Taika Waititi’s “Next Goal Wins” will have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival

by Taika Waititi The next target wins is set to receive a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.

The football comedy directed and co-written by the New Zealand filmmaker will be released on November 17 through Searchlight Pictures after bowing in Toronto.

Based on a 2014 British documentary of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, The next target wins is an underdog story that follows the American Samoa national soccer team and their coach, Thomas Rongen (Fassbender), as they try to transform from perennial underdogs into a FIFA World Cup qualifying team.

The film stars Michael Fassbender, Will Arnett, Elisabeth Moss, Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, David Fane, Rachel House, Beulah Koale, Uli Latukefu and Semu Filipo.

The next target wins it was originally set to open in April 2023, but had to undergo re-shoots when Armie Hammer exited the project after the actor was accused by multiple women of sexual assault. Arnett replaced Hammer in the role of a soccer executive working at the Football Association of American Samoa, which required re-shoots.

“We are thrilled to welcome Taika back to the Festival and share his bold take on the world’s most popular sport,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, ahead of its 48th edition which runs from September 7-17. Waititi was in Toronto for the world premiere of Jojo Rabbitwhich won TIFF’s Best Audience Award and an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

It was also in theaters with Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and thunder.