According to Gizmodo, Taika Waititi is teasing a “fun” and “high stakes” tone for his upcoming Star Wars film, explicitly stating he doesn’t want to “piss people off.” In other news, Chris Pratt says he has a “really strong vision” for Star-Lord’s potential return to the MCU, though he doubts James Gunn would be involved. Martin Scorsese is directing a new horror mystery, What Happens at Night, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, and newly-added Patricia Clarkson. Additionally, Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil reboot is described as an “origin story,” and a new WWII horror-thriller called Unknown Company has added Ross Marquand to its cast.
Waititi’s Star Wars Balancing Act
Taika’s comments are fascinating because they feel like a direct, pre-emptive response to the most common criticism of his recent work. Remember the backlash to Thor: Love and Thunder? A lot of folks felt the jokes undercut the drama. So when he says he’s trying to “harness a little bit more of the fun from the original films,” he’s basically admitting he heard that noise. But here’s the thing: the original trilogy did have fun, but it was often character-based or born from the tension. It wasn’t just quips for quips’ sake. The real challenge for Waititi won’t be adding jokes—it’ll be making the “high stakes” feel genuinely earned and not undercut by the humor. Can he pull off that balance in a franchise where every fan has a different idea of what the “fun” actually was?
Pratt’s MCU Pitch and Scorsese’s Horror
Chris Pratt’s comments are a classic Marvel actor move: signal enthusiasm and that you’ve got ideas, but make it clear you’re a team player. The most telling part is his quiet resignation that James Gunn probably isn’t coming back to direct him. That’s the real story. Star-Lord without Gunn’s specific voice is a totally different proposition. Pratt’s “strong vision” is intriguing, but it’ll live or die based on who Marvel pairs him with. Meanwhile, over in prestige land, the Scorsese news is huge. A horror mystery with a Twin Peaks/The Shining vibe? With that cast? That’s an instant awards-season contender, even if it’s a genre play. It shows Scorsese, after Killers of the Flower Moon, is still chasing new creative challenges, which is pretty awesome.
The Reboot Machine Grinds On
The other tidbits point to Hollywood’s relentless mining of existing IP. Zach Cregger doing Resident Evil is actually a great fit after Barbarian—he knows how to blend horror with unexpected beats. Calling it “his crack at an origin story” suggests we’re getting a distinct director’s vision, which is the best-case scenario for a reboot. The Power Rangers leak, with its “time anomalies” and a world that forgot the Rangers, sounds like it’s trying *way* too hard to be clever and modern. Sometimes, you just want colorful heroes fighting rubber monsters, you know? And a WWII supernatural horror called Unknown Company? That’s a solid pitch. It’s a well-worn setting, but “psychological and moral reckoning” around an unidentified object could go some interesting, Thing-adjacent places.
What It All Means
Look, this grab-bag of news is a perfect snapshot of 2024 Hollywood. You’ve got a mega-director (Scorsese) using his clout for a personal genre project. You’ve got a franchise maestro (Waititi) carefully calibrating his message for a skeptical fanbase. You’ve got a star (Pratt) gently campaigning for his character’s future in a post-original-creator landscape. And you’ve got the constant background hum of reboots and sequels, hoping to find a new angle. The throughline? Everything is a calculated risk. Even Scorsese’s film is a risk within the safe harbor of his reputation. It’s all about managing expectations, which is exactly what Taika Waititi is trying to do with Star Wars right out of the gate.
