Taika Waititi to direct 'Next Goal Wins' ahead of 'Thor 4'

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Taika Waititi has signed on to direct soccer film Next Goal Wins for Fox Searchlight before he helms Marvel's fourth Thor installment, Thor: Love and Thunder.

Next Goal Wins is based on the 2014 British documentary by directors Mike Brett and Steve Jamison.

The film, which won Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards in 2014, followed the American Samoa soccer team.

Waititi is co-writing the adaptation with Iain Morris. Andy Serkis, Brett, Jamison, Garnett Basch and Jonathan Cavendish are producing.

Production will begin in the fall.

Waititi will then tackle Thor: Love and Thunder, which is set for release on Nov. 5, 2021. The sequel will once again feature Chris Hemsworth and returning franchise star Natalie Portman, who will become a female version of the God of Thunder.

Waititi is best known for directing Thor: Ragnarok and the film version of What We Do in the Shadows.

He will release World War II comedy-drama Jojo Rabbit on Oct. 18. Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell and Rebel Wilson star, with Waititi portraying a comedic version of Adolf Hitler.