Taika Waititi, the acclaimed director behind two Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies, recently shared on the “SmartLess” podcast his initial disinterest in directing for the franchise. Despite the global success of 2017’s “Thor: Ragnarok” and the divisive 2022’s “Thor: Love and Thunder,” Waititi confessed that financial necessity was a key factor in his decision to join the MCU.
Waititi, an Oscar-winning filmmaker, reflected on his career path, stating, “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.'”
His initial perception of the ‘Thor’ franchise was less than enthusiastic. “And ‘Thor,’ let’s face it — it was probably the least popular franchise. I never read ‘Thor’ comics as a kid. That was the comic I’d pick up and be like ‘Ugh.’”
Despite these reservations, Waititi’s unique vision for “Thor: Ragnarok” led to widespread acclaim and a staggering $853 million in global box office earnings. “Love and Thunder” followed suit with a substantial $760 million worldwide.
Waititi also touched on his future with Marvel, indicating his busy schedule might prevent him from directing another “Thor” movie. “I know that I won’t be involved,” he said, expressing his ongoing fondness for Marvel and star Chris Hemsworth.
The future of Hemsworth’s Thor remains uncertain, with the actor expressing his desire for the character’s journey to remain fresh and unpredictable.
Meanwhile, “Thor: Love and Thunder” garnered mixed reactions, partly due to its comedic tone, which Hemsworth admitted might have been “too silly” at times. Looking ahead, Waititi envisions a formidable challenge for Thor, surpassing even Hela, the previous antagonist.
For fans eager to revisit the journey, all “Thor” movies are currently available for streaming on Disney+.
