Taika Waititi has joked that his upcoming Star Wars movie will be divisive among fans of the franchise, something he is unfortunately right about.
Summary
- Director Taika Waititi jokingly predicts that his upcoming Star Wars film will divide the fanbase, which is likely true given the franchise’s history of controversy.
- Star Wars has always been a subject of divisiveness among fans, from the original trilogy to the prequels and the sequel trilogy.
- Regardless of the content of Waititi’s film, it is expected to continue the trend of fracturing the fanbase that has struggled to unite in the past.
Director Taika Waititi has jokingly stated that his upcoming Star Wars movie will divide the fanbase of the franchise, something he is likely correct to assume. Waititi was confirmed to helm a Star Wars movie in 2020 shortly after directing The Mandalorian‘s season 1 finale. However, with three other upcoming Star Wars movies being announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, many wondered whether Waititi’s project would still happen. Amid a slew of rumors and speculation that the film had been canceled, Taika Waititi himself stated his Star Wars movie is still going ahead, and that he was simply taking his time to get it right.
In light of these comments, Waititi mentioned the state of his Star Wars film again in an interview with Variety. When asked whether his project would present the version of Star Wars synonymous with the franchise, the filmmaker replied: “It will be… a Taika Waititi film. It’s gonna piss people off.” This comment came with a knowing laugh from Waititi whose prior films have been no stranger to whacky comedy alongside deep emotion complete with jarring tonal shifts.
Taika Waititi Is Probably Right About His Star Wars Movie
Unfortunately, it is the sad truth that Waititi is correct about his Star Wars movie dividing the fanbase. While nothing to do with Waititi himself, Star Wars has always been a franchise that is controversial among fans. From the initial dislike of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi in the 1980s to the hatred directed at the Star Wars prequels which resulted in George Lucas selling the franchise to Disney, the iconic galaxy far, far away has always been subject to divisiveness. This only continued with the Star Wars sequel trilogy which arguably fractured the fanbase beyond repair.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens was well-received upon release, yet a sect of the fanbase deemed it too similar to A New Hope. Star Wars: The Last Jedi then irreparably split the fanbase in half, with some deeming it the most compelling entry in the series since Empire while others claimed it disregarded and actively sought to destroy everything the franchise stands for. This only continued with The Rise of Skywalker, Andor, The Mandalorian season 3, and The Book of Boba Fett, proving that – no matter what Waititi’s Star Wars film consists of – it is certain to continue dividing a fanbase that has a long history of failing to come together in peace.
Source: Variety
