Taika Waititi has recently revealed that he has no plans to return to the Marvel Thor franchise anytime soon. While a fifth film in the franchise has not been confirmed by the studio, rumors have been circulating on social media in recent months. However, the director recently told Business Insider that he “wouldn’t know if that’s accurate,” but he does know “that I won’t be involved.”
In a recent interview, Waititi stated, “I’m going to concentrate on these other films that I’ve signed on for.” This decision comes after his successful directorial work on 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, which grossed more than $855 million worldwide, and 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder, which earned over $760 million at the box office.
For the next few years, Waititi wants to focus on the film adaptations of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Klara and the Sun and Alejandro Jodorowsky’s novel The Incal. He also plans to continue developing his highly-anticipated Star Wars movie, which he mentioned is “still marinating. I’ve been writing it.” Waititi explained, “So that’s six, seven years gone. I’d imagine another Thor would be a lot sooner than that. But I love Marvel, I love working with them. I love Chris [Hemsworth].”
If Marvel does decide to move forward with another installment in the Thor franchise without him, Waititi wishes them nothing but the best. He stated, “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.”
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At the Los Angeles premiere of his new movie Next Goal Wins, Waititi admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that he needs a break from the big-budget superhero movie world. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’m a bit fatigued by working on those big films, studio films, which is why I’ve come back to do smaller films like this; my next film will be a smaller one.” However, he also added that “there’s always a place for them and they’re always inspirational. As a little kid, those are the things I loved, going to see these big movies set in outer space to take a great escape from where we are. So I hope they continue.”
Ultimately, Waititi’s decision to step back from the Marvel Thor franchise highlights his desire to explore other creative opportunities in the industry. Whether it’s adapting novels into films or developing a new Star Wars movie, Waititi’s diverse range of projects signals a shift in his career trajectory. Nonetheless, his love for Marvel and the characters he has worked with prevails, indicating that he may return to the franchise at some point in the future when the time is right. Until then, audiences can look forward to seeing Waititi’s work manifest in various forms across the film industry.
