Sony's 'Klara and the Sun' trailer introduces a solar-powered AI seeking family

Sony Pictures has released the first trailer for 'Klara and the Sun,' directed by Academy Award winner Taika Waititi and adapted from Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro's bestselling novel. The film introduces Jenna Ortega as Klara, a solar-powered Artificial Friend (AF) designed to serve as a companion. The trailer shows Klara being chosen by Josie (Mia Tharia) despite being an older model, with Josie's skeptical mother (Amy Adams) agreeing on a trial basis thanks to a 20% discount. Natasha Lyonne plays the AF store manager, and the cast also includes Rachel House, Aran Murphy, and Steve Buscemi. The story is set in an unidentified future and is narrated by Klara, who has a special bond with the sun—her source of nourishment. She soon senses something wrong and turns to the sun for guidance, hinting at the emotional depth of the original novel.

Waititi, known for his unique blend of humor and pathos in films like 'Jojo Rabbit' and 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople,' told Vanity Fair that 'Klara and the Sun' marks his most dramatic film. He explained that he had to find a new tonal approach, moving away from audience expectations of his earlier work. The source material—Ishiguro's meditation on humanity's relationship with technology—explores themes of love, grief, and what it means to be alive, all through Klara's innocent perspective. The trailer deliberately avoids revealing key plot twists from the book, maintaining the mystery of Klara's true purpose. 'Klara and the Sun' arrives in theaters on October 23, 2026.