Ortega and Waititi's Dystopian Sci-Fi Epic Stuns Critics, Racking Up Rave Reviews
Oscar-winner Taika Waititi makes his anticipated return to feature films with <em>Klara and the Sun</em>, an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's dystopian novel. Starring Jenna Ortega and Mia Tharia, the film explores humanity and connection, with Natasha Lyonne expressing immense joy working on the project and praising its collaborative environment.
Oscar-winning director, Taika Waititi, is set to make his much-anticipated return to the big screen with an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's acclaimed dystopian sci-fi novel, Klara and the Sun, due out on October 23.
This marks a shift back to feature films for Waititi, who, after a prolific period directing films like Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit, and Thor: Love and Thunder, has recently focused on small-screen projects such as What We Do in the Shadows, Time Bandits, and Interior Chinatown.
The film, which inhabits a thematic realm similar to that of Severance, stars Jenna Ortega as the titular Klara.
Klara is an innocent yet outdated Artificial Friend, characterized by her limited knowledge but strong determination to find the perfect home and be an ideal companion.
Her world changes upon meeting Josie, a sick girl portrayed by Mia Tharia, with whom Klara quickly develops a bond. In a world increasingly divided by social classes, Klara enters Josie's home, navigating the tense relationship between Josie and her mother.
Over time, Klara endeavors to heal the family, striving to bring light back into their lives in a unique way.
Natasha Lyonne, who has long expressed a desire to work with Waititi, plays a significant role in introducing Klara to the family.
In a roundtable interview at the 2nd edition of the Italian Global Series, the Poker Face star revealed that joining the Ishiguro adaptation was an obvious choice given her passion for sci-fi and Ishiguro's writing.
Lyonne described the project as a "joyful experience," praising Waititi's direction and the brilliance of her co-stars, including Jenna Ortega.
She recalled reaching out to Waititi, expressing her interest in the project after learning about it through Elena, Rita Ora's sister, highlighting her deep admiration for both the director and the source material.
Lyonne also shared her appreciation for the opportunity to work as a supporting actor, finding freedom in not having the responsibilities of writing, directing, or producing.
This break from her busy production schedule, which includes executive producing Poker Face, Loot, The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, and serving as showrunner for Russian Doll, was particularly rewarding.
The collaborative atmosphere fostered by Waititi, allowing actors to experiment with their roles, reminded Lyonne of her experience working with Poker Face creator Rian Johnson.
She found immense satisfaction in pleasing Waititi and the talented team, noting the creative gifts that emerged from such a safe and inspiring environment.
The film features a starry ensemble cast including Amy Adams as Chrissie, Aran Murphy, Steve Buscemi, Rachel House, and Sophia Bryant-Taukiri, with David Heyman, Garrett Basch, and Taika Waititi serving as producers.