Of all the film series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Thor franchise is arguably the one that’s evolved the most over time. Kenneth Branagh’s 2011 entry kicked it off with a somewhat Shakespearean-esque tale and motif. And later on, Game of Thrones alum Alan Taylor injected the 2013 sequel, The Dark World, with an aesthetic that felt like a much lighter variation of the HBO show. The God of Thunder truly seemed to find his footing, however, when indie director Taika Waititi was hired to direct 2017’s Ragnarok. At the time, Waititi seemed like an unusual choice for the gig and, now, he’s explained why he took on the job despite having had “no interest” prior to landing the movie. And his answer is very relatable.
The New Zealand native had a few notable films to his name before he opted to enter the massive MCU. What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople were arguably his most acclaimed productions at that time. While those films are delightfully quirky and entertaining, they don’t exactly scream “superhero epic.” Taika Waititi recently appeared on the SmartLess Podcast, during which co-host Jason Bateman asked him what prompted him to make the jump to the Disney-owned studio. When responding, Waititi spelled out a clear reason – money:
