Taika Waititi’s long-planned Star Wars film has been placed on hold, according to a recent update from the director. The news arrives as his latest film, Klara and the Sun, prepares to release on Friday after receiving an early 25% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Waititi’s Star Wars project was announced in 2020, but very little has emerged publicly since then. A 2023 update indicated that the film remained planned. The latest comments, however, suggest that its future is considerably less certain.
“I hate to break this to you, but we’re going to actually put it on ice,” Waititi said.
During the conversation, Waititi reportedly asked his publicist whether he could provide more information. The response was: “If you have to ask, the answer is no.”
Waititi then said he did not know how to make the situation sound more vague, describing the project as “very iced”. He also revealed that he is attempting to make at least four other films, which helps explain why the space-opera project may not be moving forward soon.
What “on ice” means for Waititi’s Star Wars film
Being put “on ice” does not formally confirm that the film has been cancelled. Waititi left a small opening for the project to return, noting that ice ages eventually end and adding, “Who knows?” For now, though, there is no indication that he will be directing the film in the near future.
The project joins a long list of proposed Star Wars films that have failed to reach cinemas. David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the Game of Thrones showrunners, were once attached to a trilogy before leaving after signing a deal with Netflix.
The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson was also confirmed to develop a trilogy, but those films never materialised as he concentrated on his Knives Out mystery series. Other abandoned or stalled projects include a film developed by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, a Ben Solo project associated with Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh, and a David Fincher pitch that did not progress further.
The next Star Wars film planned for cinemas
The next confirmed theatrical return for the franchise is Star Wars: Starfighter. Directed by Shawn Levy, whose credits include Deadpool & Wolverine, and starring Ryan Gosling, it is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on May 28, 2027.
Disney has several other Star Wars films in development. Whether those projects reach the big screen remains to be seen, particularly as high-profile productions have repeatedly been delayed, reshaped or abandoned.
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