Director and Thor: Love and Thunder, which will be released in July. Waititi voices the role of Mo Morrison in the Pixar Toy Story spinoff. For Love & Thunder, Waititi returns to the Marvel director's chair after the huge success of his 2017 MCU debut in Thor: Ragnarok. He also voices Korg, the God of Thunder's rock friend, in both Thor films.
Waititi’s career and fame have enjoyed a significant explosion in the last few years. The director is from New Zealand, where many of his early projects were made and set. While he was well known in the indie circuit for acclaimed films like Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and What We Do in the Shadows, it wasn’t until Ragnarok that Waititi became more of a household name. Since then, Waititi has seen immense success and career growth, winning an Oscar for writing his 2019 film Jojo Rabbit and creating critically acclaimed TV shows such as Reservation Dogs, Time Bandits and a TV adaptation of his own What We Do in the Shadows.
In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, Waititi detailed the one necessity for all of his film and TV work. Whether it be directing, acting, or producing, Waititi says he needs to tap into his "inner child." Waititi claimed that he is “not the most mature person,” but brings this unique immaturity to every project, whether it be behind or in front of the camera. Check out Waititi's full comments below:
"I think it's all I've got. I think they're all I've got is my inner child. I mean, I think that's, if you look at any of my work, I mean, if you look even just hang out with me for more than five minutes, then, you know, you'll know I'm not the most mature person. But what is maturity? What does that even mean? You know, I think maturity's stupid."
Looking at Waititi’s credits, this statement should really come as no surprise. While the director’s insightful work is far from juvenile, it is undeniable that many of Waititi’s projects are quite child-centric. Even Waititi’s Oscar-nominated short film, Two Cars, One Night, all the way back in 2005 focused on a child, and his later films including Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and Jojo Rabbit have also revolved around a young protagonist and largely have a light-hearted, comedic tone. While all these films are certainly heartwarming, they also capture the vibrant child-like spirit that Waititi brings with him at all times when approaching new work.
Whether it be the goats of Thor: Love and Thunder, the horror of the Vampiric Council in the TV show What We Do in the Shadows, or Ricky Baker gallivanting through the New Zealand bush with Sam Neill in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Waititi brings a sense of whimsy to his work time after time. The fact that Lightyear is one of his current acting endeavors feels fitting, for it is yet another child-inspired story that has its roots in Pixar's beloved Toy Story franchise. As What We Do in the Shadows season 4, Lightyear and Thor: Love & Thunder hit screens, it is exciting to see the filmmaker's inner child still at work, and how this unique approach invigorates Taika Waititi's lauded films.
Source: ComicBook.com
