Taika Waiтιтi‘s Star Wars movie just suffered yet another setback. Back in May 2020, excited viewers learned that Thor: Ragnarok filmmaker Taika Waiтιтi was signed up to join the Star Wars galaxy. Since then, though, the whole project seems to have gotten stuck in Development Hell.

“Taika is on Taika time,” Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy quipped at this year’s Star Wars Celebration. Even Kennedy seemed to acknowledge that it’s looking unlikely, though; “I’m just hoping we can get there,” she added, showing more affection than exasperation at the five-year delay. Sadly, that delay looks set to continue.

Taika Waiтιтi’s Judge Dredd Movie Means His Star Wars Film Is Pushed Back (Again)

Taika Waiтιтi is now signed up for the upcoming Judge Dredd movie, written by Fall Guy and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation scribe Drew Pearce. Apparently inspired by the comics (amusing given Waiтιтi’s occasional condescension towards that medium), the hope is that this will sire a new franchise.

Whether this is the case or not, the simple fact is clear; Waiтιтi is once again going to be busy for quite some time, making yet another movie before he gets around to Star Wars. The idiosyncratic filmmaker doesn’t seem to consider Lucasfilm the top priority, instead taking on other jobs, meaning Star Wars is still delayed.

I Totally Don’t Think This Star Wars Movie’s Going To Happen

Let’s face it, the signs don’t auger well for Waiтιтi’s Star Wars movie. It’s been five years now, and the movie keeps getting pushed back down his to-do list – which means that realistically it was only ever a hypothetical. Rian Johnson’s recent update on his Star Wars trilogy follows the same pattern; these were only ever hypothetical, rather than solid pitches.

Waiтιтi’s Star Wars movie seems even more unlikely given Kathleen Kennedy herself is expected to move on soon. Star Wars is entering a bold new era, producing one movie at a time, only announcing things when they’re a lot more solid. Next year’s The Mandalorian & Grogu will see the franchise return to the big screen at last.

Sadly, I simply can’t see any way Waiтιтi’s project will fit in with the studio’s current direction. There’s nothing there, and there’s no real prospect of the filmmaker setting the time aside to make it a reality anytime soon. So Taika Waiтιтi‘s Star Wars movie really does look like one that can be added to the list of “what ifs?”