Jenna Ortega Attends the ‘Klara and the Sun’ Photocall as Taika Waititi’s Film Releases

voice film logo squareArthur S. Poe
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Jenna Ortega has quickly become one of Hollywood’s leading names in gothic and horror roles, making any appearance that showcases a softer side stand out. Her latest red carpet appearance is no exception, coinciding with the release of one of her most unique projects.

That project is ‘Klara and the Sun’, Taika Waititi’s adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s bestselling novel. Announced in 2020 and wrapped up filming in April 2024, the film was kept on hold by Sony for over two years before finally setting an October release date.

Now, the cast is actively promoting the film. Ortega was spotted at the photocall wearing a white top with bright yellow sleeves and a black collar, paired with a black skirt and her hair styled back. This look is a noticeable shift from the darker styles fans typically associate with her, aligning perfectly with a character that is far removed from Wednesday Addams.

The film will have its first major public screening at the 70th BFI London Film Festival, where it will serve as a headline gala on October 15. It is set to open in the US on October 23, with Australia and New Zealand getting it a day earlier. The festival has described it as a luminous adaptation, featuring Ortega as an enthusiastic artificial friend eager to find a loving home.

The narrative centers on Klara, an Artificial Friend chosen by Josie, played by Mia Tharia, who takes on the role of bringing joy into the girl’s life. Josie struggles with a controlling mother, portrayed by Amy Adams, and the family has endured significant loss. Waititi penned the screenplay alongside Dahvi Waller.

Klara is characterized as optimistic, sincere, curious, and emotionally open, a stark contrast to Wednesday’s more guarded demeanor. Waititi has remarked that this is his most dramatic and challenging work to date, noting that initial attempts to inject humor into the script fell flat. He aimed to highlight Ortega’s real-life charm and humor rather than her established on-screen persona.

The supporting cast is impressive, featuring Natasha Lyonne as an artificial friend store manager, along with Steve Buscemi, Simon Baker, and Aran Murphy. Michael Giacchino, a longtime collaborator of Waititi, is responsible for the film’s score.

The film’s commercial prospects appear more modest. Boxoffice Pro’s early tracking estimates a domestic opening between $6 million to $10 million, noting that it does not have the genre IP with cross-generational appeal that has characterized Ortega’s biggest hits. These include ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’, which opened to $111 million domestically, and two ‘Scream’ sequels that debuted at $30 million and $44.4 million, respectively.

The forecast suggests that the cultural significance of Ishiguro’s work could help it surpass the $5.7 million opening of Ortega’s dark comedy ‘Death of a Unicorn’. However, it faces stiff competition during its release weekend from titles like ‘Clayface’, ‘Wildwood’, and ‘Ali G: Who Iz I?’.

Nonetheless, this film presents Ortega with an opportunity to demonstrate her ability to lead a quieter, more emotional narrative. After a lengthy wait, audiences will soon discover if Waititi’s gentle sci-fi was worth the anticipation.

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