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Thor: Ragnarok: Marvel in talks to get first non-white director Taika Waititi for Chris Hemsworth featuring sequel

Ruben Fleischer, Rob Letterman and Rawson Marshall Thurber were all in the running

Jack Shepherd
Monday 05 October 2015 12:33 BST
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Filmmaker Taika Waititi poses for a portrait during the 2014 Sundance Film Festival
Filmmaker Taika Waititi poses for a portrait during the 2014 Sundance Film Festival (Getty)

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Marvel Studios has been criticised numerous times for their lack of diversity, both on screen and behind the scenes.

Finally - some change - as they are reportedly in negotiations to hire their first non-white director, Taika Waititi, for Thor: Ragnarok.

Waititi is best known for directing Boy, Eagle vs Shark and What We Do in the Shadows, as well as starring in Green Lantern and cameoing in Flight of the Concords.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ruben Fleischer, Rob Letterman and Rawson Marshall Thurber were all finalists for the gig.

Waititi - who hails from New Zealand - is yet another outside choice to film another multi-million dollar blockbuster superhero flick.

Marvel have recently hired Scott Derrickson - director of The Day The Earth Stood Still - to helm Doctor Strange, and Jon Watts to direct Spider-Man. Watts is best known for his indie road-thriller Cop Car.

Many directors who have previously worked with the studio have complained about the experience, with Edgar Wright leaving Ant-Man after several years work, and Joss Whedon saying he won’t return for another Avengers film after his stressful experiences with Age of Ultron.

On the other hand, Marvel have given numerous directors a platform to break into the mainstream, with James Gunn - who wrote and directed Guardians of the Galaxy - and the Russo brothers - Captain America: Winter Soldier - becoming huge Hollywood names from the exposure.

Thor: Ragnarok sees Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston replies their roles as Thor and Loki respectively, and is expected to be released 3 November, 2017.

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