Thor: Ragnarok Director Is Making Hiring Indigenous People A Priority

The director of forthcoming Marvel sequel ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ is making an conscious effort to hire indigenous people on the film’s Australian set.

Taika Waititi is a New Zealander and decedent of the country’s indigenous Māori people. So far he’s hired eight people to the film’s crew.

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“It’s a responsibility you have to the indigenous people,” Waititi told Buzzfeed.

“You’re coming to a country and you’re bringing money into the economy and creating jobs but I think you have an even bigger responsibility to look after the people that have less opportunities,”

The film began its shoot in early July at Village Roadshow Studios in just outside Brisbane on the Australian Golden Coast.

“I was exploring the idea from the moment I got to LA, telling the producers at Marvel and they were fully onboard with it,” he continued. “We got a few attachments and it’s really cool. We’ve got them all throughout different departments and I feel quite good about it.”

The eight people currently employed have been employed in areas including direction, production, set design, stunts and as grips (lighting technicians).

Among them are cinematographer Cornel Ozies and actor Shari Sebbens, who are working directly with Waititi. There’s also Kodie Bedford, who is working in the stunts department.

“We are finding those new talents and giving them an experience not many people have. I mean, I am 40 and this is my first experience on a set like this and giving that experience to young native people is invaluable and a really cool experience,” said Waititi.

The hirings formed part of an initiative started by Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department, in an effort to grant more jobs to aborigines.

'Thor: Ragnarok’ is looking like a serious departure from the two previous 'Thor’ films, and that shift is best represented by the hiring of Waititi - who won acclaim for his super-natural comedy 'What We Do In The Shadows’.

Chris Hemsworth returns in the title role alongside Tom Hiddleston as Loki and newcomers Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson and Karl Urban. The Hulk himself, Mark Ruffalo also joins the cast.

The film is set for release on 27 October 2017.

Picture Credits: Marvel Studios