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Taika Waititi is making «Thor 4» – at the expense of «Akira»

17.7.2019

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

As the Hollywood Reporter recently revealed: «Thor 4» is coming. To the delight of many Marvel fans, director Taika Waititi will again be at the helm. However, this will have consequences regarding the live-action «Akira» movie.

Spoiler Alert regarding «Thor: Ragnarok» and the following Marvel movies.

Back in 2017, director Taika Waititi managed to breakthrough in Hollywood thanks to the critical and audience success «Thor: Ragnarok». Backed up by Led Zeppelin's thundering «Immigrant Song», the titular God of Thunder fought his way to the top of the Thor franchise with a worldwide income of just under 854 million dollars.

No one yet knows how exactly the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will go on. What's more definite is that Marvel will probably reveal more information to fans at this year's San Diego Comic-Con – the world's largest film and comic convention. One bomb has already dropped, however: there's gonna be a fourth Thor movie. With Taika Waititi returning as director.

An official announcement at Comic-Con?

Marvel is currently still keeping a low profile about its cinematic future. Nevertheless, the return of «Thor» as announced by the Hollywood Reporter isn't surprising. Not at all. Even though the 1962 comic book hero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby is one of the most important and powerful heroes in the Marvel universe, «Thor» movies have somehow always felt a bit like a secondary franchise, never really living up to expectations.

That's why a fourth «Thor» movie always seemed impossible. Only the financial success of «Thor: Ragnarok» has probably changed Marvel's plans: Waititi, considered sympathetic and eccentric, didn't deliver a serious fantasy epic like his two predecessors, but let his penchant for action-packed and improvised comedy meet unexpected emotional depth. Audiences liked the result. Since then, people have been longing for more – more Waititi content, that is.

Taika Waititi has been a directorial darling since «Thor: Ragnarok»
Source: Matt Sayles/AP

Marvel is fulfilling the wishes of its fans and will most likely make an official announcement at Comic-Con in San Diego, particularly about release date and actors. Tessa Thompson should still be on as Valkyre, leader of New Asgard and Chris Hemsworth as Thor as well. The latter will probably already be on-screen in «Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3», releasing in 2021. At least, this is what the end of «Avengers: Endgame» is hinting at.

A double-edged sword

Still, Waititi's involvement does come at a price. After all, the Kiwi film director should have directed a live-action version of «Akira» for Warner Bros. Studios. In fact, Waititi is said to have already been in Japan, where he reportedly talked to potential actors. Shooting should have started soon, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Shotaro Kaneda and his iconic bike in «Akira»
Source: Katsuhiro Otomo

Now Taika Waititi has shown preference to Marvel's «Thor 4» after all.
Thus, «Akira» – which should've released in cinemas around May 2021 – is on ice for the time being. Again. A live-action release of the anime classic has been delayed for years. And just as the Waititi-led project seemed to be getting off the ground, Kris Tapley, former insider for the industry magazine Variety, reported that production had stalled three weeks ago on Twitter. The reason? Problems with the script and budget. Besides: apparently, not a single set had been built two months before the start of shooting.

If Tapley's statements are correct, Waititi shouldn't have found it difficult to jump ship from the «Akira» project. Nevertheless, according to Variety, Warner Bros. is said to have been surprised by Waititis' decision. Still, according to the Hollywood Reporter, it appears that Warner is ready to wait for the New Zealander: the studio hopes that Waititi will return as soon as his work on the fourth «Thor» film has been completed.

Be that as it may: I'm starting a revolution. Now help me print these flyers.

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Luca Fontana

Senior Editor

Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.ch

I write about technology as if it were cinema, and about films as if they were real life. Between bits and blockbusters, I’m after stories that move people, not just generate clicks. And yes – sometimes I listen to film scores louder than I probably should.

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Taika Waititi is making «Thor 4» – at the expense of «Akira»

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