Taika Waititi, the director behind the critically acclaimed Thor movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), recently opened up about why he initially took on the job of directing Thor: Ragnarok, despite having “no interest” in doing so. Waititi’s unique approach to the Thor franchise brought a refreshing and humorous twist to the character, making his Thor films stand out.
Waititi admitted on the Smartless podcast that directing Thor movies wasn’t part of his original career plan as an auteur. However, the financial aspect played a significant role in his decision. At the time, Waititi was facing financial challenges, having just welcomed his second child. The offer to direct Thor: Ragnarok presented an opportunity to support his growing family, even though he wasn’t personally invested in the Marvel character.
“I had no interest in doing one of those films. It wasn’t on my plan for my career as an auteur. But I was poor, and I’d just had a second child, and I thought, ‘You know what, this would be a great opportunity to feed these children,'” Waititi explained on the podcast.
Waititi, who had primarily directed indie films and smaller video projects, saw the Thor franchise as an unexpected avenue to boost his financial situation. He revealed that Thor was probably the least popular franchise in his eyes, and he had never been a fan of Thor comics during his youth.
Despite his lack of familiarity with Thor, Waititi’s outsider perspective proved to be a boon for Thor: Ragnarok. At the time of his involvement, Thor was considered the least popular MCU franchise, especially following Thor: The Dark World, regarded as the weakest installment in the series. Waititi’s approach of not glorifying the character allowed for a fresh and impartial take on Thor, steering away from the previous somber tone of the franchise.
In Thor: Ragnarok, Waititi portrayed Thor as a space-dwelling “rich kid,” offering a new, relatable angle to the character. This perspective humanized Thor, making him more accessible to audiences. Chris Hemsworth, who portrayed Thor, embraced the comedic elements introduced by Waititi, further enhancing the film’s appeal.
Thor: Ragnarok’s success paved the way for its sequel, Thor: Love and Thunder. While Love and Thunder received mixed responses, the impact of Waititi’s initial deviation from the traditional Thor narrative cannot be understated. His unique perspective injected new life into the character and the franchise as a whole. Without the unconventional approach of Thor: Ragnarok, Thor’s future in the MCU might have been far less certain.
