Amy Adams in 'Klara and the Sun': Cast, Release Date and the Author Who Helped Make It
Taika Waititi's take on Kazuo Ishiguro's novel stars Jenna Ortega as Klara and Amy Adams as Josie's mother. It's only in theaters Oct. 23, and Ishiguro himself is an executive producer.
By Niko Grey, Editor in Chief · 4 min read
Published
Key facts
- Release: Only in theaters Oct. 23, 2026 (Sony Pictures)
- Director: Taika Waititi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Dahvi Waller (Sony Pictures)
- Based on: Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro's bestselling novel (Sony Pictures)
- Cast: Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Mia Tharia, Aran Murphy, Steve Buscemi and Natasha Lyonne (Sony Pictures)
- Runtime: About 116 minutes (BBFC)
- Premiere: BFI London Film Festival, Oct. 15 (Page Six)
Fact-checked by the House of Grey News Desk, sources linked below.
Amy Adams is back on the big screen, and this one comes with a Nobel Prize-winning pedigree.
Klara and the Sun, based on the bestselling novel by Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro, is written and directed by Taika Waititi and arrives only in theaters on Oct. 23, per Sony Pictures. Here's everything we know.
The story so far: how this movie came together
The road to the big screen starts with the book. Sony describes the film as based on "the bestselling novel from Nobel Prize-winner Kazuo Ishiguro," and Ishiguro's name appears twice in the studio's credits: once as the author of the book and again in the executive producer list. That's not something you see on every adaptation, and it's a big deal for readers who want the movie to feel true to the novel.
Behind the camera, Sony bills Waititi as an Academy Award winner, pointing to Jojo Rabbit, and lists him as director, co-writer and one of three producers alongside David Heyman and Garrett Basch. Sony files the film under comedy and drama, while the BBFC calls it drama and science fiction, which sounds about right for a story about an Artificial Friend who tries to bring "light to Josie's complicated world," in Sony's words.
Who Amy Adams plays
Jenna Ortega stars as Klara, an Artificial Friend who wants nothing more than to find the perfect home, per Sony's synopsis. When Klara meets Josie (Mia Tharia), each senses a kindred spirit. Adams plays Josie's mother: Sony says Josie has a fraught relationship with her and that they've "suffered great loss," but Klara's "innocent wonder and unwavering loyalty begin to heal the family."
Jenna Ortega says she was excited by "Klara and the Sun" being something different from a "gothic teen"-type character. Plus, Amy Adams talks about her perspective on the story as a mom.
— ExtraTV (@extratv) October 18, 2026
Full interview 🔗: https://t.co/S24m7EwQUo pic.twitter.com/x4WIeM8dXk
The full cast and crew
Per Sony Pictures, the cast is Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Mia Tharia and Aran Murphy, with Steve Buscemi and Natasha Lyonne. The UK's BBFC also lists Simon Baker in its cast credits.
Waititi wrote the screenplay with Dahvi Waller, and the producers are David Heyman, Garrett Basch and Waititi, per Sony.
The twist: Ishiguro helped make it
Here's the detail book fans will love: Kazuo Ishiguro isn't just the source. Sony lists him among the film's executive producers, alongside Gary Barber, Alex G. Scott, Jeffrey Clifford and Rosie Alison. And he was there for the big night: Page Six photographed Ishiguro at the film's world premiere.
We love seeing Florence Pugh, Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams at the "Klara and the Sun" Gala during the BFI London Film Festival. 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/rIxgKod0oL
— E! News (@enews) October 16, 2026
A London premiere
The film had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on Oct. 15, with Adams, Ortega and Natasha Lyonne on the carpet and Florence Pugh and Rita Ora there to celebrate, per Page Six. The BFI programmed it as a gala at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, calling it Waititi's "luminous adaptation."
Runtime and rating
The BBFC lists a running time of about 116 minutes and describes it as a sci-fi drama in which a solar-powered android tries to fulfill her destiny as an "Artificial Friend" after being bought by a lonely teenager.
How to watch Klara and the Sun
There's no streaming date yet. Sony's page says the movie is "Only in Theatres October 23," so the big screen is the only way to see it at launch. In the UK, the BBFC lists the same Oct. 23 release date and a run time of 116 minutes and 5 seconds for the cinema version. Its content advice flags moderate threat, violence, injury detail and infrequent strong language, so it's worth a look before you bring younger fans.
What the stars are saying
The press tour has been sweet so far. In a clip ExtraTV shared on X, Jenna Ortega said she was excited that the film was something different from a "gothic teen"-type role, and ExtraTV says Adams talks about how she sees the story as a mom. E! News also shared video of Adams, Ortega and Florence Pugh at the gala in London.
Tickets for Oct. 23? We're there. For more red carpet fun, see our Academy Museum Gala best-dressed list and our Ted Lasso seasons 5 and 6 update.
What do you think? Tell us on X →
FAQ
Who does Amy Adams play in Klara and the Sun?
Josie's mother, who has a fraught relationship with her daughter, per Sony Pictures' synopsis.
When does Klara and the Sun come out?
Oct. 23, 2026, only in theaters, per Sony Pictures.
Who directed Klara and the Sun?
Taika Waititi, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Dahvi Waller, per Sony Pictures.
Is Klara and the Sun based on a book?
Yes, Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro's bestselling novel. Ishiguro is also an executive producer, per Sony Pictures.
How we fact-checked this
Every fact, figure and quote in this story was checked against the 4 sources linked below (Sony Pictures, BBFC, Page Six, BFI). Quotes appear as those sources reported them, anything unconfirmed is labeled as such, and the photos are Creative Commons licensed and credited.
Sources
Photo credits
- Amy Adams at San Diego Comic-Con 2015. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Taika Waititi at the 2026 Venice Film Festival. Photo by CaseyJNewell, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Kazuo Ishiguro in Stockholm, 2017. Photo by Frankie Fouganthin, Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Our story card adapts these photos (cropping, color and added text). Because a source photo is licensed CC BY-SA, the adapted card is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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