Klara and the Sun (2026): Cast, Release Date, Story & What to Know

Klara and the Sun is a 2026 film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, directed by Taika Waititi and starring Jenna Ortega as an "Artificial Friend" who is chosen as a companion for a teenager. It is scheduled to open in cinemas on October 23, 2026. This guide covers the story, the cast, the release details, the trailer and where the film comes from.

What Is Klara and the Sun About?

Klara is an Artificial Friend, a humanlike companion built to keep a young person company. She is chosen by a teenager named Josie and goes to live with her and her mother. From there the story follows how Klara watches the people around her, tries to understand them and works out what she can do for the girl she has been bought to look after.

The official trailer presents the film as a mix of comedy and drama, and Sony's own genre label for it is "Comedy/Drama". The premise involves an artificial companion, but the story is mainly about the relationships inside a family rather than about technology.

Klara and the Sun Release Date

Klara and the Sun is scheduled to open in cinemas on October 23, 2026. The official film site and Sony's UK site both promote it as a theatrical release, and the official trailer describes it as coming exclusively to theatres on that date.

This is a cinema release. A streaming or digital release date has not been officially announced. Release dates can differ by country, so check your local cinema listings for exact showtimes.

Klara and the Sun Cast

Who Directed Klara and the Sun?

Taika Waititi directed the film. The screenplay is credited to Taika Waititi and Dahvi Waller, and the producers include David Heyman, Garrett Basch and Taika Waititi.

Klara and the Sun Trailer

Sony Pictures has released an official trailer, which you can watch on the official Sony Pictures Entertainment YouTube channel. It runs a little over two and a half minutes and introduces Klara, Josie and the household she joins.

Is Klara and the Sun Based on a Book?

Yes. The film is based on the 2021 novel Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. The novel was published by Faber & Faber on March 2, 2021, and was longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize. Ishiguro won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2017.

If you plan to read the book first, expect a quiet, character-driven story told from Klara's point of view. A film adaptation can change details, so the movie may not match the novel scene for scene.

What Is an Artificial Friend?

In the story, an Artificial Friend, or AF, is a humanlike companion designed to keep a young person company. Klara is one of them. She is observant and curious, and she pays close attention to the people and the world around her.

What matters for the film is less how the companions are made and more what they notice and how they affect the family that takes one in.

Where to Watch Klara and the Sun

At the moment the only announced way to see the film is in cinemas, from its scheduled opening on October 23, 2026. No streaming or digital release date has been officially announced. Check the official film site for ticket links and updates.

What to Know Before Watching

• Director: Taika Waititi.
• Lead cast: Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams and Mia Tharia.
• Source: Kazuo Ishiguro's 2021 novel of the same name.
• U.S. rating: PG-13, for thematic elements, some violence and strong language, according to the official trailer description.
• Genre: listed by Sony as Comedy/Drama.
• Streaming: no streaming or digital release date has been announced.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Klara and the Sun come out?

Klara and the Sun is scheduled to open in cinemas on October 23, 2026, although the release date may vary by country.

Who is in the cast of Klara and the Sun?

Jenna Ortega plays Klara, Mia Tharia plays Josie and Amy Adams plays Josie's mother. Aran Murphy, Steve Buscemi and Natasha Lyonne are also in the cast.

Who directed Klara and the Sun?

Taika Waititi directed the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Dahvi Waller.

Is Klara and the Sun based on a book?

Yes. It is based on Kazuo Ishiguro's 2021 novel of the same name.

Who plays Klara?

Jenna Ortega plays Klara.

Is there an official trailer for Klara and the Sun?

Yes. Sony Pictures has published an official trailer on YouTube.

Is Klara and the Sun coming to streaming?

A streaming or digital release date has not been officially announced. For now it is promoted as a theatrical release.

What is the U.S. rating for Klara and the Sun?

U.S. rating: PG-13, for thematic elements, some violence and strong language, according to the official trailer description.

Is Klara and the Sun a sci-fi movie?

Sony lists it as a comedy/drama. It has an artificial-companion premise, but the story centres on the relationships between Klara and the family she joins.