NZ’s Waititi to direct new ‘Star Wars’ film

Wellington: New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi will write and direct a new “Star Wars” film, Disney announced on Monday. Mr Waititi has shot from indie acclaim to mainstream Hollywood success in recent years, overseeing Marvel superhero smash hit “Thor: Ragnarok” in 2017 before winning a screenplay Oscar for Nazi satire “Jojo Rabbit” in February.

He also directed the first season finale of “The Mandalorian,” the hit television show set in the blockbuster sci-fi franchise universe.