Why you want to know who Taika Waititi of Thor Ragnarok is!

So remember when a month or so ago I was so excited to be heading to Los Angeles hosted by Disney? They provided my all expense paid trip to cover the Thor Ragnarok movie release and so much more. While I was there I was to interview Taika Waititi. I had no idea who he was. You are going to want to know Taika. He is going places. Taika Waititi was a name I had not heard of before. After interviewing him for the Thor Ragnarok movie I am now a huge fan. He’s funny and sincere and just fun to be around. This was one of my favorite interivews on this junket. I give you the Taika Waititi interview.

Photo credit Disney

What was it like jumping into a Marvel movie?

It was harrowing and exciting. When they offered me the chance to come, my first reaction was they’ve lost their mind. They’re just asking anyone to come in. So I went. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I didn’t start making films until I was 28. After 8 years of making films I was treading water. I just wanted to keep upping the game and learning. So then I went in and did the pitch. We were just sussing each other out. Do we want to hang out for 2 years. No regrets.

You’re already the director, why the added pressure to act in it too?

Because I’m a self saboteur. I wedge myself into every film. I love the acting time.

Taika taking time to be with mom bloggers

Photo Credit Allison Waken allfortheboys.com

How much of Korg’s dialogue was scripted?

All of Korg’s dialogue was improvised. We would know we had certain pieces of information we had to get across. I didn’t decide on playing this character until the last minute. The thing with Chris and I is that we get along very well. We ad-libbed a lot. We used the script as a template and then played around with it and made stuff up. You write the dialogue 6 months before and things change.

Were you constantly laughing?

Uh, yeah I ruined most of the takes. I’d say to myself, “I can’t believe I’m making Anthony Hopkins say this.” It was fun.

How did the Matt Damon scene come to be?

Originally it wasn’t supposed to have cameos in there. We decided to do the scene and make fun of Chris using his own brother. We didn’t want the audience to have to have seen the other movies but if you have then it pays off. Matt came into it late in the game. Chris and him are good friends so that’s how he came to be in it. It’s a funny scene.

Dina says, “You’ll understand when you see it. Trying not to have spoilers. :P”

Immigrant song is such a perfect song for this movie. How did it come to be in the movie?

I made this scissor reel to show the tone of my idea of what the film would be. I used Immigrant song as the theme of the clip. At the end Kevin (Feige, CEO of Marvel) was like that’s a cool song. Because of that they were pretty determined to use it in the movie.

Was there any character that surprised you and you didn’t know they’d be that good?

I knew Jeff (Goldblum) would be that good. My favorite performance was Chris’s performance. He’s so funny and charming. I told him, “If you actually were Thor I’d totally be friends with you.” We gave him and Mark free range to just be themselves.

I noticed there was a lot less mischief with Loki was that on purpose?

I think people come to expect it too much. That’s the fun thing about Marvel they will change things. We didn’t want him to be so predictable. It was more satisfying to see him come through and bridge the relationship with his brother. It was more satisfying to see the two brothers get over their crap. This is what life is like, you know.

There’s so much laughter in this interview it’s hard to hear the answers! He was fun and I personally loved being a part of this interview. He’s amazing and I will watch him in his work in the future.

Now check out the Thor trailer and movie info!

And this will make you excited to screen the movie. I’m so excited I’m already planning to go again next weekend with the family! Is it 11/3 yet?

More about the Thor: Ragnarok movie.

In Marvel Studios’ THOR: RAGNAROK, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first, he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk! THOR: RAGNAROK is directed by Taika Waititi and returns Chris Hemsworth starring as Thor and Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Loki. They are joined by Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson and Karl Urban, with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.