Taika Waititi stays quiet on Thor 3 rumours

By Ethan Sills

Herald online·

6 Oct, 2015 02:57 AM2 mins to read

Film director Taika Waititi is taking on Thor 3. Photo / NZ Herald

Taika Waititi is staying tight lipped on his links to Thor 3, but happy to talk about the upcoming Disney film Moana.

Waititi appeared on TVNZ's Good Morning show this morning in his first interview since rumours emerged that he had been signed up to direct the superhero sequel.

Host Jeanette Thomas said she knew Thor 3 was off limits but asked Waititi anyway.

Waititi nodded slightly before jokingly saying, "Nice glass" as he went to take a sip of water.

The Wrap reported Waititi was in negotiations to direct Thor: Ragnarok, the third instalment of the Marvel franchise starring Chris Hemsworth.

He would be the third director of the franchise, after Kenneth Branagh and Alan Taylor.

The director's chair would be a big get for Waititi, who has so far has stuck to smaller projects. He is best known for directing independent films Eagle vs Shark, Boy and What We Do in the Shadows. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Film in 2004 for Two Cars, One Night.

Waititi does have some influence with Disney though. He recently wrote the script for the Pacific-set animated film Moana for Disney, which owns Marvel.

Waititi did talk to Thomas about his work on Moana, saying: "The same people who made Frozen are now making their latest princess film, which is set in the Pacific, and I think it's going to be really amazing."

If true, Thor 3 wouldn't be Waititi's first brush with the superhero world. Waititi previously co-starred in 2011's Green Lantern alongside Ryan Reynolds, which was directed by fellow Kiwi Martin Campbell.

Thor: Ragnarok is currently scheduled for release on November 3, 2017.

The film, which will see the return of Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Jaimie Alexander, is expected to be based on an apocalyptic event in the comics that sees the destruction of Asgard.

Waititi is also developing a series for American cable network HBO with frequent collaborator Jemaine Clement. He recently celebrated his 40th birthday with a host of New Zealand celebrities in Hawaii.