Disney Announces New Taika Waititi Project 3 Years After ‘Thor 4’ Flop

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Taika Waititi, the director behind the popular Marvel film Thor: Ragnarok (2017), is working with Disney again. Ragnarok was a huge hit, earning over $850 million globally and changing the way audiences saw Thor. Although his next film, Thor: Love and Thunder (released three years ago), received mixed reviews, Disney is eager to partner with Waititi on a new project.

After directing the 2023 sports comedy Next Goal Wins, which didn’t gain much attention, Taika Waititi is teaming up with Disney again for a feel-good project. He’s directing Best Christmas Ever, a brand-new holiday short film that will premiere on Disney+ and Disney’s social media channels on November 10, 2025.

The first trailer for the upcoming film hints at a heartwarming Christmas story about a child who makes a magical new friend. The movie poster captures the cozy holiday spirit, showing a girl in pajamas embracing her new companion next to a Christmas tree, all set against a beautiful snowy backdrop.

The Disney-shared Instagram trailer captures the girl’s delighted reaction as her wish appears to be granted.

The letter to Santa is pictured ripped open, and next to it is a drawing that comes to life in the animated short.

Despite earning a strong $760.9 million worldwide, Thor: Love and Thunder didn’t quite reach the box office success of Thor: Ragnarok, which made $855 million – a difference of $94 million. However, Thor 4 wasn’t a commercial failure.

The movie’s reception by both viewers and critics was particularly revealing. It received a 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the lowest-rated film in the Thor series – even lower than The Dark World. Many found the film’s mix of humor and story to be uneven, feeling that director Taika Waititi’s signature style had become overly silly, raising questions about whether he’ll direct a potential Thor 5.

Since his work on Marvel films, Waititi’s career has been a bit of a mixed bag, with some projects succeeding while others have stalled. His planned Star Wars movie, first revealed in 2020, hasn’t moved forward much in the last few years and remains in development.

The director, known for the Galaxy Far, Far Away series, is now working on several new films. One is an adaptation of Percival Everett’s novel James for Universal Pictures. He’s also developing a fresh take on Huckleberry Finn, telling the story from Jim’s point of view, with Steven Spielberg as an executive producer.

Taika Waititi is directing the film Klara and the Sun, featuring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams. Filming started in New Zealand in early 2024, but Sony Pictures hasn’t announced a release date yet.

Taika Waititi will direct a new Judge Dredd film, working with his friend and frequent writing partner, Drew Pearce.

I’m really excited about Best Christmas Ever! It seems like Taika Waititi is doing something a little different with this one – a smaller, more personal story for Disney. It feels like he’s getting back to what he does best after Thor: Love and Thunder, and I can’t wait to see what he’s created.

Will Taika Waititi Return for Thor 5?

A major question for the future of the Thor movies is whether Taika Waititi will direct the next installment, Thor 5.

Now that Chris Hemsworth is set to return in Avengers: Doomsday and potentially Secret Wars, a fifth Thor movie could be a great way to wrap up his time as the character. Marvel has four unannounced movie dates in 2028, and Thor 5 would be a good fit for one of those slots.

I’ve been hearing rumblings, and even Tessa Thompson herself – the fantastic Valkyrie – has hinted she’d like to see her character’s next Marvel adventure feel a little more down-to-earth. It sounds like Marvel might be considering a shift in tone, moving away from the increasingly cosmic scale of things, and I, for one, am intrigued. It could be a really good move.

Taika Waititi brought a fun and unique energy to the Thor movies, but another director could potentially explore the deeper, more emotional side of Thor’s story as it comes to a close.

A potential Thor 5 could follow up on the hint at the end of Love and Thunder by featuring a conflict between Thor and Hercules (played by Brett Goldstein). This could give Marvel the opportunity to end Thor’s story with a more serious and thoughtful finale, though it’s also a bit of a gamble.

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2025-11-06 21:35