If you ask the Marvel fanbase who would be the best fit to replace James Gunn in the director’s chair on the third “Guardians of the Galaxy” film, it would likely be “Thor: Ragnarok” helmer Taika Waititi.
Waititi’s comic sensibility seems the most suited for the material, but the New Zealand filmmaker is also an auteur and his jumping back into another Marvel film so soon would be unlikely. Speaking with The Wrap this week, Waititi quickly shot down the suggestion of his involvement saying he’d like to do another Marvel film – but not that one:
“Nope. Not doing that movie. I’m hanging out with [Marvel] still. Talking about new stuff, but I don’t know what that might be yet. I want to do another movie with them. I didn’t really [meet about this]. For me, those are James [Gunn]’s films. Going into something like that with his stamp all over his films would be like going into someone’s house and saying ‘Hey, I’m your new dad, and this is how we make peanut butter sandwiches now.’ It feels kind of awkward.”
Waititi has directed an episode of the upcoming Disney+ series “The Mandalorian,” the first time the “Star Wars” franchise has been adapted for live-action TV. “The Mandalorian” will premiere on the new streaming service in late 2019. A third “Guardians” hasn’t set a release date as yet.
