Taika Waititi to Develop ‘Flash Gordon’ Animated Film for Fox/Disney

Taiki Waititi’s Disney resumé continues to expand. Deadline has exclusively learned that the Thor: Ragnarok director is attached to direct an animated Flash Gordon film for Fox/Disney rather than the originally intended live-action version. The project had been in development for quite some time with Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn and Overlord director Julius Avery attached to it. Flash Gordon began as a comic strip in 1934, focusing on the titutlar Gordon who was sent into space in an attempt to stop the Earth’s threat of the planet Mongo. Once on Mongo, he is pitted against its ruler, Ming the Merciless. In 1980, the character made his silver screen debut which starred Sam Jones and Max Von Sydow with its theme song and soundtrack performed by the legendary Queen. In addition to directing Ragnarok – as well as playing the fan-favorite Korg – Waititi will also direct an episode of the upcoming Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, which will premiere this November.