CONFIRMED: Taika Waititi to Co-Write/Direct New Star Wars Film!

Taika Waititi to co-write/direct new Star Wars film!

After rumors began circling earlier this year that the Jojo Rabbit Oscar-winning filmmaker was being eyed to helm a new Star Wars film, it’s been announced that Taika Waititi is officially set to co-write and direct a new feature for the hit sci-fi adventure franchise!

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Waititi is set to co-write the screenplay with Academy Award nominee Krysty Wilson Cairns (1917, Last Night in Soho), who received a BAFTA for Outstanding British Film of the Year on the three-time Oscar-winning war epic from Sam Mendes.

The new film will mark the Kiwi filmmaker’s latest dive into the Star Wars universe after helming the first season finale and featuring in a recurring role on Disney+’s hit spin-off series The Mandalorian. Waititi clarified the rumors back in February that there weren’t any official discussions at that time for him to take on a feature in the franchise, but that he would “f—ing love to” if the project was right.

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The announcement of Waititi’s new film in the franchise comes on the heels of the announcement that Emmy nominee Leslye Headland (Russian Doll) would be developing a new series for Disney+ in the universe, for which she will write, executive produce and serve as showrunner. Release dates for both Waititi’s and Headlan’s projects have not yet been announced. Post-production is currently underway on the second season of The Mandalorian, which is slated to premiere this October, while series based on Rogue One‘s Cassian Andor (Diego Luna, Narcos: Mexico) and Obi-Wan between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope are currently in development.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)