Taika Waititi Tackles Tiny Racists
New Zealand has hauled in its biggest stars in an effort to crack down on rising levels of racism in our famously peaceful South Pacific nation. Hollywood director and New Zealander of the year…
Tag Archives: Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi Confirms Thor Cameo
“With a very popular trailer already out, Marvel fans probably thought they already knew everything there was to know about the cast of Thor: Ragnarok,” according to…
First Thor: Ragnarok Trailer Released
The first trailer for Thor: Ragnarok, which was directed by Taika Waititi, has been released, as reported in an article in The Guardian. “Following on from the events of Avengers: Age…
Deliberating on the Taika-Esqueness of Thor
Hunt for the Wilderpeople director Taika Waititi talks to the Guardian about joining the Marvel universe with his interpretation of Thor, which is due out in the United States in November. As far as whetting…
Taika Waititi named New Zealander of the Year
“Hunt for the Wilderpeople director Taika Waititi has been named as the 2017 New Zealander of the Year,” as reported on TV3.ie. “I just found out the news. Wow, amazing. Thank you so…
Michael Jackson Chimp Movie Attracts Taika Waititi
Thor: Ragnarok director New Zealander Taika Waititi has signed on to direct Bubbles, a stop-motion animated film about Michael Jackson’s pet chimpanzee, alongside Emmy Award-winning Mark Gustafson. “It’s an idea that fascinates me and one…
Taika Waititi Talks Thor: Ragnarok
“It came as a large surprise to many when Marvel announced that it would be handing Thor: Ragnarok’s directorial reigns over to New Zealand film director, actor and comedian Taika Waititi,” writes Tiny Diapana…
Posters Inspired by Taika Waititi’s Hit Film
For Little White Lies’ latest creative brief, the film magazine asked its readers to design a wanted poster inspired by Taika Waititi’s “charming” 2016 comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople. “We were blown away by the standard…
Hunt For The Wilderpeople Best Movie of 2016
Hunt for the Wilderpeople has topped Empire Magazine’s list of top movies (released in the UK) of 2016. “To say that Hunt For The Wilderpeople was a surprise is perhaps overstating it. Anyone…
How Pacific Islanders Helped Moana Find Its Way
Fine attention to detail and constant feedback from John Musker and Ron Clements, the writer-director team behind Moana’s cultural advisory group The Oceanic Story Trust, has helped shape the Disney film on every level, Vanity…
What We Do In The Shadows – Mockumentary You Need to Watch
Kiwi mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows has been included in a list of mockumentaries you will need to watch in an article on Vice. What We Do in the Shadows, directed,…
Stunning NZ Films You Should Know About
“New Zealand certainly brings a fair few ‘bests’ to the table. Aside from being one of the most beautiful countries in the world, responsible for some of the greatest exploratory and scientific minds,…
Taika Waititi’s Creative Journey
”The vast majority of us lack the happy-go-lucky charm of New Zealand’s favourite writer/director,” writes Clarisse Loughrey for The Independent. She is talking about Taika Waititi, who currently is working on one of…
Star Trek’s Karl Urban Meets Hero Harrison Ford
A perk of working for producer J.J. Abrams on Star Trek Beyond was the chance for Wellington-born actor Karl Urban, 44, to visit his boss’ other set. And for Urban, a lifelong Harrison Ford…
Hollywood Is Finally Ready For Taika Waititi
New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi “has been put at the forefront of Disney’s push toward diversity. But that doesn’t mean he’s committing to a career in studio movies,” writes Alison Willmore in an article…
Wilderpeople Lavished with Praise in US
“Every once in a while, a small, unheralded film comes along, so smart and funny, such a pleasure to experience, you can’t believe your luck. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is such a film,” Los…
Taika Waititi on Marvel’s First Female Supervillain
In October New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi “landed the biggest job of his career when Marvel handed him the reins to their superhero threequel Thor: Ragnarok,” writes Jen Yamato for The Daily…
Taika Waititi Relates Wilderpeople Scene
Director Taika Waititi narrates a scene for the New York Times from his comedy adventure film Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which opens 24 June in the United States. “At this point in the film, Ricky…
Marvel-lous Opportunity for Niki Caro
New Zealand independent director Niki Caro is one of two frontrunners to oversee Captain Marvel, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The other possibility to helm the film is Australian Jennifer Kent. Wellington-born Caro and Kent…
The Kiwi Film You Need To See
The New Zealand smash hit Hunt for the Wilderpeople has knocked Batman vs Superman off number one and has beat Boy to become the highest grossing film of all time in New Zealand. According…
Karl Urban to Star in Thor: Ragnarok
Kiwi actor Karl Urban will join the cast in the upcoming Taika Waititi-helmed Thor: Ragnarok as Skurge. “It’s a fantastic story and a really great character who has got a wonderful arc. I’m super excited…
Sam Neill Says NZ Cinema like Nothing Else on Earth
In a career of almost unparalleled versatility, Sam Neill’s latest role in Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople finds him returning to his roots. Elle Hunt tracks the New Zealander down in Sydney for…
Taika Waititi Proves to Be Box-Office Gold in NZ
“Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi rules the box office in his homeland of New Zealand,” writes Pip Bulbeck for The Hollywood Reporter. Two of his films are now the top New Zealand films at…
Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi – Say That Again?!
Intro Magazin interview New Zealand film director and comedian Taika Waititi and Flight of the Conchords Jemaine Clement to talk about various things in life such as cooking skills,…
‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ Sundance Cast Interview
Have a laugh with the ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ cast (Taika Waititi, Sam Neill, Rhys Darby and Julian Dennison) as they stop by the Sundance studio to discuss their…
Hunt for the Wilderpeople Official Trailer
Have a look at the official trailer for Hunt for the Wilderpeople. A story about a national manhunt when a kid and his foster uncle go missing in the…
Director Taika Waititi’s New Film “A Love Letter to 1970s New Zealand Cinema”
Taika Waititi spoke with Vice about his new film Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which stars Julian Dennison, Sam Neill, Rachel House, Oscar Kightley and Rhys Darby and is based on Wild Pork and Watercress…
Thor director Taika Waititi an Indie Powerhouse
“As a director, got an impeccable ability to balance painful earnestness with biting humour,” Angela Watercutter writes for WIRED. “And as a comedy writer and actor, he produces jokes that land…
Hunt for the Wilderpeople is Perfectly Balanced
Taika Waititi’s film adaptation of Barry Crump’s Wild Pork and Watercress, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which made its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, is a “deliciously good time at the movies,” according to…
Sundance Welcomes Taika Waititi’s Latest
Taika Waititi’s new film Hunt for the Wilderpeople, a dramatisation of Barry Crump’s 1986 novel, Wild Pork and Watercress, has premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Boy director Waititi returns with the road comedy…
Flight of the Conchords Musical Is Coming
The upcoming Flight of the Conchords movie is shaping up to be a musical like no other, co-creator Jemaine Clement has promised – albeit tentatively. The film is “definitely a couple of years away,…
What We Do in the Shadows – Passing Time
Eternity is a long time. Thank goodness for pottery. “What We Do in the Shadows”, directed by Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi, about three vampires flatting in the suburbs…
“What We Do in the Shadows” at the Top of the Pack
“What We Do In the Shadows” is so good, it wouldn’t be so creepy to have these lads rise from the crypt for a sequel”, proclaims Peter Howell, from The Record.com. Even…
Antidote To Mythical Bloodsucking
Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s What We Do in the Shadows, in which vampires mix with a mockumentary crew, is rapturously reviewed by the Wall St Journal’s Joe Morgenstern. The film, writes Morgenstern, is “a…
How Jemaine Clement Became 862-year-old Vladislav
Being a vampire wasn’t entirely new to Jemaine Clement, co-director and star of What We Do In The Shadows. His first credited role was playing one in a 1995 horror short film called Blood…
Bloody Good Film: A Biting New Zealand Comedy Takes America
Film Comment, the magazine of the Film Society of Lincoln Center, has its January/February cover boy a blood-drenched Jemaine Clement from What We Do in the Shadows. Co-written, co-directed and co-starring Clement…
Fireside Chats: The Cast of ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ Reveals Hollywood’s Vampires
The writing and directing team of Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, and their cast mates sat down with the Hollywood Reporter to talk about their new film ‘What We…
‘What We Do In the Shadows’ Wins Hawaii Audience Prize
“What We Do In the Shadows,” Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s New Zealand-made documentary-style comedy about three flatmates who happen to be vampires won the audience award for best narrative feature at the Hawaii International…
Teen Star James Rolleston on Why He’s “Nothing Flash-As”
The New Zealand actor James Rolleston who impressed in Taika Waititi’s smash hit Boy is back with two new homegrown films that wowed at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. In The Dead Lands Rolleston,…
Taika Waititi Pens Disney Animation Film Moana
Disney’s 56th animated film Moana has magic written all over it, according to the Latin Post and New Zealand writer and director Taika Waititi has a hand in it. The film is the studio’s…
US Indie Film Role for Former Vampire Jemaine Clement
New Zealand comedian Jemaine Clement, who played 862-year-old Vladislav in What We Do in the Shadows, will next star in the indie drama People Places Things directed by James Strouse. Following appearances in Hollywood films…
Filmmaker Taika Waititi Flourishing out of the Mainstream
He’s best known as the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind hits like Flight Of The Conchords and New Zealand’s highest-ever grossing film Boy. But Taika Waititi had a brush with mainstream Hollywood fame when he starred alongside…
Wellington Vampire Movie Wins People’s Choice at Toronto Film Festival
‘What We Do In the Shadows’ was a big hit at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, winning the Grolsch Midnight Madness People’s Choice Award. Its co-creator, ‘Flight of the Conchords’ star Jemaine Clement,…
Jemaine Clement Talks Conchords and Vampires
Conchord and vampire Jemaine Clement is interviewed by The Guardian’s Alexander Bisley on his new film What We Do in the Shadows, share homes, and his Maori heritage. Clement is one of the most noted…
What We Do In The Shadows – Official Trailer
Prepare to be laughing your socks with this playfully made movie about three vampire flatmates Viago (Taika Waititi), Deacon (Jonny Brugh), and Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) who are just trying…
Waititi’s Vampire: Mind the Furnishings!
Acclaimed New Zealand auteurs Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement are garnering rave reviews for their vampire mockumentary, What We Do In The Shadows, which has premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, America’s finest showcase…
Wellington Vampires Tell Their Story at Sundance
New Zealand horror comedy film, the Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement-directed What We Do in the Shadows, will make its world premiere on 19 January in the Midnight section at the Sundance Film…
Blazed – Drug Driving in Aotearoa
Watch this online hit anti-drug driving ad launched on Maori TV featuring three Maori children arguing which of their dads drives best while “blazed”. Directed by Taika Waititi, the…
NZ Does Do-Good Ads Better than Anyone
Public service announcements, or PSAs, are a tough nut for the advertising world to crack, particularly when tackling drink-driving or the dangers of drugs. Too often a worthy cause is “laughably ineffective preachy”…
Shooting Vampires In NZ
New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi — whose 2010 film Boy was recently released in the United States — talks to Rotten Tomatoes about his five favourite films and his upcoming vampire movie plans with Flight of…
Sami And Fraser Play Canada
Auckland-born actress Madeline Sami stars in Toa Fraser’s award-winning No. 2, a play the pair first collaborated on in 1999 and which is currently touring Canada. When No. 2 opened in Calgary’s Epcor Centre’s Engineered Theatre in…
Boy to Play US Cinemas
The American distribution rights to Taika Waititi’s Boy, which had its world premiere at the 21 Sundance Film Festival, have been acquired by indie outfit Paladin. Since playing at the Sundance, Berlin…
Comic Capers in LA
Director of acclaimed film Boy Wellingtonian Taika Waititi was part of a large New Zealand contingent who worked on comic-book blockbuster Green Lantern in Los Angeles, starring as aircraft engineer Thomas Kalmaku, best friend…
TEDx Doha: Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi talks about how creativity has helped him to express his ideas and led him to where he is today at TEDx Doha.
Celebrating clumsiness
“Maori get pigeonholed into the idea they’re spiritual and telling stories like Whale Rider and Once were Warriors, quite serious stuff, but we’re pretty funny people and we never really have had an opportunity…
Laughing at the edge
Director Taika Waititi says the humour in Boy is both colonial-outpost and self-deprecating Maori humour. “You’ve just got to laugh at awkward, crazy, painful stuff when you’ve been banished to the nether regions of…
