Taika Waititi’s much-delayed “Klara and the Sun” was shot two years ago, and is finally ready for release, albeit still without a release date, but we’ll likely be getting to see this one in September at TIFF.
Yes, 25 months after shooting wrapped, “Klara” is finally in the can and ready to go. The MPA has given it a PG-13 rating, and Sony has now released a trailer for Waititi’s film. Based on what I’m seeing here, the novel on which the film is based isn’t nearly as cutesy, cheery, or dreamy as the trailer suggests.
Dahvi Waller (“Mrs. America“) penned the original draft of the script, with Waititi having rewritten much, if not, all of it. They are both credited for the screenplay. Below is the official synopsis:
Klara (Jenna Ortega), an Artificial Friend who wants nothing more than to find the perfect home. When Klara meets Josie (Mia Tharia), each immediately senses a kindred spirit in the other. Josie has a fraught relationship with her mother (Amy Adams) and they’ve suffered great loss, but Klara’s innocent wonder and unwavering loyalty begin to heal the family and bring light to Josie’s complicated world.
Based on the wonderful bestselling novel from Nobel Prize-winner Kazuo Ishiguro, it’ll be interesting to see how both men’s style gel together on the film version. On paper, it’s one of the weirder director/author partnerships in recent years. We’ll see how it turns out as post production seems to be continuing on it.
“Klara and the Sun” stars Jenna Ortega, Mia Tharia, Amy Adams, Steve Buscemi, and Natasha Lyonne. It’s a talented cast, but I have my doubts about this one, which Waititi mentioned, just last year, would be released this summer.
Waititi has been on a bit of a cold streak; he struck out with “Thor: Love & Thunder” in 2022, and his last film, “Next Goal Wins,” also plagued with delays, was shot in 2019 and finally released in 2023, to very mixed reviews.
I’ve noticed increasing pushback from movie fans against Waititi; he seems to strike a nerve whenever his name is mentioned. It wasn’t always like that. His brand of cheeky comedy, heartfelt emotion, and quirky storytelling was once considered “hip.” Films like “What We Do in the Shadows,” “Hunter for the Wilder People,” and “Thor: Ragnarok” celebrated for their offbeat and irreverent humor.
Here's a small scoop for Sunday night. Nothing too exciting, since it concerns the once-promising Ben Wheatley, a filmmaker who broke out with the cult-horror gut-punch of "Kill List" and "A Field in England.”