Taika Waititiwas, once, one of the most celebrated directors working today. Hailing from New Zealand, the director’s early work includedEagle vs. SharkandBoy. Both of these films are considered great indie works of their era.
In the mid-2010s, Waititi went on to direct two projects that would give him more significant international clout. These wereWhat We Do in the Shadowsin 2014 andHunt for the Wilderpeoplein 2016. The former would go on to be adapted into a TV show of the same name.
As Waititi’s international reputation grew, so did the budget and scale of his projects. AfterWilderpeople, he directed anMCU film withThor: Ragnarok, which was considered one of the best superhero movies of its decade. He also wrote and directedJojo Rabbitin 2019, whichearned him an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Perhaps due to the sheer abundance of work coming his way, Waititi has unfortunately taken a downturn in more recent years. Despite the love for his firstThormovie,Thor: Love and Thunderdisappointed audiences, and2023’sNext Goal Winswas considered to be his lowest-rated film in years.
This has put Waititi’s career in an interesting spot. His work is still celebrated, but his reputation is far from what it used to be. That said, a movie coming out later this year could turn things around for the director.
Klara And The Sun Can Bring Back The Best Parts Of Taika Waititi’s Style
And Avoid Some Of His Worst Tendencies
Waititi’s next directorial project isKlara and the Sun.The movie is asci-fi dramaabout a robot girl who was created to prevent loneliness and is on a quest to save a heartbroken family. The film will adapt a book written by the acclaimed novelist Kazuo Ishiguro. The film stars Jenna Ortega in the lead role of Klara. Thesupporting cast includes Natasha Lyonne, Steve Buscemi, Amy Adams, and Simon Baker.
Ishiguro’s writing is notably emotional and will make for good material for Waititi to adapt. As evidenced byHunt for the Wilderpeopleand more,the Oscar-winning director is at his best when he leans in on melancholic moments more so than he had the chance to in something likeNext Goal Wins.
This is not to say that Waititi is unfunny. Given the right material, he can provide the humor. Even his darkest material,Jojo Rabbit, has some hysterically funny moments. However, theBoydirector can brilliantly capture more introspective moments, makingKlara and the Suna promising pick.
Avoiding some of Waititi’s overly comedy-focused work can be a great opportunity for him to turn his career back around. He still has a devoted following, but with some misses, he does need a good film to win back some audiences. The said film could end up beingKlara and the Sun.
