developing it, although as a live action film.[12]
2020s
The Auteur
In February 2020, Waititi was revealed to executive produce & co-write the Showtime TV miniseries adaptation of Rick Spears' horror-comedy graphic novel The Auteur, with Peter Warren as the co-writer and Waititi would direct several episodes, including the pilot, Jude Law set to star in and executive produce.[13][14]
Untitled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory TV projects
In March 2020, Waititi was announced to be writing, directing and executive producing two animated TV shows based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for Netflix, one of which would be focused on the book's main characters, while the other would be an original series based on the Oompa-Loompa characters.[15]
Untitled Star Wars film
On May 4, 2020, Waititi will direct a new Star Wars feature film for theatrical release and will co-write the screenplay with Krysty Wilson-Cairns.[16] On June 14, 2022, Waititi revealed that it is a standalone movie that will have original characters.[17] On March 7, 2023, during that year's Star Wars Celebration, Waititi was likely going to star in a role similar to his role in Jojo Rabbit.[18]
The Incal
In November 2021, Waititi was revealed to be directing a live action adaptation of Alejandro Jodorowsky's graphic novel The Incal, which he would co-write with Jemaine Clement & Peter Warren and both Humanoids & Primer Entertainment companies will produce the feature film.[19]
James
In June 2024, Waititi was revealed to be in talks to direct an adaptation of Percival Everett's James, with Everett writing the screenplay and Steven Spielberg producing.[20]