Taika Waititi Puts Star Wars Film on Indefinite Hold

Taika Waititi has confirmed that his long‑awaited Star Wars movie, in development since 2020, is being put on ice indefinitely. While promoting his latest film Klara and the Sun, Waititi told Inverse, "I hate to break this to you, but we're going to actually put it on ice and we're working on a different thing together." He added that his publicist had asked him not to say more, prompting the reply, "Well, there's your answer… I don't even know how to dress it up or make it even vague." Waititi said the project is "very iced" and noted he is juggling about four other movies, adding, "Ice ages do come to an end… Who knows?" In January, he had said he wanted to draw more fun from the original Star Wars films while keeping the story separate from the existing saga. Former Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy previously described the project as "still somewhat alive." Waititi’s recent directorial effort, Klara and the Sun, has drawn mixed reactions; Variety critic Guy Lodge called the film a "misbegotten Kazuo Ishiguro adaptation" and said Waititi’s turn to "strained, whimsical comedy is ruinous." ## Reaction Waititi’s candid comments highlight the uncertainty surrounding the Star Wars venture and his busy slate of other projects. Kennedy’s earlier optimism contrasts with the current pause, underscoring the fluid nature of big‑budget franchise development. ## Context Large film franchises often see projects delayed or shelved as studios balance creative ambitions with scheduling and resource constraints, especially when key talent is tied up with multiple commitments.