Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie, which has been in development since 2020, has been put on hold indefinitely. The director confirmed the development while promoting his latest film, Klara and the Sun, revealing that he and his collaborators are now working on a different project.
In a conversation with Inverse, Waititi was asked about his Star Wars film and responded, “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.” According to Variety, Waititi’s publicist had advised him not to reveal too much about the project during the interview. The director acknowledged the situation with humour, adding, “Well, there’s your answer. I don’t even know how to dress it up or make it even vague.”
Although the film is now on hold, Waititi has not ruled out returning to it in the future. “It’s very iced. I’ve got about four other movies I’m trying to do,” he said, before leaving the possibility of a revival open. “Ice ages do come to an end… Who knows?”
Waititi had discussed his creative approach to the project earlier this year. In January, he said he wanted to recapture some of the fun he remembered from the original Star Wars films. “The stakes are very high, and there’s serious things going on, but there’s also a lot of fun to be had in those films. That’s what I was trying to bring back,” he explained.
The director had also expressed a desire to tell a story that would exist somewhat apart from the franchise’s established narratives. He wanted to work in a world that was “a little bit separate” from the rest of Star Wars, noting that the franchise already had “so many things going on within that space.” In his view, his film would need to be “a little different and a little bit more its own thing.”
The latest update follows comments from Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm’s outgoing president, who had previously described Waititi’s film as “still somewhat alive.” His current remarks suggest that the project has stalled rather than been formally abandoned. The Playlist, citing the same Inverse interview, reported that Lucasfilm has not officially cancelled the film. Variety, meanwhile, did not report any statement from Lucasfilm regarding its status.
The project was first announced in 2020. According to The Playlist, screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns was initially involved in its development before Tony McNamara joined the project. The publication also reported that Kennedy said in January 2026 that Waititi had delivered a screenplay, which she praised. Waititi and McNamara have since moved on to a different collaboration, although the director did not disclose details of their new project. Variety has also not identified the project they are working on.
The news arrives as Waititi promotes Klara and the Sun, which has received a mixed response from critics and audiences. In his review for Variety, critic Guy Lodge wrote, “Jenna Ortega tries hard to illuminate this misbegotten Kazuo Ishiguro adaptation, but Waititi’s decision to play it for strained, whimsical comedy is ruinous.”
For now, the future of Waititi’s Star Wars film remains uncertain. The director has confirmed that it is on hold while he pursues other projects, and his comments indicate that he and his collaborators have shifted their attention elsewhere. However, he has stopped short of declaring the film dead, leaving open the possibility that it could return at some point. Whether the project eventually moves forward will depend on developments that neither Waititi nor Lucasfilm has publicly confirmed.
