Taika Waititi's Klara and the Sun Releases
Taika Waititi's sci-fi film adaptation of 'Klara and the Sun,' starring Jenna Ortega as an android, is set for release on October 21, 2026.
Director Taika Waititi's next movie, 'Klara and the Sun,' is set for release on October 21, 2026. The film is an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel and stars Jenna Ortega as an android companion named Klara.
There is hope the project could mark a return to the form that made Waititi a beloved cult director a decade ago. His early breakout films, like 2016's 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople,' were praised for their unique blend of humor and heart. His subsequent work for major studios has seen mixed results.
Waititi's Recent Track Record
Waititi's career surged after the success of 'Thor: Ragnarok' in 2017. However, his films since have struggled to capture the same acclaim. His 2022 Marvel sequel, 'Thor: Love and Thunder,' received poor reviews, with critics suggesting he used too much comedy for a story involving the villain Gorr the God Butcher. His 2023 sports comedy 'Next Goal Wins' was a box office disappointment and is now mostly forgotten, the source states.
His 2019 film 'Jojo Rabbit' was a notable exception. It won Waititi an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and was a box office success, earning $93.6 million against a $14 million budget. Yet, the report contends that few people discuss it anymore, and it remains largely forgotten.
The 2026 Project: Klara and the Sun
The new film is based on Ishiguro's novel and follows an android companion. Amy Adams stars as a mother who purchases the android for her sick daughter, played by Mia Tharia. The story is told from the perspective of the android, Klara, and trailers suggest the movie will keep her as the central character.
While it is a sci-fi dystopian story, the report indicates the film will play things mostly realistically aside from its futuristic setting. This approach is drawing comparisons to 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople,' which followed a child in the New Zealand foster system on the run with his foster father. Both stories involve children figuring out their place in the world through extraordinary circumstances.
Screen Rant suggests 'Klara and the Sun' looks more like that personal, awkwardly heartfelt 2016 film than anything Waititi has made since. It represents a chance to blend comedy and genuine emotion again.
Key Details
The source provides the following comparable details about the production:
Cast members listed include Jenna Ortega as Klara and Mia Tharia as Josie. The report also lists Chrissie and Manager as characters, with Natasha Lyonne cast as the Manager.
