Story perspectives

Jenna Ortega Stars in Waititi's "Klara and the Sun" Trailer

6/23/2026

Summary

Ortega Trailer Drop

A trailer for the dystopian dramedy *Klara and the Sun* was released in the United States today.
The film stars Jenna Ortega as the Artificial Friend robot Klara and is directed by Taika Waititi.
Sony Pictures produced the adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel, which also features Mia Tharia as Josie.
The trailer labels the film ‘coming soon’ while omitting an official release date.

Summary

Waititi Directs

Taika Waititi will blend offbeat humor with the novel’s existential themes, balancing comedy and melancholy.
Kazuo Ishiguro will serve as executive producer while Amy Adams joins as Josie’s mother, expanding the cast beyond the previously announced leads.
Sony Pictures secured rights in 2020, prompting a six-year development cycle that ends with an October 23, 2026 release and a trailer showing children requesting robotic companions in a cybernetic hivemind future.

Summary

Waititi Goes Dramatic

Taika Waititi says the film is his most dramatic work, departing from his comic past.
Simon Baker was cast then cut from *Klara and the Sun* after Waititi texted him the news.
Natasha Lyonne appears as the Artificial Friend store manager, urging older robot models to keep hope.
The trailer suggests a Waititi cameo and adopts a tender tone compared to the film *Her*.

Summary

Waititi Rebounds

Sony’s 3000 Pictures secured the rights to “Klara and the Sun” in July 2020, with Elizabeth Gabler and Aislinn Dunster overseeing the project.
TriStar president Nicole Brown called the film at CinemaCon in April a hopeful story about friendship in isolating technology, while the trailer shows Ortega’s Klara pleading for a friend.
After the flop of “Next Goal Wins,” Taika Waititi sees “Klara and the Sun” as a potential career rebound.

History

Historical Context

Spike Jonze’s 2013 film *Her*, produced by Warner Bros. and starring Joaquin Phoenix, earned $48 million worldwide on a $10 million budget and won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Its critical praise for portraying a digital love partner sparked a wave of AI-themed projects, influencing later studios to explore synthetic companionship as a box-office draw.

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Ortega Trailer Drop

A trailer for the dystopian dramedy *Klara and the Sun* was released in the United States today.
The film stars Jenna Ortega as the Artificial Friend robot Klara and is directed by Taika Waititi.
Sony Pictures produced the adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel, which also features Mia Tharia as Josie.
The trailer labels the film ‘coming soon’ while omitting an official release date.

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