Taika Waititi Provides Update on His ‘Star Wars’ Movie Release Date

Few filmmakers seem as well-suited for a galaxy far, far away as Taika Waititi. With a knack for irreverent blockbusters and a history with the franchise, fans have been eagerly awaiting news about his ‘Star Wars’ movie for years. However, the latest update from the director brings some sobering news.

Lucasfilm first announced the project on May 4, 2020, with Waititi directing and co-writing alongside Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Having already directed the final episode of the first season of ‘The Mandalorian,’ Waititi was familiar with the universe. In 2022, then-Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy mentioned a goal for a late 2023 release, although she acknowledged that nothing was set in stone.

Now, Waititi has provided the clearest status update yet, and it isn’t promising. During a press junket for his new film ‘Klara and the Sun,’ he revealed to Inverse that the project is being shelved. “I hate to break this to you, but we’re going to actually put it on ice and we’re working on a different thing together,” he stated.

Waititi did not sugarcoat his message. “It’s very iced,” he remarked, explaining that he has about four other films he is trying to get made, which have taken precedence.

The “different thing” he referred to is a new project with screenwriter Tony McNamara, known for ‘The Favourite’ and ‘Poor Things.’ When asked for more details, Waititi checked with his publicist and was advised not to share further information. “Well, there’s your answer,” he quipped.

Despite the setback, Waititi did not completely close the door on the franchise. “Ice ages do come to an end,” he told Inverse. “Who knows?” This light-hearted comment leaves the possibility open for the project to return in the future.

Lucasfilm has not commented on the film’s status. Currently, the movie remains untitled, and Waititi has not provided an official synopsis, only hinting that it would expand the ‘Star Wars’ universe.

The development history has been tumultuous. McNamara took over the script in April 2025, allowing Waititi to focus on directing. In January 2026, as she announced her retirement, Kennedy told Deadline that Waititi had submitted a script she found hilarious and great, describing the film as still somewhat alive.

Following her departure, Dave Filoni and co-president Lynwen Brennan took over Lucasfilm. Around the same time, Waititi mentioned that the script aimed to capture more of the fun from the original trilogy. Nine months later, the project seems to be heading back into the growing pile of unrealized ‘Star Wars’ films.

Notably, it appears to be Waititi himself who is putting the brakes on the project rather than the studio pulling the plug. Star Wars News Net suggests that the reason is his busy schedule, with several projects further along in development. Additionally, it notes that getting ‘Star Wars’ films greenlit has been challenging since ‘The Rise of Skywalker.’

Waititi’s current focus is on ‘Klara and the Sun,’ an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel featuring Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, and Steve Buscemi. The film opens in theaters on October 23 and marks his first feature since ‘Next Goal Wins’ in 2023. Early reviews have been rough, with the film debuting at around 20% to 23% on Rotten Tomatoes after its London Film Festival premiere, the lowest score of his directing career.

This timing makes the ‘Star Wars’ news feel a bit awkward. His recent projects, including ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and ‘Next Goal Wins,’ have received mixed reviews, following a successful run with films like ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and ‘Jojo Rabbit.’ The freeze on his ‘Star Wars’ film removes one of the most distinctive voices ever attached to the franchise.

The big-screen slate for ‘Star Wars’ remains crowded. Currently, the only film with a confirmed release date is ‘Star Wars: Starfighter,’ directed by Shawn Levy, set for 2027. Beyond that, seven other films have been announced but are still awaiting release dates and production updates.

For fans, the update from Waititi is both disappointing and not entirely surprising. A director known for his humor and uniqueness could have taken the saga in an intriguing direction, but that possibility now sits in cold storage. Still, this freeze is not a final farewell, as thaws have occurred before.

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