Tag: Taika Waititi

We have our first trailer for ‘Next Goal Wins’

Michael Fassbender stars as Thomas Rongen in Taika Waititi’s film about the American Samoa national team

Searchlight Pictures has released the first trailer for “Next Goal Wins,” Taika Waititi’s upcoming movie about Thomas Rongen’s time as coach of the American Samoa national team.

Waititi, the director of “Jojo Rabbit” and “Thor: Ragnarok” among others, was inspired to make “Next Goal Wins” after viewing the 2014 documentary of the same name.

When Rongen took over American Samoa in 2011, the team was known as one of the world’s worst, still stinging from an infamous 31-0 loss against Australia in 2001.

That defeat gets plenty of attention in the trailer, which shows Rongen, played by Michael Fassbender, being fired from a previous job before taking on the American Samoa role.

“It’s safe to say you have zero talent or understanding of the game,” Rongen notes upon viewing his new squad.

Rongen, who had previously coached several MLS teams and the U.S. Under-20 national team, would (spoiler alert!) go on to lead American Samoa to its first ever victory, against Tonga in a World Cup qualifier in November 2011.

The cast also includes Will Arnett, Elisabeth Moss, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Oscar Kightley and Lehi Falepapalangi.

“Next Goal Wins” will be released in theaters on November 17.

Watch the trailer for “Next Goal Wins”

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Taika Waititi’s movie about Thomas Rongen and American Samoa is coming out in April

The movie stars Michael Fassbender and Elisabeth Moss, among others

Taika Waititi’s upcoming movie about Thomas Rongen’s exploits coaching the American Samoa national team, called “Next Goal Wins,” has been given a release date of April 21, 2023.

The movie stars Michael Fassbender as Rongen, who took over as head coach of American Samoa in 2011. The country at the time was considered one of the worst national teams in the world, having famously lost 31-0 against Australia in 2001.

Waititi’s “Next Goal Wins” is based on a 2014 documentary of the same name.

Rongen, who had previously coached several MLS teams and the U.S. Under-20 national team, helped lead American Samoa to its first ever victory, against Tonga in a World Cup qualifier in November 2011.

Waititi is best known as the director of projects like “What We Do In The Shadows,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” and, most recently, “Thor: Love and Thunder.”

“Next Goal Wins” will co-star Elisabeth Moss, Kaimana, Beulah Koale, Rachel House, Uli Latukefu, Rhys Darby, and Will Arnett.

The movie had been delayed after Arnett replaced Armie Hammer in the cast, following a series of allegations against Hammer.

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Coca-Cola’s heartwarming Christmas commercial, directed by Taika Waititi, will make you cry

We swore we couldn’t cry at a Coke ad, yet here we are.

I swore I wouldn’t get worked up watching this Coca-Cola commercial, as it violates my self-imposed rules A) not to get emotional watching a commercial and B) not get sucked into Christmas stuff before we’ve even hit Thanksgiving.

Yet here I am, blubbering like a big dumb Christmas baby.

The ad is directed by Oscar-winner Taika Waititi, so at least I can take comfort in the fact that I’ve been emotionally sucker-punched by a master auteur. See, it’s his filmmaking prowess that has me sniffling away my Christmas tears. It’s not the holiday spirit. I’m a Grinch, you hear me? I am a Grinch!

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