Next Goal Wins Interview: Taika Waititi Reveals an Impromptu Casting Choice

If you’re in the mood for a feel-good underdog story, look no further than Taika Waititi’s somewhat biographical sports comedy, Next Goal Wins. Inspired by the acclaimed documentary of the same name from Steve Jamieson and Mike Brett, Waititi’s take on the tale aims for big laughs and lots of heart.

Next Goal Wins is about the infamously terrible American Samoa soccer team that rose to notoriety after their historically devastating FIFA loss to Australia with a score of 31-0. Despite that brutal outcome, the team sets their sights on the 2014 FIFA World Cup and hires American soccer coach Thomas Rongen (played by Michael Fassbender) to get them there. The movie also features Elisabeth Moss, Waititi himself, Oscar Kightley, Uli Latukefu, and Kaimana in her screen debut playing American Samoa soccer player Jaiyah Saelua.

During an interview with Collider’s Perri Nemiroff, Waititi and Saelua discuss adapting the documentary into a narrative feature. Waititi explains how being open to on-the-spot development influenced the film for the better and Saelua pinpoints the aspects of her true story that were important to see in the finished film. They also discuss the casting process for Kaimana who delivers an impressive debut performance as Jaiyah, a fa'afafine football player, meaning third gender or non-binary, specific to Samoan culture.

Hear about all of that and more straight from Waititi and Saelua in this Next Goal Wins interview!

#taikawaititi #filmmaking #nextgoalwins

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