Taika Waititi: no "Thor" return, but exciting projects on the horizon

In 2017, Taika Waititi gained fame as the director who restored the title character of the "Thor" series to his former glory. Now, amid rumors of the upcoming sequel, Waititi shuts down the speculations about his involvement in the project.

Since the 2011 premiere of Kenneth Branagh's film, audiences have seen Chris Hemsworth's Thor on the big screen nine times. In four of these, the Nordic god was the main character. Two titles, "Thor: Ragnarok" in 2017 and "Thor: Love and Thunder", were directed by Taika Waititi, who breathed new life into the character by adding a touch of humor. As a result, Waititi has been frequently asked whether he'd return to the character.

Up to now, a prerequisite for Waititi to consider his return was Chris Hemsworth's involvement. The actor has become synonymous with the character. If returning, Hemsworth would be donning Thor’s armor for the tenth time.

Waititi recently admitted in an interview with "Business Insider" that he knows nothing about any plans for a fifth standalone movie. If such a film is in the pipeline, the New Zealand creator won’t be a director.

Regardless of this, the creator of "What We Do in the Shadows" has expressed a desire to return to the character, albeit "in about six or seven years". In the meantime, Waititi seems happy to let others take the reins. "I would never feel like they are cheating on me. We’re in an open relationship, and it’s like if they want to see other people, I’m happy for that. I’d still get back into bed with them one day," Waititi explained, in accordance with his distinctive style.

The actor and director is far from being idle. The main reason for not committing to a potential next installment of Thor's saga is that he has three other projects he wants to wholeheartedly commit to in the near future.

The least developed of these is a project for "Star Wars". Next in line is the adaptation of the French comic book "The Incal", crafted by the renowned Chilean director Alejandro Jodorowsky, famed for his unique and surreal visions.

Set in the distant future, the comic book centers around a subordinate private detective who, against his will, gets tangled up in a dangerous mission after coming into possession of the titular artifact -a powerful relic upon which the fate of the universe depends. Along his journey, he is forced to traverse a variety of dimensions and confront immense powers.

The third of Waititi's plans involves adapting Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro's novel for the screen. "Klara and the Sun" charts the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with extraordinary cognitive abilities, impressive memory, and most crucially, empathy. From a shop window, she observes the world, waiting for a customer to choose her. Once she finally finds a home, she's eager to serve the teenager she's purchased for to the best of her abilities.

As a reminder: Waititi and Ian Morris wrote a sports commedy "First goal". This film tells the true story of the American Samoa soccer team, considered the world's worst, known for their infamous 31:0 defeat in the 2001 World Cup Qualifier. The team's last-chance coach is Thomas Rongen (played by Michael Fassbender). "The Next Goal Wins" is set to premiere on January 5, 2024.