Director Taika Waititi is a hot commodity in Hollywood these days, with no sign of his star fading any time soon. He's just signed on with Marvel Studios to direct Thor 4, according to the Hollywood Reporter, and Chris Hemsworth is expected to return as the titular god of thunder.

(Some spoilers for first two Thor films and Avengers: Infinity War and End Game below.)

The first Thor was mostly good, blending action and comedy in a winning mix, although it wasn't quite as strong as other origin stories in the MCU. The second? Well, The Dark World suffered from early pacing problems and an overly elaborate plot, bolstered primarily by terrific performances by Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Their complicated relationship remains the heart of the franchise. Then Marvel, in a savvy move, hired relative newcomer Waititi to direct 2017's Thor: Ragnarok.

At the time, the director was best known for his cult hit, What We Do in the Shadows (now a half-hour comedy series on FX) and 2016's, Hunt for the Wilderpeople—a charming, poignant comedy-drama that deserves a much wider audience. Waititi's Ragnarok proved to be a game-changer, elevating the Thor franchise to an entirely new level with its skillful blend of humor, action, tragedy, and a final whiff of hope—only to have that hope snuffed out ruthlessly by the Russo brothers in the first few minutes of Avengers: Infinity War.

We know nothing about Thor 4, given that Waititi just inked the deal, but no other standalone superhero in the MCU has yet warranted a fourth film. Will he hook up with the Guardians of the Galaxy (whose next big adventure is also in the works)? When End Game concluded, Thor had lifted himself out of alcoholic depression—while keeping the extra pounds, at Hemsworth's insistence—and handed over leadership of New Asgaard to Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), who I'd wager will figure into the new film. We may even see some version of Loki, given the timeline shenanigans of End Game. (My Ars colleague, Sam Machkovech, is hoping for a narrative arc along the lines of Fat Thor: The Great Triumph Over Gilligan's Island Reruns. Hey, it could happen.)

Of course, that means Waititi's live-action adaptation of Akira for Warner Bros. will be put on hold, although the troubled project had already experienced delays. (The original manga-inspired anime film celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.) Script concerns had been largely addressed, but per Deadline Hollywood, "The project had been on the rocks for weeks, with word in town that it is a difficult film to cast ethnically at its high budget, in this moment of political correctness." Warner Bros. has been trying to make a live-action version since it acquired the rights in 2002, so the studio's bad luck on that front continues.