Disney/Fox ropes in Taika Waititi to 'crack' idea for 'Flash Gordon' film

"Thor: Ragnarok" director Taika Waititi has boarded the creative team of Disney/Fox's animated feature "Flash Gordon". According to Deadline, the filmmaker will be helping the studio to "crack" the idea for the film. However, it is not yet known whether he will write or direct the project.

Created in the 1930s, Flash Gordon started off as a comic strip about the dashing athlete-turned intrepid space adventurer of the same name. The comic has been adapted both on TV and in films. Fox, which landed the film rights in 2014, has been struggling to develop the project for a long time now.

Directors Matthew Vaughn and Julius Avery, who was attached with the film over the last five years, have left the project after their version could not make it past the early stages of pre-production. Fox's new owner Disney is now planning to develop the film with a new team.

Waititi, 43, is currently working on his satirical dark comedy, "Jojo Rabbit", which will feature Waititi, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell and Rebel Wilson. The film, adapted from the novel by Christine Leunens, follows a young man from Adolf Hitler's army who discovers his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic, prompting him to address his nationalistic ideals through his friendship with an imaginary Hitler, played by Waititi.