Taika Waititi is the perfect choice to turn around the 'Star Wars' franchise
The Marvel universe and all its movies don’t qualify as high-quality cinema, at least, that’s what Martin Scorsese will argue. For the most part, however, each movie MCU has been entertaining with well-connected plot lines that link to an epic overarching storyline, something that’s missing from the Star Wars franchise.
One of the biggest failures of the Star Wars saga, all nine episodes, was that it couldn’t connect its plot lines carefully nor did it seem to connect widely with its fanbase. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” didn’t wow at the box office ($1.074 billion), with mixed but mostly negative reviews. It seems fans are fatiguing on Disney’s vision with the franchise.
With Disney adding writer and director Taika Waititi to direct and co-write a new Star Wars movie alongside Academy Award nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917, Last Night in Soho), the company seems to hope to take a page out of their Marvel playbook, particularly with how Waititi saved the listing “Thor” franchise. (Disney owns both Marvel and Star Wars.) The first movie, “Thor,” in Thor’s storyline is fine, and the second, “Thor: The Dark World,” is entirely forgettable. It may be Marvel’s worst movie. The third, “Thor: Ragnarok,” which Waititi directed, was probably Marvel’s best movie. It was certainly the most fun.
Star Wars desperately needs that energy which Waititi brought to Thor’s storyline. The Galaxy Far Far Away needs more imagination.
After a final chapter in the Skywalker saga which felt like Disney dusted off “Return of the Jedi” after a few decades in carbonite, Disney needs to reassure moviegoers they can be trusted with the cannon they bought from Lucasfilm. Disney has put together enjoyable moments, particularly in “Rogue One,” a movie which connects nicely with the nine-part Skywalker saga but stands on its own as a strong and complete piece of entertainment. And it’s no surprise that Waititi shaped the impressive final episode of the first season of Disney’s streaming TV show, “The Mandalorian.” It was probably Waititi’s tryout for this upcoming move, and it was also a tremendous success.
It’s likely that Waititi, with help from another tremendous rising talent, Wilson-Cairns, can make a unique and enjoyable movie, something the Star Wars franchise has been lacking in their recent string of films.