STARS IN HIS EYES
Taika Waititi slam dunks The Mandalorian leading to calls for him to rescue Star Wars franchise after Skywalker flop
TAIKA Waititi’s season finale of Star Wars live action series The Mandalorian has been such a hit that critics and fans are calling for him to direct a Star Wars film.
Having already gone full-on Hollywood blockbuster by directing Marvel’s Thor Ragnarok, Star Wars would be a natural step up for the New Zealand director who cut his teeth on classic Kiwi movies such as Eagle versus Shark, Boy and Hunt for the Wilder-people.
And, with rapturous reviews for his episode named Redemption, the holy grail of sci fi film franchises might just be within his grasp.
Hollywood Reporter reviewer Richard Newby described the episode, which screened on Disney+ on Friday night, as ‘‘an epic season finale’’.
‘‘All said, Waititi delivers a big episode, jam packed with everything that has made The Mandalorian such a sensation, ironing over some of the weak spots from earlier episodes and promising an even grander season two.’’
Rolling Stone was equally impressed, with reviewer Alan Sepinwall saying: ‘‘A week after the release of [The Rise of Skywalker] brought the main movie saga to a disappointingly frantic, muddled end, The Mandalorian wraps its first season in splendid form with Redemption.
‘‘But after feeling so bummed out by Skywalker on so many levels, I was as relieved as I was elated by how effectively Team
Mandalorian (with another Jon Favreau script, and Taika Waititi directing as well as voicing IG-11) concluded this phase of Mando and Baby Yoda’s story.’’
USA Today reviewer Alex Kane also commended the Kiwi film-maker, saying ‘‘there are definitely moments that make use of his penchant for humour and wit’’.
Waititi has also received overwhelmingly positive comments on social media with numerous fans calling on him
‘There are definitely moments that make use of his penchant for humour and wit.’ ALEX KANE
to direct a full-length film and some even bemoaning the fact he didn’t get his hands on The Rise of Skywalker.
‘‘Thank you #TaikaWaititi for the best episode of #TheMandalorian! Now please write and direct a Star Wars movie!,’’ Annie Kinsley tweeted.
‘‘Let’s face it – Taika Waititi should have directed The Rise of Skywalker,’’ Tony Pennino said.
‘‘5 minutes into the last episode of @themandalorian and I’ve decided @TaikaWaititi must write and direct his own @starwars series,’’ Michael Patterson said.
‘‘Can we give #TaikaWaititi, @Jon_Favreau and the people behind @themandalorian the keys to the @starwarskingdom already? I mean . . . they have managed to unite a pretty divided nation,’’ said Caitlekins.
Waititi was first confirmed as one of the directors in October 2018, alongside Dave Filoni, Deborah Chow, Rick Famuyiwa, and Bryce Dallas Howard. He also voices one of the characters in the series, the bounty hunter droid IG-11.
Waititi has previously spoken about how the series had to remain true to the original Star Wars trilogy.
‘‘Star Wars is very different to Marvel style,’’ he said in February.
‘‘They know that the tone of the first films really should be kind of adhered to. That’s what the fans like and you can’t really disrespect it, I guess it is a nicer way of saying, ‘can’t put too many jokes in’. There’s a bit, definitely my tone is in there, the dialogue and stuff like that.’’
The Mandalorian was the biggest launch title on the new Disney streaming service, which arrived in New Zealand in midNovember. The reviews for the show have been overwhelmingly positive, with a particular focus on its breakout star, the character Baby Yoda.
❚ The BBC has included Waititi’s anti-Nazi satire Jojo Rabbit in its list of the best films of 2019, describing it as a uniquely brilliant absurdist comedy.