When his name was announced as the director of the third and possibly last entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, the Thor trilogy, very few people knew about him. Plus hardcore Marvel fans who had compiled extensive research on the director of one of their favorite characters and movie nerds known for his older works like Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. The name Taika Waititi was an unknown entity in the conversation for great directors among the mainstream audience. By the time the audience left the theater at the end of Thor: Ragnarok, everyone knew his name.
If the older generation were blessed with iconic directors like James Cameron, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg, fans of modern film and television might look up to Taika Waititi to raise the flag of exceptional modern filmmaking. Here’s a look at the New Zealand director’s background and career as a film director, actor, and comedian.
Who is Taika Waititi, New Zealand film director? Here is everything you need to know
In the Raukokore area of New Zealand’s North Island East Coast region, Taika Waititi was born to a Jewish mother and a Maori father from Te Whanau-a-Apanui. The director has created a brand and a legacy for himself under the name Taika Waititi, but he is sometimes called Taika Cohen, using his mother’s last name. He was born on August 16, 1975 and raised in Wellington, New Zealand.
There is nothing conventional about TaikaWaititi, but even for an eccentric man like him, formally studying to hone his craft was a path he considered important enough to take. He attended Victoria University of Wellington after graduating from Onslow College for his secondary education. While in college, his passion for the arts and comedy began to manifest. Taika was part of Then You’re a Man , a comedy ensemble that was successful on tours of Australia and New Zealand. He was also part of The Humourbeasts, a comedy duo that won the Billy T Award, New Zealand’s highest comedy accolade.
Race
Excellence has always followed TaikaWaititi.Before achieving worldwide recognition for reigniting interest in the Thor franchise, the director was already racking up awards in New Zealand as an actor, winning local awards for low-budget films such as Scarves, Snakeskin, and The strip . Although his original entry into the cinema was as an actor, he will eventually be known as a maverick director and screenwriter. His other acting credits include Green Lantern, Kid, and What We Do in the Shadows . He also starred in Thor: Ragnarok as Korg.
As a filmmaker, Taika began his life as a comprehensive director and filmmaker with short films in New Zealand. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his short film in 2005 for Two Cars, One Night. By the time he released What We Do in the Shadows , a mockumentary that has been critically acclaimed and now adapted into a television series, he had made two feature films, Eagle vs. Shark and Chico . His directing of Chico was particularly successful, setting several New Zealand film records and winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. He broke the records set by his own movie, Chicofor another film of his own, Hunt for the Wilderpeople .
Having released three successful films working on low budgets, Marvel Studios, which has built a reputation for attracting unknown but talented directors to direct its big-budget films, signed Taika Waititi to direct and write Thor: Ragnarok. The success of the film and the exposure this work brought to the New Zealand film industry earned him the New Zealander of the Year award in 2017.
His other projects include Jojo Rabbit and We Are Wolves which are scheduled to release in 2019. He is also expected to direct some episodes of The Mandalorian and What We Do in the Shadows series.
Net worth
Commercially successful movies like Thor: Ragnarök and Hunt for the Wilderpeople have made Taika Waititi a rich man. The filmmaker is currently worth $ 3 million. With more projects with Marvel lined up and contracts signed to work on a Star Wars project, Taika’s wealth is expected to grow in the coming years.
Wife and sons
Taika Waititi has been in a couple of notable relationships Early in her film career, she was in a relationship with Loren Horsley, an actress. However, he is now married to Chelsea Winstanley, an award-winning film producer and director. The couple married in 2012 and have two children: Te Hinekahu, who was born in 2012, and Matewa Kiritapu, who was born in 2015.
Height Weight
Taika Waititi sees a distinctive look that makes him stand out in a crowd. The New Zealand filmmaker stands at an impressive 6 feet 2 inches. His weight is currently unknown, but the filmmaker is supposed to regularly work on his physique thanks to his slim athletic body.