Taika Waititi’s Candid Revelation: Directing ‘Thor’ Due to Financial Struggles with Two Kids – A Journey of Necessity, Not Initial Interest
Taika Waititi, the brilliant mind behind ‘Thor: Ragnarok,’ recently shared a candid revelation about his directorial debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a heartfelt conversation on the ‘SmartLess’ podcast, the 48-year-old filmmaker peeled back the curtain on his journey from being an independent filmmaker in New Zealand to taking the helm of the ‘Thor’ franchise.
Surprisingly, Waititi admitted that initially, directing a Marvel film was not on his radar. He confessed, ‘I had no interest in doing one of those films. It wasn’t on my plan for my career as an auteur.’ However, life had different plans for him. Faced with financial struggles and the responsibility of providing for his two daughters from his previous marriage, the acclaimed director found himself at a crossroads.
‘I was poor and I’d just had a second child. I thought, “You know what, this would be a great opportunity to feed these children,”‘ Waititi shared, highlighting the very real and relatable pressures he faced as a parent. His decision to direct ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ was born out of a genuine need to support his family.
Reflecting on the Marvel universe, Waititi revealed that ‘Thor’ wasn’t a character he was familiar with from his childhood. ‘I never read ‘Thor’ comics when I was a kid. I did some research on it and I read one full comic, all 18 pages or however long they are. I was still baffled by this character,’ he confessed, showing the honesty that defines his storytelling.
Despite this unexpected turn in his career, Waititi went on not only to direct ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ but also its sequel, ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’ Both films soared to success, capturing the hearts of audiences and dominating the box office.
In a recent update, Waititi mentioned to Business Insider that he won’t be part of the next ‘Thor’ film if Marvel continues the franchise. However, he emphasized his love for Marvel and the camaraderie with Chris Hemsworth.
Adding a touch of humor, Waititi likened his relationship with Marvel to an open one, saying, ‘I would never feel like (Marvel is) cheating on me. We’re in an open relationship, and it’s like if they want to see other people, I’m happy for that. I’d still get back into bed with them one day.’
As Taika Waititi’s career unfolds, his genuine and relatable approach to filmmaking continues to endear him to audiences, proving that even in the realm of blockbuster superhero movies, human stories and motivations remain at the core.”