Taika Waititi is returning to the MCU.
According to Variety, Waititi has signed on to write and direct the follow-up to his 2017 flick Thor: Ragnarok. This is, of course, great news for Marvel fans; however, the deal has reportedly stalled production for the long-awaited Akira adaptation, which was expected to hit theaters May 21, 2021.
Sources tell Variety that Warner Bros. has postponed Akira indefinitely, as Waititi focuses on the next Thor installment. Studio insiders also said they were "caught off guard" by the director's involvement with the MCU film, as he had already started searching for Akira's lead actors. The project, which has been in the works for more than seven years, was reportedly put on pause while Waititi looked for talent, but sources claim creative differences have contributed to the delay.
It's unclear when development for the live-action adaptation will resume, but it is believed Waititi will remain with the project throughout its production.
At this time, there aren't many details about Thor 4. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Hemsworth is expected to reprise his role as the titular character, who was last seen in Avengers: Endgame.
Waititi is now gearing up to release Fox Searchlight's Jojo Rabbit, a satirical WWII drama starring Scarlett Johansson. In addition to directing and writing the screenplay, Waititi will appear in the movie as Adolf Hitler. Jojo Rabbit is scheduled to hit theaters Oct. 18.
