Why Taika Waititi’s ‘Star Wars’ Comments Should Concern Fans

Director Taika Waititi’s “Star Wars” film was first announced in 2020, but there was little or no progress made on the movie to date. Now that Kathleen Kennedyis officially stepping down from her role in Lucasfilm, fans have hopes that some projects which were dismissed, just like the recent Daisy Ridley Rey movie, might finally see some progress. Nonetheless, one comment that the director has made stands out from the remaining, and understandably has fans somewhat concerned.

When asked to call his favorite movie villain of all time, Waititi went right to the “Star Wars” franchise and named Darth Vader as his favorite villain. It’s not hard to see why. Together with his menacing mask, raspy half-robotic voice, and red lightsaber, he definitely looks the a part of the classic Disney villain, regardless that George Lucas created the character a long time before he sold Lucasfilm to the House of Mouse.

Waititi agreed that Darth Vader definitely invokes a childhood fear, saying, “He taps into a baby’s biggest nightmare or fear, which [is] that your parent will activate you and also you won’t have the opportunity to bring them back,” as per Variety.

“‘Body Snatchers’ is like that as well. Zombies, too,” he continued. “They’re great villains as a collective since it’s the concept of individuals you’re keen on who won’t recognize you and can wish to eat your brains.”

There’s a serious problem along with his comment about Darth Vader being a “parent” who will “activate you.” Darth Vader was the daddy of Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker, nevertheless, neither of them knew that he was their father until much later in the unique trilogy. Luke was raised by Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru on Tattooine and Leia was raised by Senator Bail Organa and his wife, Queen Breha Organa, of Alderaan.

The reveal that Darth Vader is Luke’s father is a reasonably pivotal scene from 1980’s “The Empire Strikes Back,” the second film in the unique trilogy. The film has worked its way into popular culture. Although some fans initially thought it was a lie at first, it was later confirmed by Yoda in 1983’s “Return of the Jedi.” The movie also includes a scene where Luke tells Leia that they’re siblings and that Darth Vader is basically their father.

Although this could possibly be brushed aside as a small slip of the tongue, it’s value remembering that Waititi actually forgot that Natalie Portman was Padmé Amidala in “Star Wars.” Her role was a reasonably pivotal one and one which will not be easily forgotten. She was Queen after which Senator of Naboo, in addition to being the mother to Luke and Leia.

While working on “Thor: Love and Thunder,” which he co-wrote and directed, he told the Rolling Stone that he actually forgot that Portman was in “Star Wars” when he asked her what projects she had coming up.

“She said to me, ‘What are you as much as next?’ I said, ‘Oh, I’m attempting to work on a Star Wars thing. Have you ever ever desired to be in a Star Wars movie?'”

She said ‘I have been in a Star Wars movie,'” Waititi continued. “And I went ‘…should we do one other take?'”

Although little has been revealed about what his movie is about, Variety reported that he plans to bring the “fun” back to a galaxy far, far-off.

“I’m just attempting to return and harness somewhat bit more of the fun from the unique movies, which is what I remember [from] them,” he told the publication at Sundance.

“The stakes are very high, and there’s serious things happening, but there’s also a whole lot of fun available in those movies. That’s what I used to be attempting to bring back,” he continued. “I used to be attempting to work in a world that was somewhat bit separate to that because they’ve got so many things happening inside that space. For me to do something there, it will must be somewhat different and somewhat bit more its own thing.”

During her exit interview, Kennedy told Deadline that Waititi “turned in a script that I feel is hilarious and great, but went on to say, “It’s not only my decision, especially after I’ve got a foot out the door.”

At the very least fans can look ahead to “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” which is scheduled for release on May 22, 2026, and “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which is scheduled for May 28, 2027. The film stars Ryan Gosling, Mia Goth, and Matt Smith.