Taika Waititi is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor, and comedian. Waititi began his film career in the early 2000s by directing short films. His short film Two Cars, One Night (2003) got him an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. His first feature film, Eagle vs Shark, was released in 2007. Waititi's second film, Boy (2010) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.

He co-wrote and co-directed, and starred in the horror comedy film What We Do in the Shadows (2014) with Jemaine Clement, which was later adapted into a television series of the same name. In 2016, he wrote and directed the adventure comedy-drama film, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. The following year, he directed Marvel Studios's Thor: Ragnarok, and portrayed the alien Korg in the film. He wrote and directed the black comedy film, Jojo Rabbit (2019), in which he also starred in as an imaginary version of Adolf Hitler. Jojo Rabbit received six Academy Award nominations and won Best Adapted Screenplay. Waititi also earned a Grammy Award for producing the film's soundtrack.

In television, Waititi directed four episodes of the sitcom, Flight of the Conchords. He co-created and executive produced the dramedy series Reservation Dogs, and directed, executive produced, and starred in the comedy Our Flag Means Death. In addition to directing an episode of the series The Mandalorian in 2019, he also voiced the character IG-11, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.

Film Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 2007 Eagle vs Shark Including story 2010 Boy 2014 What We Do in the Shadows Co-wrote with Jemaine Clement 2016 Hunt for the Wilderpeople 2017 Thor: Ragnarok 2019 Jojo Rabbit 2022 Thor: Love and Thunder Co-wrote with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson 2023 Next Goal Wins Co-wrote with Iain Morris 2026 Klara and the Sun Co-wrote with Dahvi Waller

Short film Year Title Director Writer Producer 2002 John and Pogo 2003 Two Cars, One Night 2004 Heinous Crime"Heinous Crime". NZOnScreen. Retrieved 18 May 2024. 2005 Tama Tū What We Do in the Shadows:Interviews with Some Vampires 2013 The Captain 2014 Dating 101 with Viago Vampire's Guide to Vellington 2016 Team Thor 2017 Team Thor: Part 2 2018 Team Darryl 2024 The Boy & The Octopus 2025 Best Christmas Ever "Taika Waititi, Hungryman, Untold reunite for Disney Xmas spot". Televisual. Retrieved 13 November 2025.

Television

Year Title Director Writer ExecutiveProducer Notes 2007–2009 Flight of the Conchords 4 episodes 2011 Super City 6 episodes 2012 The Inbetweeners(US version) 5 episodes 2018–2022 Wellington Paranormal Co-creator 2019–2024 What We Do in the Shadows 3 episodes 2019 The Mandalorian Episode: "Chapter 8: Redemption" 2021–2023 Reservation Dogs Co-creator 2022–2023 Our Flag Means Death Episode: "Pilot" 2024 Time Bandits Co-creator Interior Chinatown Episode: "Generic Asian Man"

Acting appearances Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 Scarfies Alex 2001 Snakeskin Nelson A New Way Home Max Short film 2004 Futile Attraction Waiter Heinous Crime Various Short film Toy Boy"Toy Boy". 48Hours. Retrieved 19 May 2024. Jack Hammer 2005 What We Do in the Shadows:Interviews with Some Vampires Viago 2007 Eagle vs Shark Gordon 2010 Boy Alamein 2011 Green Lantern Thomas Kalmaku 2013 The Captain The Captain Short film 2013 Coffee Town Cosmetology Instructor Uncredited 2014 What We Do in the Shadows Viago 2016 Hunt for the Wilderpeople Minister 2017 Thor: Ragnarok KorgSurtur (motion-capture) 2018 Seven Stages to Achieve Eternal Bliss Holy Storsh Shrimp Bartender Short film 2019 Avengers: Endgame Korg Jojo Rabbit Adolf Hitler 2021 Save Ralph Ralph (voice) Short film Deadpool and Korg React Korg Promotional short film The Suicide Squad Ratcatcher I Free Guy Antwan Hovachelik The Electrical Life of Louis Wain Max Kase 2022 Lightyear Mo Morrison Voice role Thor: Love and Thunder KorgNinny the Nonnie 2023 Next Goal Wins American Samoan Priest 2026 Fing! The Viscount Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender Gorillavark Voice role 2027 Charlie Vs. The Chocolate Factory Willy Wonka Voice role; in production TBA Place to Be Nelson Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2002 The Strip Mostin 13 Episodes The Tribe Virtual RealityCowboy No.1 Episode: "Episode #4.24" (uncredited) 2003 Revelations Ali Episode: "Mended Sole" Freaky Cleaner Episode: "Fridge, Cleaner & Sister" 2007 Flight of the Conchords Gipsy Kings fan Episode: "Drive By" (uncredited cameo) 2009 The Jaquie Brown Diaries Friendly Gypsy Episode: "Brownward Spiral" 2010 Radiradirah Various 8 episodes 2019 What We Do in the Shadows Viago 3 episodes 2019–2023 The Mandalorian IG-11 Voice; 5 episodes IG-12 (Grogu) Voice; 2 episodes 2019 Year of the Rabbit Merrick's Performer Cameo Rick and Morty Glootie Voice; episode: "The Old Man and the Seat" 2020 Home Movie: The Princess Bride Westley / The Man in Black Episode: "Chapter Nine: Have Fun Storming the Castle!" 2021 RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Guest star 1 episode2021-2024 What If...? Korg Voice; 4 episodes: "What If... Thor Were an Only Child?", "What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?", "What If... Iron Man Crashed Into the Grandmaster?"", "What If... the Watcher Disappeared?" 2022-2023 Our Flag Means Death Edward "Blackbeard" Teach Main role 2023 History of the World, Part II Sigmund Freud 1 episode The Simpsons Himself Voice; episode: "Murder She Boat" 2024 Time Bandits Supreme Being Main role 2025 The Masked Singer Himself/Detective Lucky Duck Season 13; 8 episodes Conan O'Brien Must Go Himself Season 2, Episode 2 ("New Zealand") It's Florida, Man Doctor Orlando Episode: "Crushed"

Uncredited work Year Title Role 2016 Doctor Strange Directed mid-credit sequence Moana Wrote the initial screenplay

Music videos

"Ladies of the World", Flight of the Conchords (2007) "Mutha'uckas", Flight of the Conchords (2007) "Leggy Blonde", Flight of the Conchords (2007) "Shanks' Pony", Age Pryor (2007) "Bright Grey", The Phoenix Foundation (2007) "My Imminent Demise", Luke Buda (2008) "40 Years", The Phoenix Foundation (2009) "World Gone Sour (The Lost Kids)", Method Man (2011) "My Sweet Lord", George Harrison (2021) "Praising You", Rita Ora (2023) "Don't Think Twice", Rita Ora (2023) "Ask & You Shall Receive", Rita Ora (2024) "Heat", Rita Ora (2025; cameo) "All Natural", Rita Ora (2025; director)

Commercials

Waititi has also been a prolific commercial director. He directed Air New Zealand's "The Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made" featuring Peter Jackson and Elijah Wood as they go through where The Lord of the Rings films were shot. In 2013, Waititi directed Tesco's "Borg," which features a comical Thor-esque character shopping in the supermarket; and he went on to direct Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok a few years later.

"Friends Reunited", Friends Reunited (2008) "Moussaka Rap", Pot Noodle (2008) "I Wish (That Girls Were More Like Pot Noodles)", Pot Noodle (2008) "Back with no Appetite", Pot Noodle (2008) "World Gone Sour (The Lost Kids)", Sour Patch Kids (2011) "Simply The Best", Cadbury Dairy Milk (2011) "Gold", Wispa (2011) "Superbowl Brotherhood of Man", NBC (2012) "Pure", Steinlager (2012) "New Girl", Old Navy (2012) "Why Choose?", Old Navy (2012) "Bee Bots!", Old Navy (2012) "Australia Day", Lambnesia (2013) "State of the -Ation", Samsung (2013) "MIDWULS", Optimum Cable (2013) "Borg" Tesco (2013) "Pierce Brosnan", Sky Ireland (2013) by Sky, 16 April 2013 "Blazed", New Zealand Transport Agency (2013) "#HELLOBEER", Carlton (2013) "The Kids Party", Nimble (2014) "The Gas Bill", Nimble (2014) "The Phone Bill", Nimble (2014) "Laura", Stop Before You Start (2014) "Toa", Stop Before You Start (2014) "Tori", Stop Before You Start (2014) "Jackson", Stop Before You Start (2014) "Destiny", Stop Before You Start (2014) "The Most Epic Safety Video Ever", Air New Zealand (2014) "Watch It Over and Over", Nova Energy (2014) "Tinnyvision", New Zealand Transport Agency (2014) "Choose Your Trebor - Confessions", Trebor Mints (2015) "Broadband Made Simple", 2degrees (2015) "Gorgeous Greta", Crazy Domains (2015) "Kev of All Trades", Crazy Domains (2015) "Stuff Your Loved Ones", Crazy Domains (2015) "Taika's Appeal", New Zealand Human Rights Commission (2017) "Locker room", DirecTV (2018) "Talk to the Land", Old Spice (2018) "Stay Cool", Old Spice (2018) "She Nose Best", Old Spice (2018) "No Can Left Behind", Pepsi Max (2019) "Coca-Cola Christmas Commercial", Coca-Cola (2020) "Xbox Series X – Lucid Odyssey", Xbox (2020) "Seize the Night & Day", Idorsia (2022) "Belvedere Presents Daniel Craig", Belvedere Vodka (2022) "Joy Is Made", Amazon (2022) "Make this Christmas Incredibublé", ASDA (2023) "The Lost Voice", Apple (2023) "Kiss from a Lime", Mountain Dew, featuring Seal and Becky G (Super Bowl, 2025) "Belvedere Presents Future", Belvedere Vodka (2024) "Don't Overthink It, Give Something Beautiful", Sephora campaign (launched 30 October 2024) "The Little Farmer", Lay's (Super Bowl, 2025) "Not Saying We're the Best" and "Still Not Saying We’re the Best", Homes.com (Super Bowl, 2025) "The Choice", Pepsi (Super Bowl, 2026) "Jurassic Park... Works", Xfinity (Super Bowl, 2026) "Last Harvest", Lay's (Super Bowl, 2026) "Taika Waititi Sends Reese Witherspoon on Parisian Adventure in Wells Fargo Ad", Wells Fargo and BBDO New York

References

External links