Taika Waititi: had no interest in doing Thor but I was poor

Self-professed auteur Taika Waititi recently appeared on the SmartLess podcast with Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes. During their chat, he talked about becoming a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) when he directed Thor: Ragnarok. Ragnarok is widely regarded as the best Thor-centric movie. It really is a lot of fun. When Waititi was announced as director, there was some grumbling from Internet people who like to grumble about him abandoning his indie roots. On the podcast, The Auteur set the record straight and explained that he had no interest in the MCU before he became a part of it. He only directed the movie because he was broke and needed the money. Celebrities, they’re just like us.

“I had no interest in doing one of those films,” Waititi said on the podcast. “It wasn’t on my plan for my career as an auteur. But I was poor and I’d just had a second child, and I thought, ‘You know what, this would be a great opportunity to feed these children.’”

“And ‘Thor,’ let’s face it, it was probably the least popular franchise,” he continued. “I never read ‘Thor’ comics as a kid. That was the comic I’d pick up and be like, ‘Ugh.’ And then I did some research on it, and I read one ‘Thor’ comic … [and] I was still baffled by this character.”

Waititi made “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017), Marvel’s third movie centered on the character, after co-writing the beloved vampire comedy “What We Do in the Shadows” (2014). He went on to win a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for “Jojo Rabbit” before helming “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022), the fourth “Thor” entry and one of the most polarizing Marvel films to date.

“Ragnarok” grossed $853 million worldwide and earned Waititi praise for his inventive direction. It’s still regarded by many as a high point of the MCU. By contrast, “Love and Thunder” ― while reportedly grossing an impressive $760 million ― was widely panned for its twee humor and lack of gravitas.

“I think we just had too much fun,” Chris Hemsworth, who has portrayed Thor Odinson for Marvel Studios since 2011, told GQ earlier this year. “It just became too silly. It’s always hard being in the centre of it and having any real perspective.”

Waititi said he wouldn’t direct a fifth “Thor” movie, but that he’d be open to helm another entry even if other filmmakers get a crack before he returns. In Waititi’s words, he and Marvel are “in an open relationship, and it’s like if they want to see other people, I’m happy for that.”

He concluded: “I’d still get back into bed with them one day.”

[From HuffPost]

If you disregard that this story is about a famous director casually dropping that he only accepted the offer to helm a film in the biggest movie franchise in history because he was “poor,” then Taika’s story is totally relatable. Who hasn’t had to pick up the occasional gig for extra money? But, really, I always appreciate when celebrities share honest stories like these because I think there are people out there who benefit from knowing that things aren’t always easy for everyone.

While I had mixed feelings on Love and Thunder, I’d still be really interested to see another Waititi take within the MCU and I’m curious yet cautious about his plans for a potential Star Wars movie. I also keep meaning to watch the What We Do in the Shadows movie! I love the TV show. Are they within the same universe or is it a Buffy movie vs. series-type situation? Oh! I couldn’t help but chuckle and give an air fist bump when he described his relationship with Marvel as an “open one.” The throuple week was a really fun week in gossip.

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