Here’s a reminder that Jenna Ortega doesn’t always go for goth. The star of Wednesday lightens up exponentially in the first trailer for Klara and the Sun, the next film from Taika Waititi. She plays an “Artificial Friend” who sets out to help the family that acquires her.
While there are hints of drama here, the darkness quotient is dialed way down compared to other recent movies about eerily realistic robots, like M3GAN and Companion. If you prefer humanoid androids that embrace heartwarming whimsy rather than gory slaughter, Klara and the Sun is here to welcome you.
Here’s the official synopsis: “Based on the bestselling novel from Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro and written and directed by Academy Award winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit), Klara and the Sun introduces audiences to 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.”
The cast also features Aran Murphy, Natasha Lyonne, and Steve Buscemi.
Klara and the Sun hits theaters October 23.
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