In a recent episode of the “SmartLess” podcast, Taika Waititi, the acclaimed filmmaker and director of the Marvel movies “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Thor: Love and Thunder,” revealed that he originally had no interest in joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Surprisingly, it was financial necessity that led him to accept the opportunity to direct “Thor: Ragnarok.” Waititi, who had just welcomed his second child, viewed it as a chance to provide for his growing family.
At the time, Waititi candidly admitted, “You know what? I had no interest in doing one of those films. 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.’” In fact, the “Thor” franchise was not one that particularly appealed to Waititi, as it wasn’t a comic he read during his own childhood.
When asked about Marvel’s decision to bring him on board, Waititi humorously responded, “I think there was no place left for them to go with that. I thought, ‘Well, they’ve called me in, this is really the bottom of the barrel.’” Little did he know that his unique vision and fresh take on the character would result in critical acclaim and tremendous box office success.
“Thor: Ragnarok” garnered both praise from critics and proved to be a commercial hit, earning a staggering $853 million worldwide. Its follow-up, “Thor: Love and Thunder,” also achieved solid financial success, raking in $760 million globally. However, Waititi has stated that he most likely will not return to direct another “Thor” film due to his busy schedule in the coming years.
Despite this, Waititi has expressed his love for the Marvel team and his appreciation for the opportunity to work with them. He even joked, “We’re in an open relationship, and it’s like if they want to see other people, I’m happy for that. I’d still get back into bed with them one day.” It’s clear that Waititi holds no ill will and would support Marvel’s decision to hire another director for future “Thor” films.
As for Chris Hemsworth, the actor who portrays Thor, he, too, is uncertain about his return to the Marvel universe. He wants any potential “Thor 5” to be unpredictable and wants to avoid overstaying his welcome with audiences. Hemsworth acknowledges that while conversations are ongoing, nothing is official yet regarding his future as Thor.
“Thor: Love and Thunder” did receive some criticism from fans who felt that it leaned too heavily into goofy humor. Hemsworth himself admitted that the crew “had too much fun” making the film, which resulted in a more lighthearted tone. In the book “‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ The Official Movie Special,” Waititi hinted at his approach for a potential fifth “Thor” film, expressing the need for a formidable villain worthy of surpassing the challenge posed by Hela.
For those interested in catching up on Thor’s cinematic journey, all of the “Thor” movies are now available to stream on Disney+. So whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply curious about Waititi’s unexpected adventure into the Marvel universe, you can relish in the epic tales of the God of Thunder from the comfort of your own home.
