Filmmaker and actor Taiki Waititi slowly made a name for himself in the indie cinema scene with likeable films like Boy (2010), What we do in the shade (2014), and Hunt the wild people (2016). That said, it was the mega success of 2017 Thor: Ragnarok that brought him into the limelight and made him a household name.
His recent performance in Ryan Reynolds’ hit free man (2021) was inspired by the world of video games, and that connection has led many people to ask the same question: which video game characters could Taika play on the big screen? Here are some possible suggestions for iconic characters the charming New Zealander could portray.
10 Darkstalkers Robotic Warrior would be a good match
Capcom’s darkstalkers franchise has been a beloved entry in the fighting game genre since 1994. While there have been animated adaptations, the series has yet to see the live-action treatment. One character that would definitely benefit from Taika’s recognizable vocals is Huitzil.
The strange-looking robot is part of an army of identical units created by series villain Pyron, and Taika is said to have some of his Korg mannerisms from the Thor movies for this role. This would help him turn a potentially forgettable CGI grunt threat into something bigger, and it’s certainly fitting when it comes to the weird vibe of darkstalkers.
9 He could make the robots himself if Dr. Bosconovitch
The Tekken series of fighting games has a unique roster of characters even compared to some of its peers, from obvious tributes to Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan to giant monsters and even dinosaurs with boxing gloves. One of the other weird fighters is none other than Dr. Bosconobitch: the creator of the Jack androids.
The former Soviet scientist gets into all sorts of mischief, including cloning, crafting his robot creations, and taking advantage of a quirky set of moves. Someone with Taika’s natural comedic timing could excel in a quirky part like this. All he needs is some makeup to age him and a new haircut.
8 A Bomberman movie can succeed in a post-sonic world
Not too long ago gamers would have been forgiven for thinking about a live action Sonic the hedgehog movie would never work. Still, the 2020 film was a huge hit, spawning a successful sequel in 2022, opening the gates wide for more unique screen adaptations. One of these new projects could very well be a bomber man movie.
Granted, Bomberman isn’t exactly known for witty dialogue (or any dialogue for that matter), but it’s natural to assume that a film adaptation would give the hero a voice of his own. Taika can bring an important mix of humor and heart to the hero as he makes his way to save the day.
7 Spyro is too cute not to conform
Admittedly, Spyro the Dragon is usually presented as on the younger side, but Taika’s infectious energy certainly has a childish charm. That said, he was able to add something to the role of Spyro that no one else could. This makes him an easy choice for a live-action or animated film based on the heroic purple dragon.
Taika would also work well with a larger cast of other voice actors, all of whom could work together to bring the favorite franchise to the screen. An adaptation would also attract a whole generation of new fans who missed the original games.
6 Crash Bandicoot matches Taika’s speed
Artists like Taika Waititi sometimes have to let go of the belt to do what comes naturally. If he took on the voice of Playstation icon Crash Bandicoot, viewers would probably have to watch the film at half speed to keep up.
Crash will no doubt be making its way onto theater screens sooner or later, and audiences would surely be let down if his wacky antics were combined with Taika’s signature style. Even if the actor didn’t take the lead role for the project, there are plenty of options for him within this standout universe.
5 Otacon would be an unexpected twist
Konamis Metal Gear Solid franchise, created by the legendary Hideo Kojima, features numerous iconic characters from the decades-long run (which is still running). With Oscar Isaac set to take on the lead role of Solid Snake, it’s only a matter of time before the supporting cast is set in stone. So letting Taika play a serious role under the guise of Otacon – Snake’s faithful “man in the chair” – is an interesting proposition.
Despite his larger-than-life character, it’s surprisingly easy to imagine Taika playing a nerdy, downbeat, and even prudish character who has to let others do the fighting for him. That said, Otacon, or Dr. Hal Emmerich, has the soul of a hero and would be an essential part of the MGS movie series.
4 Taika can excel in the wasteland of Mad Max
2015’s Mad Max videogame already has an existing movie franchise. However, should the unstable sidekick character Chumbucket ever make the leap from the game realm to the cinema screen, Taika would be a shoo-in.
Chumbucket helps the titular Max build and maintain his signature vehicle, the Magnum Opus, and exact revenge on those who wronged him. The character comes out with lots of humorous quips and observations as the duo zips across the desert, so putting those lines together with Taika’s kind of humor is a winning combination.
3 Maybe the funny man can take on a literal muster role
Sooner or later, somewhere in the multiverse, a Metroid movie is going to take place. It could be all-CGI, traditional animation, and maybe even live-action, but it’s coming. Fans have been wondering who will play the iconic heroine Samus Aran for decades, but what about one of her most terrifying villains?
The ruthless alien known as Ridley is a force to be reckoned with, and the usually unspoken creature can use a voice of its own. Taika would probably relish the chance to embody an outright villain, and depending on the tone of the movie, could deliver a scaled back and sinister performance or something completely over-the-top.
2 Let Taika utter one of the best (bad) video game lines ever
In 1991, a European release of the 1989 Japanese video game Zero Wing resulted in the stuff of internet legend. A specific line of dialogue was mistranslated from the game’s opening cutscene and led to the line: “All your base is ours”.
A film adaptation of Zero Wing is unlikely. That said, however, budgets have been poured into projects that are arguably less promising. For example, 2006s Snakes in an airplane shows how little it takes to win the hearts of a meme generation. Consequently, the chance to hear Taika utter the poorly translated sentence would be worth the ticket price alone.
1 Grand Theft Auto can take a gamble and mute the mouth
All previous entries on this list, be it live-action or animation, relied on one key element: Taika Waititi’s signature comedic voice. So it’s interesting to consider what would happen if he went against type and played a quiet, aggressive protagonist in a violent crime-filled antics. That would be the case if he took on the role of a character like Claude from Grand Theft Auto 3.
Taika could take an unexpectedly brutal turn as the franchise’s first protagonist, and the potential sight of that would attract many curious viewers. He could even take the directing and turn the film into a double threat.
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