TAIKA WAITITI
From acting to directing to Oscar-winning screenwriting, TAIKA WAITITI could just be the busiest man in Hollywood
We have a good old chat with Free Guy’s secret weapon, Freewheeling Taika.
TAIKA WAITITI IS no stranger to multi-tasking. Equally adept at acting, directing and writing (the latter to Oscar-winning effect with Jojo Rabbit), today he’s adding another string to his bow: conducting a Zoom interview with Empire while his two children play nearby. “Hey guys, I’m doing a really important interview,” he deadpans, in response to an off-camera crash. It’s the day after he’s wrapped on the Thor: Love And Thunder shoot — but rather than take time off, he’s graciously agreed to talk to us about reuniting with Ryan Reynolds (for the first time since Green Lantern) on Free Guy — and being the busiest man in movies.
By the time Next Goal Wins and Thor: Love And Thunder come out, you’ll have directed five films in six years. Are you making up for lost time?
I didn’t even start making films until I was, like, 30. It was never my dream to do film. I think I started at just the right time. I think it’s FOMO. I don’t want to not be a part of something. With the Thor thing, I don’t want to not be a part of it because it’s something I really love. If there’s a story like Next Goal Wins, it’s got to be me — I feel like I’ve got a take on this that not many other people would have. It’s all ego, basically. I love Steven Spielberg’s movies so much, but I don’t want to see his Thor. I want to see my one!
What about your choices as an actor? How do you decide to do something like Free Guy?
That appeared out of nowhere. I’ve known Ryan for a few years now, just through social circles. We’ve never done anything before this together, professionally.
Your character, Antwan, is probably the biggest bellend you’ve ever played, which is saying something for a guy who has played Hitler.
He’s the best character. I feel like the most character development was in the costume fittings. It’s a fine balance. You’re meant to be triggered and go, “This guy’s an idiot, I know I’m not supposed to like this guy, but I can’t stop looking at these clothes.” In Hollywood I’ve been to parties with people wearing this shit, and I’m secretly laughing at them.
You won an Oscar last year. A Grammy this year. You’re just two away from the EGOT.
I’m the OG at the moment. Now on my emails it’s ‘OG’. .
Do you have any plans for the other two? You’d need to do a stage show for the Tony.
My background’s in theatre. Almost 20 years. I could piss a Tony. It’s the easiest one there is. Putting on a play that people don’t fall asleep in, that’s my speciality.
You recently said on Instagram that Thor: Love And Thunder is “the craziest film I’ve ever done”.
Well, just between [me and] you and the readers, I’ve done some crazy shit in my life. I’ve lived, like, ten lifetimes. But it’s the craziest film I’ve ever done. If you wrote down all the elements of this film, it shouldn’t make sense. It’s almost like it shouldn’t be made. If you walked into a room and said, “I want this and this and this.” Who’s in it? These people. What are you going to call it? Love And Thunder. I mean, you’d never work again. Maybe I won’t after this.
Tonally, is it going to be different from Thor: Ragnarok?
It’s very different from Ragnarok. It’s crazier. I’ll tell you what’s different. There’ll be far more emotion in this film. And a lot more love. And a lot more thunder. And a lot more Thor, if you’ve seen the photos.
What can you say about it?
We’ve got five Oscar-winners in it. And I’m including myself in that list. Me, Matt Damon, Russell [Crowe], Christian [Bale], Natalie [Portman].
Does that make those who haven’t won Oscars feel inadequate?
It should. It should. It’s their own fault. They should have an Oscar by now. FREE GUY IS IN CINEMAS FROM 13 AUGUST